The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1907-02-04
LITTLE ONES BURNED
Because They do not Leave
Matches Alone.
The Wicked Fire Sticks, the Mouse,
the Kat and the Bestle Play I'm.
portant Parts in the Fable.

is condensed by ohio's fire mar
shal from one for which the British
Fire Prevention Committee recent
ly awarded q prize TO Mr.. Ben
gsugh, q Canadian:
| On the shelf of dark cupboard
there once lived large family of
matches. They wero very happy to-
gether in the sama box. They had
made friends with little mcnse, a
rat, and a great black beetle. These
three came to the cupboard every
day to search for food, and some.
times they all gathered together to
tell each other stories or to chat.
Their talk was almost always about
children.
One day when they were all met
together, the biggest match in the
box spoke out his mind.
81 hate childrer,'" he declared.
81 should like to burn every one
OF thcml"
"0hl" exclaimed the mouse, the
rat aild the beetle: "Oh, what a
Enl thing to say!" And they all
tro1 upon another's toes as they
shrank 10 the bacl: Of the shelves,
trying to get as far as possible from
that wicket match.
But the other matches did not
think he was at all wicked; in
fact they were quito sure that he
was right. They all lifted up their
little rcd heads and shouted: "We
all feel the same! We all hate
children. y
"But." exclaimed Master Rat,
.why do you hate children? Child
rcn are very nice when they are
COED. ("
"That's just itl" exclaimed the
big match, "When they are good 2
Are they good when they make
playthings of us9 Arc they good
when they rub our heads against
the wall Just to make us blaze up
and rage? No. nc, it is because
children are Bad and disobcd;ent
that we hate them. If they inter-
fered with you as they DO with us,
you would hate them, too. Master
Rat. have clildrer ever rubbed
your head against the wallP M
"I should like to see them +"
'replied the Rat Indignantly. "They
run away screaming when / IN
! tIout! Not that IL ere is any rea.
son for them TO be so much afraid
/ should never touch them If they
let me alone. Z"
| "Ah,' exclaimed all the matches
together, "if they let you alone
Don't, ypr see that is the point
re they let us alone. we might like
them tool" ''What do you do, Miss
Mouse when they attempt To handle
| youfn continued the bigger match,
turning to- the little mouse,
"Me'I exclaimed Miss Mouse,
looking Hurried. "Me! Oh,
scamper away when I hear them
[ would as soon meet eat! Az
tile same time / have often thought
they appear to be as much
cfriid of me as | am of them. ]
shcpld not hurt tlon, though poor
| things! s!--that Is unless they pinch
cd my tail, then ! shoulds bite !"-'
| g"Quite so, returned the match.
cs;. "aald yet yor think that WI
must say nothing, oven if they
Knock our heads off. - s
| "But" said Miss Mouse, "you
world not be so cruel as to burr,
a cllild, merely for playing with
| you2" Fj n6
| "Wolildu't we, iust!' cried tho
Matches altogether. "Many are
the children wc Lave burned L
! ciiidei's. Scne We have blinded
otliers We have crippled, many W.
| haze burned mp. = ,titNs
@'fNun are merciless creaturesp
snid Master Rat, ~ should advise
children TO keep away from you
i wonder though that they are no
| frightened by your loud cracklns
Voices and your horrible smell. "A
FYes, we Ypre myrciless, (" retort
ed the Big Match 4 4is s,s. gl,. f
"Wfctchcsvit pried Mr.. Bettlc
~ must tell the poor children hot
you are scheming 10 hurt and xii
them They think You pretty harm
less toys.'" ls .sS.
lpuV apH islsuN cum s!qa NV
stood by speechlcss with indigna
tlon. At last he iound his voice
~ will tell them too" he pante'
out.
'fAid ~, squeaked Miss Mouse
Bat the matches only langhe'
Iugain
fHow can you tell them ~ the,
.ipersd s'Do ycn know the langl
sge Of children N " :s
a..