The Washington times., 1905-10-29

rands. Arthur was seated in his arm
chair beside his mother. who went over
| the morrow's lessons with him. The fact
| Is. Arthur's mother did more OF Ar
thurs work than the boy did himself.
Tor she would din the lessons into his
mlno by repetition till only sheer stu
pidity could have made him forget them.
ana Arthur was not stupid.
So one will not wonder that Arthur
was frequently at the head of his
c.asses. for few other pupils had such
| attention and assistance as he did II
was as the children ran from school
| that evening that Arthur's vanity and
| selhshness were vented on Tommy.
| Just see, he cried, in a Dragging way,
holding out his report card. "Wouidn' I
you like 70 be as smart as 1 am? I've
| got 30 per cent. Bet you amt got CO.
Bet: too. that you won't. pass. I'm
school, | am. Bet you never get to go
| to college,'
Tommy hung his head in shame and
/ lid his own report card-full OF tarCy
and absent marks-under his coat front
| Wish l had a mother an father too,
so L could go 70 school reg'lar. L can't
keep up when I'm KEEP away so much.
| Tain't my fault, though" he pleaded.
But Arthur was too much preoccupied
| with his own greatness to notice Tom
mys remarks. Now. in full justice TO
Arthur, let il be told that he was not
a bad fellow at heart: he was an only
| child. pampered and spoiled, and made
TO think that he was a few grades bet
| his vanity and self1shness
/ AS 1t was Friday evening. and there
| was TO be no studying that night, Ar
| thur-as has been tOld-ate q hearty
| supper and lay down on the couch
where he was on the point of dropping
| into n sound sleep. when the door
opened and in walked the queerest little
boy, with an immense head on his
| shoulders. He came without ceremony
| to where Arthur lay, took hold of Ar
| thurs hand roughly, and said: Come
you are elected a member OF our So
ciety.''
Arthur rubbed his eyes. sat up. and
marveled at the strange Individual
| What do you want?" he questioned.
trying to draw his hand free.
81 want you." the boy said. shaking
his immense head emphatically. Come
| along; don't keep me waiting" Then
he gave a pull at Arthurs hand.
But L don't wish to 60" persisted
THAT doesn't matter" returned the
boy. The Big-heads have you down
on fTbsad she list You see you have 6e become 3ne
statement the boy held a small mirror
before Arthrr's eyes. Arthur looked.
Lo. he was sight TO beholdi His head
was twice It's wonted size, and his nose
turned UP in most sarcastic and self
satisfied manner. Come" again COM
manded the visitor imperatively, half
dragging Arthur from the couch
Arthur obeyed, not knowing what else
to do and being half dead with sleep.
AS he rose to pass out with this strange
child-no larger than himself-he hoped
his parents would interfere and liberate
him. But they had evidently finished
their supper and retired to another
room, for no one was In the dining
room now save himself and this unin-
vited "Bighead.
The boy jerked Arthur along in no
gentle manner. leading him out through
side door and down to the rear of the
back yard, where Arthur saw small
cart hitched 70 a frisky little pony.
Into the cart the strange visitor showed
Arthur, then sprang In himself, clucked
to the pony that darted off at breakneck
sneed. To Arthur's dismay the animal
leaped right into the air and ran to-
ward the clouds. his hoofs and the
whirling cart wheels resting their
weight on nothing! Arthur held on to
the sides OF the cart seat for dear life's
sake. After some time spent in this
strange travel-silence reigning for Ar
thurs companion was not inclined to
talk-they rushed through a moist, thick
cloud, the vapors of which almost
strangled Arthur. Then into the midst
OF a heavy black cloud that roared
with cold, fierce wind All of a sudden
the horse and cart struck substance.
once again they were on soil that
looked much like mother earth. Ar
thurs companion sprang out and mo-
tened Arthur to do likewise. Arthur
had nothing to do but obey. He was
led from tie cart along a muddy ugly.
unkept road that was overgrown with
weeds and briars that tore their clothes