The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-10-14
..ean't have this, mama, . Do something witha"


Now, little William mother always respected any
unusual request that William made. She smiled beam
ngly therefore, tho she knew nothing whatever what
he wanted to do with her big cooky: pan #
i: !. Thank you, dear William, as he lifted
the pan down and went out Of the back door again
The eooky,pan was such an odd thing for william to
want that his mother and Mary both from the
to ss9 what hs 5 e dg with
hind the ash barrel in the basement William took great
pains to select cool pretty the largest
He then turned the cooky.pan face down on the
smooth short turf and went carefully all it with
his spade, cutting down thru the sod S, & zs%E= T.
i Then he lifted the pan away, and took out all the
turf within the line he had cut, scooped enough
Of the earth leave level bed for the pan rest upon
Setting it into place carefully, little William thrilled
with satisfaction he how perfectly the big cooky
fitted into the oblong space up to the edge
Then he ran into the basement once more and brought
out a piece Of hose and soon had the cooky-pan flied
to the brim with sweet clear water Very inviting the
little pond looked his mother and Mary could easily
~. With happy little sigh William went back to his
seat the step TO wait patiently for some bird to find
surprsed after all, for the big fat red robin had
been sitting walnut bough watching him, and now
she sided up take better look at the cool pretty pool
With a dip of her beak and tiny drink, her little
throat swelled into shrill call Of delight. Then she
futtered happily out Of the sury air into Williams pond
for bath, just answering note came tumbling
down out of the sky and another robin flew with
wing down to join its mate 80. . p :.%.: - !
In less than half hour five robins splashing
and frolicking gleefuly troop of children and
little William had to press his hand his mouth to
hold back the shouts Of joy that kept gurging his
throat. He just could not keep his feet still, but the
happy birds did not to mind the tap of his shoes
the step. -; ETA s>~ze.~ :, .Ss>S=
Before the robins grew tired Of splashing and show
erng and shaking their feathers, flock Of goldnches
futtered down to wait for their turn at the cooky
pond: William thought they looked like golden crocuses
scattered the green grass and just the thought Of
the cool spring flowers made the air delicious to
little William. -s-= :s.-,.@s:5z- - =
The next day the pool in such demand that Will
lam had to refill it three times before the birds were
satisfied He afterward to know most Of the birds
which regularly but he always loved best the big
fat robin which had first; this robin he called
General His second favorite winsome gold
finch which he named ttGoldilocks.'' z.
Until late in the fall the birds every day into
little williams back yard to drink and battle in the
cookypan pond but gradually the company grew less
as they left for their winter homes until there day
when bird came and William took up the cooky
pan dried it and slowed it away in the basement
- Months later the came up early one beautiful
spring morning and little William out into the garden
poke his fingers into the ground to it the sweet
peas had planted in the fall under straw going
< to remember to come up Suddenly he jumped up and
g General has back and she wants drink and
before she could answer to the window to she
heard William rushing down the basement stairs after
the cooky pan.--Little Folks