Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-06

Meant what she said." replied Harry.
TITS fashionable to have skeleton in the
family. I heard some one say"
"a skeleton!' shivered Deb why, a
skeleton is
'It's bones. silly" said Harry, handing
over another nut. you saw DR.. Prices
skeleton one dayItust the bones of a body
without any flesh
at was in his closet, too" said Deb Sc
riously. He had coat thrown over one of
it's arms, and
Harold interrupted her with roar of
laughter. which startled two blackbirds that
were hiding in the brush on the other side
Of the wall.
WHIST whispered the larger bird:
They'll hear YOU
II hear the dinner bell" said Harry.
Come on, Deb-don't puzzle over skeletons
any more" and he ran toward the house,
Deb following closely.
'There!' came the voice from the thicket
a little louder. They're gone, SO come out,
Johnny-it-s too stuffy in there for anything.
I'm as hungry as hawk"
me, too" said Johnny. did you hear
what they said, Jim? Ugh! 1t makes my
pin feathers stand on end to think of II"
Lets get something to eat" was all
Jimmy Crow said, as they few over the
fence and into the cornfield where all Farm
er Gray's corn stood in shocks under the
September sun.
John and Jim Crow were the blacklist and
most rascally of all the Grow family, al
though they were barely old enough to have
their full growth of feathers. Sad to say,
they stole whatever they could lay their
hands on, even If they didn't want to eat 1t.
and what is stranger still, their parents
never reproved them, for they all came Of a
thievlng family.
They were Just in the middle of supper
of corn. when Farmer Gray happened along
and saw them.
Those young crows again." he exclaim-
ed "I'll brighten them so they won't come
back. and I'll shoot 'em, too, If I get a
chance"
"Cawn't. cawn't," cried Jim, who was
quite English in his speech, as he and his
brother flew to safe place in an oak tree.
At the supper table Deb asked her uncle,
Farmer Gray. If there was any skeleton in
their family.
you all eat too heartily to be skeletons"
laughed her uncle.
Deb thinks that skeleton in the closet
Is real thing" said Harry.
"Of course, unless you explain to her."
Farmer Gray went on. stroking her curls.
'"The expression. a skeleton in the closet,
dear, is what we call a figure of speech
1t means that there is something connected
with a family, some act or person, that
it's members are ashamed Of and do not
wish other people to know about
''Oh," said Deb in very relieved tone Of
voice. II was afraid 1t was alive!"
THAT reminds me-" said Farmer Gray,
those crows-suppose scare them with a
skeleton-eh?"
..Oh yes. dol" cried Deb and Harry, land
wen help your
The next morning when Jim and John
Crow flew over to the cornfieid they spied
weird, bony-looking creature wildly NOV
ing its arms, legs and head. and with horri-
fed shrieks they flew back to their mother.
TITS IA skeleton" sobbed Johnny
From the closetp' added Jim, wiping
his eyes with his left wing. IAN awful
creature We have heard about"
It'll get us, II know 1t viii"
So poor Mother Crow had to leave her
work and go over to the cornfield with the
little crows, for they wouldn't go alone to
get their breakfast Indeed, Johnny Jagged