Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-24
What the Baby Found.
By NJ. 8. pIATT.

Once there was an old garden. away down
south, with hedge of lockwood bushes
around IL, with sun dial in the middle, and
along the walk rows OF tall holiyheeks.
But wait; before you hear the story you
must remember that three little owls who
lived up north erawied into snug old hay
Darn one winters day TO keep warm. The
WING ratified the doors and the frozen sleet
patterea on the shingles. but the three owls
ieit eozy and safe. nesting there on a broad
beam To pass the time the owl with long
feathers en- his legs told 'tThe Story of the
New Shoes" That reminded the next owl
OF something. too. and he told the story OF
Amelia and the Gate Then the third
owl wanted to try. so he told story that
had been told him by his grandmother. and
told to her by her grandmother. and no
knowing how many more grandmotbers
pack After telling about the old garden
away down south the owl went on:
Down at the end of the walk was an old
cedar tree. very large around. but not so
nigh Long ago it used TO be cut back every
year to make 1t more pointed at the ton
ana broader at the bottom, SO that the
branches grew close to the ground But all
that was before the battle. After the battle
soioiefs came to the old house in front of
the garden, and after that things changed
more ana more The roses still came every
year; honeysuckle and ivy twisted around
the sun. dial and cIambered nm tho traas.
put tue Old cedar stood alone growing
broader and thicker and turning a golden
green IN the spring. Only one of the lower
branches had been broken. no one knew
ground. "P''~0 'i tie
EVERY summer an owl would sleep in This
Tree py day and talk and laugh to herself
low seat near by was the favor;te rest-
ing place of a mother and her hoy Ton
years oid. His name was Laneelot, but he
was called Lance. A little sisters na,ne
h mas s .,ast she had been named after
stahainother after great state Their lii
Tie brother had nice name too hut ba
I Haa NOT worn out the name of baby vet.
stu crowed when he laughed
one afternoon Lance and his mother did
not stay Tong by the cedar tree They laft
a co.oIed girl by the name of Hester Ann
Hester Ann. ~ watch
Then Lancelot went with his mother 70
the mousse to meet his father who had fust
come home. They sat down I'm tba oIdN
very sad ~ '4A'0e
Long ago, after the soldiers had left the
mouse. a strong box full of money had been
missed, and they were now in great need
of what was lost
They were talking about this In the par
thinking about it. She sat 1ooking rar
away, with now and then tear rolling
down her black cheek. Caroline had heen
dressing and undressing her doll for some
time; but now, seeing Lancelot's tool chest
open, and alone, she was soon bounding
hard on the ground with the hammer. No
one noticed her but the baby. He had
been trying to walk alone Now he wantad
the hammer and ard
ing Caroline, he screamed: Me, Mey' But
Caroline would not stop pounding until
Hester Ann took the hammer away by
force.
Now, Miss Carline," said NANNY. "yo'
go back to yo' baby doll like a IadyHH'
caroline thought she might as well. Hes
Ter Ann went back to the bench. sat down
and put the hammer behind her. Caroline
went back to her doll; but the baby still
wanted the hammer. He found his Way to
Hester Ann, who had by this time forgot
the bench, holding fast to her woody hair
by one hand. While he pulled out the ham
mer with the other. She hardly moved ex-
cept to kiss his pink palm as he passed 1t
9 Wee, he fr lips trying to keen. his balance.
he fell down with 1t and crept off to the
cedar tree. Through the one open space
ne crawled lifted the hammer and brought
noise 1t made! Cling, clangi The baby
crowed. Up rose Nanny. Hester Ann and
Caroline. They ran to see what he was
hammering. 1t was part of the cover of a
metal box mostly covered by the earth.
Hester Ann ran screaming to the house and
came back with Lancelot, his father and
mother. They found the box to be full of
golden coin! Lancelot saw that his mother
could not speak. although Nanny held
both her hands. saying, Miss Helen,
honey, my chile
Long after the box had been taken to the
house Nanny, Hester Ann and the baby
We're still out by the cedar tree In the
thickest part of the tree an owl was
smoothing her feathers and trying to get
over the start they had given her as they
all pressed under the tree The baby was
yerv busy. They had taken away his dis
covery, but little cared the king of the
hammer, for no one stopped him as he
pounded away with 1t. Nanny was look
ing at the golden light of sunset on the
cedar and talking to Hester Ann. "Of
co'se," she said. I'VE know now the SOL
diers never touched the box. OF co'se,
know now what Marse Norton and Pompey
toted out to the garden that night befo'
they went off to the battle. I spect Marse
Morton tended to bring that box back to
the house after the wah. It's more'n ten
years now since Marse Morton and Pom
pey went away, and they never came home
again.
With her fat. black. bare arms Nanny
brushed away a tear. And the little owl