Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-14
In the Land Of Make Believe
BIZ N. O. RrNGwArr.

Katharine heard It In troubled dream
and moaned in her sleep. Dorothy, half
awake. heard II, stuffed her ears. and re-
fused to believe It. Jack heard 1t. sprang
out of bed. ran to the window ana saw it,
raip on picnic morning.
FOR the lands saker' exclaimed Aunt
Betty, as three disconsolate children sulked
at the dining room window Il had sup
posed that those panes OF glass were water
tight but the rain must have spattered
through, Your tempers droop as If you
were three wet chickens. I'm afraid you
can't eat any hot cakes
Three pairs of eyes instantly turned from
the window tableware. Sunday hot cakes
on Wednesday morning was an incredible
thing! But sure enough, there stood tile
molasses jug on the middle of the table
Jacks pouting mouth expanded into q
broad grin as he scrambled into his chair.
Katharine, with greater dignity but no less
ing remedy could not cure the picnic ache
in Dorothy,s heart
Come now, dearies, said Aunt Betty in
her cheerful voice, as she finally gathered
woe-begone Dorothy in her lap and wiped
her red eyes, cheer up. When we can't
nave sunshine out Of doors We need 1t all
the more in the house.
''Grown-ups don't know how spoilt pic
mic hurts murmured Jack.
BLESS you, child. they just dor replied
Aunt Betty, giving Dorothy a comforting
squeeze: The picnics we plan are a hit
different from yours but Ii is quite as like
ly to rain and spoil our fun. But she
added cheerfully there's everything in
learning to make the best of it,
How can we make any best of it todayf"
demanded Jack.
Il have idea said Aunt Betty, with
her most fascinating air of mystery
What?" asked three small voices
Let's have picnic in the Land of Make
Believe"
Three puzzled faces questioned Aunt
Betty's. which looked so jolly, with its
twinkling black eyes and comical smile.
that they laughed for the first time that
morning. "Let'sn' they eagerly agreed,
without understanding her plan.
1t ts tremendous favor I am confer
ring, explained Aunt Betty. for this par
ticular corner of the Land of Make-Be-
lfeye Is private ground. 1t is only because
| trust you not to tear or injure the shrub
berry and not to litter the grass with papers
and things out of your lunch baskets that
am going to let you have your picnic right
here In the house"
Bat how can we have picnic indoors?"
asked Jack
And where the grass and the shrub
bery?' chimed in Katharine
Well" exclaimed Aunt Betty, consider
ing that the other morning 1 found gem
tleman and two ladies shopping In the
grape arbor, and the same afternoon dis
covered that they lived in top fiat In a
cherry tree. must confess that you're very
stupid people. It's poor Imagination that
doesn't work all ways. Now tie on the
make-believe caps you have been wearing
out of doors and you'll find out that this
house Is like the grove after ALL
Oh, 1 know where there's a wizards
cavef cried Jack. clapping his hands IN
show you girls. if you will not be afraid
OF snakes. It's dark and spooky and you'll
have to crawl under the rocks" Jack whis-
pered in Aunt Bettys ear: Under your
bed, but don't tellr'
Aunt Betty. Aunt Betty. bend over this
<nr hxs ,,nrs, f,-,1
element "The back stairs" she whis-
pered. will be the steep Cliff path leading
to the top of Monkey mountain and from
the attic window the trees will look like
the pretty green hills"
There can't be any creek" sighed Doro-
thy, reluctant to be comforted
There came sudden light into Aunt Bet
Tvs eyes I'm not SO sure about that.
do want to go in wading before you come
home, she added. mysteriously
say, Aunt Betty" gasped Jack startled
by horrible possibility, do we have to
pretend to eat too?"
Bless you. no. child" laughed Aunt
Betty. You can have just what l was
going to take to the grove"
"Goody" I want six hard boiled eggs
AND dear Aunt Betty, you will not make
us sit up at the table and have dishes end
knives and forks. will your
You may sit where you pIease-under the
table if you wish-and have nothing more
civilized than wooden plates"
'Hurrah!'' cried all three Aunt Betty
you must go to the picnic, too"
Well, answered A. Mt Betty, perhaps
I'll drive over In the buggy later"
The next hour there was that busy excite
ment that always precedes a picnic But
as the clock struck ten. Katherine and
Dorothy ran down stairs in their clean mus
lin dresses and white sunbonnets AS the
glare of the sun was terrific, Jack borrowed
Uncle Toms hat which fitted his eyebrows
perfectly.
The team was waiting on the porch. Jack
CALAMITY assisted the ladies to the back
seat of the wagon, the comfortable settee
then clambered up the smaller seat In
front. Duke and Nelly were prancng up |
and down-for all the world like porch rock
ing chairs-and Jack had to put a firm
hand on the clothesiine rens With a loud
cry of ''Get-upt'' and an important flourish |
of new whip, they were off. Aunt Betty
waved goodbye.
For the first few miles the drive was
charming, and both Jack and the girls were
kept busy admiring the scenery, and point
ing out to each other many interesting OBJ
Jects along the way. But as they turned
off from the country road. that exasperat-
ing Duke began to balk, and, neither whip
nor argument making any impression upon
his obstinacy, Jack was forced to entrust
the lines to the young women and lead the
horses for whole mile in the thick dust.
Then, just as the naughty animal became
sorry for his bad temper and began to trot
along again, Molly stumbled over stone
and fell. 1t was a critical moment. for
they were descending steep hill. and had
1t not been fer the GOODNESS of Katherine
and Dorothy. who held on tight instead of
Jumping out in a panic. there might have
been tragedy. Fortunately, Molly was
uninjured. save scratch her hind leg
But these delays made 1t late when they
reached the grove, and they had only ex-
plored the wizards cave and three little
caves besides, discovered In the nursery,
when they all decided that 1t must be time