The daily morning journal and courier., 1906-09-29
PAUDEEN, KING OF WOODS
BEFORE WHOM THE TREES TO0K
 ON HUMAN SEMBLANCE.
Fascination of the Woods too Great for Him to be Frightened by Elin Stories He the True Dreamer.

AHe AJAGGAhCAs
 Paudeen, who was the son of Paddy Fox, was the type of which the AL mighty has been pleased to make many little boys. His hair was red and very rough, his eyes were light blue, his up- per lip was long and his nose short. He only differed from other little boys In that he made less noise.
 He was neither very lazy nor very naughty, but he spent a great portion of his school hours in looking out of the window toward Slievross. The time he spent, in learning his lessons seemed to him proftless, but when he looked across the acres of little fields and waste land toward the wooded slopes of Slieveross he felt his heart burn within him.
 Paudeen had never been in the woods of Sueveross. When he suggested that he should go there his mother said lbO, dIlu HIS ldLlCIy lubDlIlS llAo SAAAAA with his hard, dirty hand told strange legends of the woods, of girls who had been stolen away by the fairies, of lit tie boys who had followed the intrica- cies of some woodland path never to return home. Then Paudeen, listening with apparent terror, felt his pulses throb, and fancied that some elfn bu- gle called him toward the woods.
 Why Paudeen loved trees with a pas sion almost unknown to his compan- ions is not applicable. The reason of it is stored away in some dim rune of cir eumstance or chance He never mem tioned it to others, although his fame as a mighty climber was envied even in the remote village of Letterbrack where his aunt resided.
 Fate, who has some regard for the extravagant endeavor of childhood, showed sudden favor to Paudeen. On this occasion Fate masqueraded as his mother.
 Will I send you to your aunt, avie?' said Mrs. Fox, in her strident, kindly voice, there's Davy McGill, the decent boy, goin to Letterbrack on the old car, says he'll be givin' you life. The father an are goin' to the fair beyant there at Knockdoon, so mind yourself. Paudeen, an yu might be takin' par eel of suGar-sticks to your cousin Kate an screw of tay to your aunt"
 TN. 4o ott o,o1y mo rern5 by desolate moors where the peewit called by fields where the daisies nod ded like the armies of fairyland, by nottled granite walls where the vel low-hamnler perched and sang, and by woods haunted of squirrels and rabbits
 When they came in sight of Letter brack Davy spoke:
 How will you go back, Paudeen? said he, for I'm going on to MT. Ma lonas to see if I can sell him the car.
 "An' why wouldn't I walk?" said Paudeen carelessly, "wid the legs or me rustin' for want of work. "
 Davy looked down at him.
 God save you, Paddy, you're no big. ger than a sugar stick; 'tis a great walk back"
 "Oh! Ill be doin' 1t aisy now"
 ITO go by Slieveross would be short CT, but if you'd lose your way 'twould be bad, and there's quare stories tolc of the woods
 "Och! Dayy, I'll be gittin' back or my head or my heels before night time never fear, and thank you kindly"
 Paudeen scrambled hastily off the car and made off toward his aunt's cabin. He had no mind for questions This explained certain brilliance ir his conversation during the visit; he feared any suggestion as to his return
 ''Well, I'm like to be takin' off wiC myself now, Aunt Biddy' said the cum ming one; goodbye, Katie and dn't att up the sugar stcks too quick; 'tis gran night; such weather for the hay God be praised, I'll be tellin' them ol tire fine chickens you have here'
 All this time he was getting farther and farther away from the door, SC that, at last he felt he might with pro priety turn his back and scuttle dowr the road.
 After having gone a little way dowr the road he turned across a field ant made his way towards Slieveross. H, soon found himself on the mountain side among the powders and fox gloves and bracken, and amoni startled sheep. Paudeen's heart was abre il his breast He climbed steadily till h. reached rough track that led him Ill to the shoulder of the mountain.
 At last he stood on a rock and over looked the woods that stretched into tn valley. The wind blew in his red hair and the wind played over the wide tiel, of the tree tops, that were swaying ant changing, and silvering and darkenins below him.
 He sat on powder and took off hi shoes and stockings, for they bespok a state of civilization which divorce, ulis spirit from the elemental heart o things.
 Paudeen began his descent cautious ly but swiftly. He battered over mos and heath until the woods were abou him; paths leading north, south ana west, winding and twisting into greel gloom lured his fancy onward.
 A sense of enchantment silenced tn whistle on Paudeens lips. He ral stealthily into the green dusk. H touched the trunks as he passed witt loving, dirty fingers.
 At last he was entangled among tn many paths of the woods and he fun himself panting upon the moss. H lay on his back his face turned up to