The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-02

PFTTYPAt AND THE hIEkFIb-ASouNih ioAl'
- Vow il occurred TO the gingerbread
man to make an examina ion OF himself
Nv see what an extent OF damage he had
suffered since he had come. hot and fresh.
from Monsieur Jules's bakery.
p His lovely shirt front was cracked in
several places and speckled with tiny black
spots where the powder Of the rocket had
burned it. His left shoulder was also black
eued with burned powder, and he had lost
one Of the lozenRe buttons from his red
vest. Also, one OF his heels was slightly
crumbled, and there we're three marks
in his body where the diamonds had been
pressed into him, besides III lance thrust
VI the Blunderer.
These damages were not at all serious,
however, and he was beginning to con-
graduate himself upon his escape, when
he discovered a curious sensation in his
nose. Raising his hand. he found that the
extreme end OF his nose had been Clipped
OF In some way during the escape from the
Palace Of Romance, and this rather marred
his personal appearance.
The discovery made him sigh regret
fully; and, when he looked around, in the
newly arrived sunlight, il seemed that
his vision had become in some way twisted
and u%nnatural. He could not understand
this at first, n rose to his feet rather
dazed and unhappy.
Then an idea occurred to him. and he
felt OF his glass eyes, and found that one
the left one-had become loose in its socket
and turned inward, making him cross
eyed. He remedied this by turning it
with his fingers until II looked straight ahead
again, and matched the other eye, but
often thereafter that left eye would get
twisted and bother him until he turned
1t straight again.
While he awaited Chicks return, John
strolled to the edge OF the forest and sat
down upon a big yellow mushroom that
wa strong enough to bea his weight. It
seemed to be a peaceful island. and the
gingerbread man was well pleased with his
surroundings, having at that time no idea
Of all the desperate adventures that were
20 befall him before he saw the last Of those
brilliant shores.
From his feet the beach sloped gently to
meet the waves Of the blue ocean. and on
the sands were many shells Of curious
shapes and colors. The breath OF the wind
was full Of the fragrance of the flowers, and
in the forest plants many birds sang sweet
songs g,
As he watched the waves, the birds and
The flowers, John heard a slight rustling
sound, and, turning his glass eyes down.
ward, saw at his feet a small animal which
sat upon its launches and regarded him
with big and earnest eyes.
Who are you2" asked the gingerbread
man; "and what is your manner"
MY name is Pittypat, and I'm a rabbit
- aD-s ALL 800 -loaaa
who are you, and hat may be your name;
for I nave never seen your like beforei'
Il am a gingerbread man, and my naUe
is John Dough- he replied readily. And
then ~anxiously he asked DO you eat
gingerbread, Friend Pittypat?"
mo, indeed was the reply. Il prefer
clover and sweet roots. But please tell me.
how is it that you understand my language
and can talk to me?"
Il cannot tell you that, I'm sure, said
John, unless it's the effect of the Elixir.
That seems to be responsible for almost
everything, you know
The rabbit did not know, of course, and
looked at its new acquaintance in a puzzled
sort Of way.
-Are there any more like you on this
island?' inquired JON Dough.
-Oh, yes; there are lots OF u.s. exclaimed
the rabbit. But not $50 many Of us az there
are Mifkets.'
And what is a Mifket?" askedJ John
"A sort of creature that is neither an
animal nor a man." answered Pittypat.
And the Mifkets rule this island because
they are bigger and stronger and iercer
than we rabbits are.
Also, / know many squirrels and birds
and mice, and the Fairy King Of the beavers
for | am well acquainted here. But do
not like the Mifkets, and scamper away
when they come near.
There is a bouncing brown bear, also,
who lives on a hill yonder, and once he
claimed to be king of all the animals. But
the Mifkets found out that our bear is not
nearly SO dreadful as he seems; so they re-
fused TO obey him, and now have a king Of
their lown.
For my part, however, / like the brown
bear best OF all our inhabitants, for he has
a Jolly nature and never hurts any one"
Blu there are no emo people like me
upon this island?" asked John.
NO one like you, most surely" answered
Pittypat, staring at the gingerbread man
with its big eyes. But as for human crea-
lures, there are three who dwell with the
Mifkets, near the other side Of the forest"
Dear mel" sighed John; I'm sorry to
hear that. Who are the humans?'
well, one is the Princess, and the Princess
10 very beautiful and lovely" answered
Pittypat. she isn't much bigger h the
child | saw here with you a few minutes ago;
but our little Princess is beloved by every
creature on the i~sland-except, perhaps, the
Mifkets, who love only themselves
Does the Princess live in a palace?"
asked John.
~Oh, yes; a beautiful palace made by bend
ing downward the big caves of the roi tree
and fastening the ends to the ground. One
OF the leaves is left loose for a doorway,
and in the room thus formed the Princess
lives in great state and loneliness, and sleeps
upon a bed OF fragrant MOSES"
Does she like gingerbread?" inquired
John, after a thoughtful pause.
Il don't believe she knows what ginger
bread is," the rabbit replied. But you may
be sure the Princess will not harm you, now
ever fond she might be Of gingerbread"
I'm glad TO hear that" said John. but