Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1906-01-27
The Boy, the Gun and the Witch.

est, so they said there were many
fairies, and also witch--So they said.
When the boy was eight years old his
uncle sent him an air gun for u birthday
present and from that momeut the boy
always wanted TO be in the woods hunt
ing Tor something ta shoot. His mother
and his grandmother had both taught
him that il was wrong to kill birds and
animals merely for sport, but the boy
thought he knew more about hunting
than his mother did
Day after day he roamed the woods
until the birds and the rabbits and the
squirrels and the owls dreaded the very
sight of him. He killed even frogs aud
turtles, for he became a very good shot,
The fairies were almost as much fright
ened as the birds and animals were, aud
they declared that something would have
to he done.
Now il happened that some of the
fairies who had once ventured CLOSE In
the boys home heard his mother tell
him that he would better look out fer
the old witch when he went into the
woods.
That was good hint. So they said "a
themselves. why not get the witch to
help us -
Nearly everybody who has seen Il
witch must know that witches are no
more fond of fairies than they are of
boys. But then this old witch for some
reason liked to have the wild creatures
and birds in the forest for company.
When the fairies asked her To help She
said she would
MOI long afterward the hoy shot Il
great green frog that he had spicd sun
ming himself on a log. At the same mo
nient the old witch came along, and he
fore the startled hoy could well speak
SHE dipped her broom into the frog pond
an iYl Cd Ia
water The big splashes made ugly
green spots all over his clothes. But
that wasn't the worst of il. rs he
lodged down 10 escape the wetting he
found that he could not get up again
His wet clothes stuck 10 him. his eyes
hulged out, his mouth grew wider. and
III about the time ii takes to tell it the
boy was big green frog.
The old witch picked up the air gun
and said Now You hop home. just as
you are, and stay there till you can be
good. Then come back aud you may
have your gun. though you don't deserve
it.. Home he hoped feeling sad
enough. But what else could he doE
And all he could say was: Here /
come, here | come. here | come"
When his mother saw him she threw
up her hands in horror and was just
going to kick him out But So pitful
did the eyes look and so like her boys
suit did the frogs skin look that She
thought maybe this was her little boy
changed to n green frog. AT once she
began To scold him. saying;
II do believe you have been in the for
est again and that the old witch has
been UP to some mischief. You are Il
pretty sight now and nobody knows how
long you Will stay that way"
The boy said something that his Inoth-
cr could not understand. though ii sound
ed like Get the gun, get the gun,
Then the mother noticed that her boy.
or rather the frog, did not have his gun,
so she declared that she was glad the
gun was gone and that she had always
thought it would get him into trouble
have good mind to put you 10 bed
and keep You there until you promise to
keep out of the woods" and with that
she picked him up, none to gently. car
RED HIM upstairs and put him to he'd
without kissing him good night
The next morning when the boys
mother went to call him for breakfast
the bed was empty. She looked all
around. and at last saw green nose and
two funny popping green eyes ppepinc
az her from the top Of the water pitcher.
80 provoked was she that she seized him
roughly, took him downstairs and sent
him rolling head over heels through the
grass III the yard.
This was Il hard life, and The hny
wished he had been turned To sometime
else than a frog Now the witch had 80
hXed him that by wishing the boy could
become any of the animals that he had
kilied. SO almost before he knew it he
was big owl. He flew Mt once to tho
iimb OF an apple tree. The morning sun
was too bright for his eyes. but he could
Just make ont the open window of his
room Thinking it was time to 90 ia
bed, he flew in ut the window. There
he remained all day.
IN the evening. when the mother went
upstairs 10 see the place where her deur
boy used to sleep. there he sat on thr
dresser, blinking his big. yellow eyes NJ
her Who who0r' he cried.
Why, I'm your mother the woman
said' You ought 10 feel ashamed t.
cause me 50 much SORROW"
Boo-ho0 boo-hoo,' said the boy.
Then the woman took him up az gently
rs she could and put him carefully under
me covers. 1t was not pleasant to kiss
the heak of an owl good night. hut tin
boys mother did kiss him, and then went
TO her own room.
Now. an owl who sleeps al day likes ia
be around ut night. and that was the
ease with the little boy. Soon MS it vn.
good and dark he got mp and Hcw off
Away through The forest he flew until ho
ipHitt TUE ftfHtt where the on watch
liyed. He had made M his mind that hi
would obey his mother now. ana never
again Kill innocent creatures
Wei. be perchcd On the ridge pole OF
The old witch x cabin aud began 10 stag
'Boo-hoo. boo-hoo, boo-boo.
|. Tie witch heard him but never gave
any sign until morning. Then she went
outside and called MIN down from TN,
roof. She tapped him with her broom
and ia a little while the owls beak
turned to g nose. while the feathers be-
came "a suit of clothes. Inside Of them
vas the little hoy. The witch said sht
thought lie would be good now. SO she
gave him his gun and told him to ru,
along home.
II is impossible to tell which was thu
Igladdest-the boy to see his mother again
or the mother TO have her little boy back
safe and Washington Star
Wants Hall of Shame
-