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

Then come with me and / will guide
your steps to where they are promised
the rabbit.
Il must wait until Chick comes back
said the gingerbread a looking toward
the plant forest.
lis Chick the child 1 saw going into the
forest?- asked the rabbit.
YES" replied John. IT'S ar Incubator
Baby, and very jolly and kind. Chick ought
to be back in a few minutes.'
I'm rather nervous when children are
around" declared the rabbit, ~hesitatins.
Are you sure Chick il kindf"
Very" said John, with conviction; so
don't you worry, friend Rabbit
At that moment the Cherub came run
ming up with both hands full Of fruits. which
were indeed odd in shape but delicious
in odor and entiong In appearance.
Il won't starve, John Dough- wa the
merry greeting. The forest is full Of fruit
plants, and I've eaten some already and
haven't been poisoned. But where did you
find this pretty rabbit, And how tame IL
seems to bel"
Its a friend OF mine named Pittypat.
and I've discovered I can speak It's LAM
guage,- replied John. Also there's a Prin-
cess living near by, and Pittypst has prom
ised to guide US 10 her royal palace
AN right exclaimed Chick, busily eat
ing of the fruit. Lets go now"
John turned to the little animal beside
him and said. in the rabbit language: we
are ready to start, my friend"
You'll have to meet the Mifkets, you
know" said Pittypat. rather fearfully.
Never mind; we're not afraid" answered
~. HztAN-. - NAl.l. - a. nat Nd
heard nothing Of the Mifkets, continued
to MUNICH with perfect oomposure.
So the rabbit whisked around, lifted It's
big ears a moment, smiled the air, and
then sprang away with long and graceful
leaps along a tiny path that led through
the magnificent forest.
THE ISLAND Princess.
John settled the bakers hat (which was
showing distinct signs Of having been fire.
Quently crumpledl upon his gingerbread
head, picked up the remains Of his candy
cane and followed the guidance OF the
white rabbit. Chick came after, tripping
tightly along the path.
Before they had gone very far beneath
the bright hued, mammoth foliage, Pity
pat gave a sudden whisk and disappeared
from sight, having popped into a hole.
John Dough of course stopped and gazed
around with his glass eyes to see what had
become of his new friend, and at the same
moment a queer creature dropped from
an overhead leaf and stood In the path OF
the gingerbread man.
Another followed, and still another. and
the three strange beings looked at John
curiously, as IL as much surprised at the
meeting as he could be. Chick pressed
close to the side of the gingerbread man
and stared at the new arrivals.
Perhaps nowhere else in all the world
could be found sue unusual creatures as
these Mifkets. Their heads had the appear
ance Of ~cocoanuts and were covered with
coarse hair, clipped close and turning up
ward until it ended in q sharp peak at the
very top. Tn ir faces were like putty
with small, beady eyes that glittered
brightly, fiat noses and vide. %grinning
I mouths.
The Mifkets' bodies were shaped like
pears and their legs were short and their
arms long. For clothing they wore gay
leaves of the forest plants, twisted and
! woven together in quite a clever way; and,
taken all together. they were as unlike any
| creatures that inhabit our part OF the world
as can we'll be imagined.
"Ah, these must be the beings called
Mifkets,- remarked John Dough, speak
ing aloud in a language he had never used
before but that seemed we'll fitted 70 such
creatures.
That's easy enough to guess retorted
one OF the group, coming nearer to the
gingerbread man and impudently thrust
ing forward it's putty like face, which II
wrinkled and distorted in a disturbing
manner. Its easy enough to tell we're
Mifkets; but what in the NAM Of Jucklethub
are you? And what strange child OF the
humans is this with your"
I'm a gingerbread man." answered
John, with dignity. "and this is my friend
Chick"
I'VE know what a man is; and we know
what a child is; but what's gingerbread?"
| demanded another OF the Mifkets.
I'm gingerbread, " said John.
Wen take your word for it," growled
the third creature. And then it added.
What are you doing here2"
standing still, just now" said John,
gravely.
To his surprise all three began laughing
at this reply. and they seemed so greatly
amused that one hit the other a merry cuff
| upon Lnt car, WhtCh no " 4 P"SooO
to the third. But the third-the growing
o~ne-turned suddenly upon John Dough
and gave him such a sounding cuff upon
the side OF the head that the blow dazed
him for a moment.
At this Chick doubled two fat fists and
ran at the queer Mifkets 30 fercely that
they we're greatly astonished at the angry
buffets they received and fell back a few
steps from the path. Immediately John
Dough recovered his wits and aimed a
strong blow with the candy cane at the wild
people of the forest.
Much TO his establishment. il sent all three
OF them tumbling to the ground. n over
! turning the others. For so great was the
energy md strength lent to his gingerbread
arm by the magic Elixir that the Mifkets
could not stand before IL.
Chick laughed merrily at the bowls OF
their enemies. who quickly scrambled to
their feet and leaped into the leaves OF the
giant plants, where they we're hidden from