Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-14

everywhere. She was not in the palace,
nor in the park, nor in the woods.
Men were sent to inquire among the
neighbors; others to search for miles
around. Days passed, no little Elsa. The
poor king and queen were very unhappy.
Reta would wander over the palace grounds
every day, always thinking of some plan to
find her.
One day she went to the queen. They
talked together long time, and this Is
what they planned to do: With her own
hand the queen was to write out invitations
to all the Mother Goose people, bidding
them to a party at the palace in three days.
Reta was to mail them that night at
o'clock in the elves post box at the edge
of the wood. The post box was in the trunk
of tree, where no one could see it except
little children's nurses at o'clock at night.
When the day arrived, who do you sup
pose came first? Jack Horner. with big
plate under his arm ready for another
Christmas pie Little Miss Muffet next
came much to Jacks delight Reta sent
them on the lawn to play.
Soon Jack shouted: Il see Jack and jill,
poor Jill's head is all tied up" Little Miss
Muffet, who was a good little soul. ran to
meet them and asked Jill II she felt better
after her dreadful fall. jill said Mother
Goose told her not to romp, SO she sat
quietly on the steps and watched the others.
Pretty soon who should come but Mother
Hubbard. without her dog. She was old and
tired and sat down beside Jill. She put
fresh bandage on Jills head.
Do you remember the cow that jumped
over the moon and the little dog that
laughed to see such sport? They were the
next to arrive. And then wasn't there
chasing on the grass.
The king of the blackbird pie and his
queen drove up In a beautiful gold carriage,
drawn by white horses with gold harness.
with them was the poor little maid without
q nose. You remember she was IN the
garden hanging up the clothes when
blackbird came along and nipped her nose
Row Blue blew his horn while he was
still a long way from the palace gate.
When he came in sight his poor race was
red from blowing and running. Mistress
Mary gave him cool drink from one VI
her cockle-shellS.
At the last moment Mother Goose herself
came In her carriage, her tiny coacnnan
driving the brown ponies Little bo-feep
was with her The child had fallen asleep
in the morning and all the sheep had
strayed off 30 Mother Goose required her
to find them before starting for the party.
Such a merry time they all had. Even the
king and queen laid aside their sorrow for
the day and Joined In the sport.
After a while a great bell sounded ana
all followed Reta to the dining hail. There
was a long table, with flowers and bright
colored ribbons and gay candles. AT each
plate were pretty gifts.
After dinner Reta invited them into the
lovely white and gold room. where King
Cole and his queen were seated on their
thrones. The king said:
MY old friends, and my young friends
The queen and myself have tried TO make
you happy for one day. Many times have
you served u.s. and once again We ask your
help"
Then he told them of their lost Elsa and
how sad they were. He asked that each
one help search for her You may be sure,
all promised. They determined to start at
once, and they left the palace thanking
their kind friends for most happy day.
Jus. one week later, when the father and
mother were feeling very sad because no
word had come from Mother Goose or her
family, Reta said that Jack Spratt and his
wife wished to speak to them. Jack said:
LAS we were coming through the woods
last night we heard strange, beautiful mu-
sic. 1t seemed TO come from neither up nor
down, nor right nor left. We looked about
US and were very quiet.
Soon something rushed by us We fol-
lowed and saw that 1t was the cat with his
fiddle. He did not see US, but we watched
him open door in a large tree trunk and
disappear. We wanted to open the door ana
look in; but when we tried there was no
door to be seen. So took my knife cut
two tiny holes in the tree and looked in.
I'VE saw pretty room, with all kinds of
toys in 1t, a table spread with good things
to eat and dainty white bed. Your little
Elsa sits In q rocking chair happy as can