Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1905-12-29
The AnInALs IN rnH ElaE.
What Waiter Saw Just Before Supper
IN The Red Goals.

What Walter Saw Just Before Supper
In The Red Goals.
Walter had been out skating. and the
cold wind which swept down over the
frozen lake made his toes and fingers
Jingle. 50 that when he got home he
hurried to get warm Kneeling down
close In front OF the coal FIRE, which
famed and cracked in the open fireplace.
while his brother and sister looked over
their Christmas portfolio Of pictures. he
gazed into the glowing Goals in the crate.
BY and by he climbed up into an arm
chair. The heat made him sleepy, and
he closed his eyes. He opened them in
great establishment, a moment later.
when he heard a shrfu '-Cock-a-doo5le-
door which sounded very close to him.
He knew there were no chickens In the
room. because the chickens were all out
on the farm In the country. and he was
Just beginning to think that he had been
dreaming. when he heard the 'Cock-a-
doOdle-doo" again This time II seemed
to come from in front Of him. and he
looked into the fireplace. though how a
"cOck-a-doodle-dO'' could come from the
midst OF the FIRE he did not know. As his
eyes fell on the fire he gave q jump in
the chair and stared as hard as he could
There. in front OF him. perched on a piece
Of coal. was a comical little rooster.
Well" said the rooster, you are the
sioWest boy TO get awake that 1 ever
knew, and I have awakened all kinds OF
boys in my life. I am the Cock that
Crew IN the Morn"
Did the Priest ali Shaver and shorn'
| wake up" asked Walter. eagerly.
| OF course he did," answered the
! rooster: else how could he marry the
Ailkmaid to the Man all Tattered and
/ TOrn7-'
of course" said walter, Il might have
/ thought OF that"
| We were at the wedding" And big
black-and-white cat crawIed out from a
/ hole In the Goals and stood beside the
/ rooster. Il am the Cat that Caught the
/ Rat" said he. once upon a time I
wore boots. and helped my master to
marry the Princess
| "Bow-wow-EOWl" barked the little dog
which came running from the corner.
| The cat jumped nimbly 10 the top OF a
piece OF coal. where she put up her hack
at the dog and made a great Kissing
noise.
"ohog' said Walter. Il guess you
must Be the Dog that Worried the Cat.
| aren't you.-'
Il thought you would know me" bark
| ed the dog I am the same dog right
along: never belong to a witch II n
| witch came around I would bark at her.
Hello. there's the Ugly Duckling- I guess
III bark at her" But the wary old duck
! scampered OF.
How Is it that you all are here7'' asked
/ Walter. I thought you all were dead
a long time ago And I do not see how
/ you can live in the FIRE"
oh. the fire does not hurt US said
the Cock shat Crew in the Morn. be
fore any OF the others could answer
| And we did not die We never die: and
we live In the fire; not always in this fire
for we ike 70 60 about from one place
to another. but some Of Us are here most
Of the time. You can see Us In any fire
! II you look carefully. The best time to
see Us is in the evening. just before the
lights are lit: then We come out 20 see
what Is going on
And you'u see something going on
now" snapped a red fox. jumping from
behind a pile Of Goals and dashing at the
rooster. The rooster lodged 10 one side
and gave a derisive crow.
lust let that old rooster alone. :"
grovled deep voice: and Walter. look
ing in 10 a corner OF the fireplace, saw a
great bear. Il am the Big Bear who
lived in the wood said Bruin. Here
comes my son. the Little Bear"
Whatever became of Gol1enIoeks7'
asked Walter OF the Little Bear. Would
you have hurt her IL you had caught her
when she came TO your house in the
wood and sat in your chair
No said the Little Bclr. laughing.
Il would have played with her and told
] her where the best berries grew that
summer"
And what fun we do have in summer
said the sly Old Fox DO you know
Little Bo-peep was watching her sheep
one day when
Walter. walterl come to supper. 50
some one called suddenly. and at the
sound OF the voice all the birds and
beasts scuttled for hooks and crannies
in the Goals. IN tell you that tale an
other time" said the Sly Old Fox. and
lodged into his hole just as Walter s
elder sister came into the room.
Wake Up. Walter: supper Is ready.
she said. shaking him by the shoulder;
but Walter declared that he had not been
asleep at ALL bot was just watching the
animals After supper he went back 20
the fire. but there were too many people
in the room. and although he caught
glimpse OF one or two OF the animals.
none OF them came out and spoke to him.
But Walter hopes that some time. in
/ the twilight he will see them all again.
and that then the Sly Old Fox will finish
the story OF how Bo-peep's sheep all ran
away-"-IHenry Holcomb Bennett in St
Nicholas