The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1905-06-09
HOW ELSIE MET WASHINGTON.

HOW ELSIE MET WASHINGTON.
There was one treasure for which
Elsie Oliver logged. She had never
had n silver buckle on her hat, and
she did want one so much. There had
been flowers and feathers and shiny
ornaments, but never. never birds
for Elsie knew better than to want n
bird. Kind Uncle Tom thought that II
reNl silver buckle would make her
happy. a buckle she ought to have.
When she opened her presents last
Christmas morning, out Of n big round
box she lifted n lovely. white fluffy
hat, its rich pink ribbon caught in
front with IA shining buckle OF solid
silver Two weeks later. Elsie. with
her presents and Uncle Tom. was
speeding away from the cold and snow
in New York to enjoy the sunny skies
and warm winter of Southern Califor-
MIA.
One OF the first thing Elsie wanted
to see was the ostrich farm. where a
hundred and eighty birds. big and lit
tie. are kept in pens within a high
board fence.
Uncle Tom offered to take her and
while n beaver hat was rather uncom-
Portable in the bright sunshine. Elsie
thought because the calendar said
January" she must wear it. At first
Elsie was so busy watching the baby
ostriches that she did not once look
up TO see the tall birds in the other
pens. The little fellows ran about nip
ping off the grass with great indus
try. their backs covered with feath-
ers that looked like lunches Of shiny
"stickcrs:" but, when Elsie pNt her
hand upon n chick that ycniured near,
she found TIE '"stickers" were as soft
as down.
The ostricns are placed in pairs
when four years cid, each pair in a
separate pen. and given names as the
owner fancics. Edward VII. is the
tallcst. proudest bird OH the farm. ana
walks about with high, stately step and
a naughty air that is supposed 20 be
kngly. He, with a few others, was
caught when running wild upon the
plains OF Nubia. and this variety is
said to have the finest plumage Of any
I'm the world Elsie walked slowly past
Mckinney and Morgan ana Roosevelt
until the guide said; Let me show
YOU General Washington, the oldest
bird o. the farm, eighteen years old.
Mrs. Washington is sitting on her nest
over there in the corner OF course
Elsie was excited TO see Gen. Wash
ingtou. Who would not be? And sh"
pressed closer to the fence to peep ut
Mrs Martha up'n Ler nest. Nor did
she notice the sign. Keep away from
the fence. the birds are dangerous
IL stepped the stately general, nj
most as proud ana tall as Edward VI.
with flashing eyes fixed upon ElsL,'s
shining buckle in the beaver hat. ie
stretched his long neck ont of its Full
est extent. and in twinkling the
beautiful buckle was working its way
down the same slender throat. Uncle
Tom saw it all, 50 did a large group of
visitors who were watching tho Saucy
general. But no one had time 20 pre-
vent the theft. Everybody laughed,
but as soon as Elsie knew what had
happened, great tears filed her eyes
and splashed down upon he. dress.
Then the kind-hearted tourists were
sorry they had laughed and turning
10 a stand where many curious things
were for sale. they bought FOR her n
big ostrich egg mounted On a wooden
frame 50 1t could be paced upon n
table when Elsie sau,d return TO
New York. where ostrich eggs could
not be seen every day. Smiles shonc
through the tears when the guide said:
There. miss. you'd have 20 get thirty
chickens eggs TO he equal TO this fel-
Ter: and | don't S'posc your ma would
spare room TO have thirty chicken eggs
lying round on the parlor table
why. no. she couldn't possibly"
gaspcd Elsie. much interested and a..
touished. not minding the tourists
laughter this time.
Then Uncle Tom lifted the little girl
90 his shoulder. and carried her 20 the
feather room. where be bought a long,
soft white plume. which Elsie thought
came from the generals wing. The
saleswoman sewcd Ii upon the beaver
hat. where IL curled In fluffy richness,
looking far lovelier than n buckle ever
could.-Florencc {. Parsons. in sunday.
Schoo. Times.