Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-08
AN AWFUL HALF HOUR.
BY ESTELLE KING


Betty and Nanny had been brought up
scientifically 1t was not always pleasant
way, but they had come through it-as far
as six and seven with rosy cheeks and firm
plump bodies.
Among lots of other trials they endured
were two that were provoking beyond all
others; they could never eat between meals,
and they could not have candy at any time.
Just think of that! Old DIR. Gray had in
suited them once by giving them some I'M
medicated pellets to answer their craving
for sweets, but these they flung to the
winds with weird threats against the doctor,
who was lifelong friend and really per-
feet gentleman.
One day things went wrong with Betty
and Nanny From the time they got up
until 1880 affairs became more and more
tangled. Mother was unreasonable about
syrup for breakfast. Her idea of quantity
was simply absurd. Then nurse displayed
a perfect frenzy as she attacked their curly
heads, and when Nanny screamed and Betty
told her what she thought of her, nurse shut
them up in the nursery and left them to
think 1t over. They found the subject tame
and turned their attention to another.
Lets show them how bad we can be-
| said Betty.
Yes" replied Nanny, what is the worst
| est bad you can think OFF,
| How much money have your" questioned
| Betty, who was the business woman of the
family; you can't be terrible bad unless
you've got money"
| II have ten cents" Nanny said. ... g..
| Il have twelve. Now let's take 1t all. run
| away and buy candy and eat it!''
| This declaration Of independence nearly
| took Nanny's breath away.
| Wen climb this window to the shed ~
Betty went on, then We'll jump" The two
conspirators began operations at once They
| took all their money, tied their pretty
| pink and blue sunbonnets and-went. II
} y-ad fun cotr
| high enough to make believe 1t was dan
gerous and not high enough to be so, there
fore 1t was jolly. A quick run down the
Italians place. There lay the candy ex-
posed to view: delicious. dirty, stale candy!
| AS the two little runaways had never
tasted candy they could draw no com
| I'VE want 10 cents worth and II cents
worth. mixed, please" Betty commanded
and Tony the Italian, with an honesty born
dangerous of hiss confections, put them in
rough brown paper, took his money and
smiled farewell. Then Betty and Nanny
| ran to a quiet spot up by Doctor Gray's
house and gave themselves up to their
| revel of madness. 1t was well they did, as
| you will see. There was one kind Of candy
triotc and artistic senses as well as to
| their taste They each had one An
American flag about four inches long col
| ored true to nature and sweet mast all
belief. These flags were left to the last.
My, what a feast that was, Then came
| the moment for the demOlishng of their
countrys emblems They disappeared.
their knees and gazed into the CHASTITY flu
ture as other sinners have done before
| them. How empty and dark it seemed,
| why do you suppose mother never
wanted US to have candy?" asked Nanny.
'She said the cooring-" Betty got
as far as that and then a CHASTITY hue
spread over her face, might poison us,''
10 trJrt wa xhn
by the roadside gave themselves up as lost
We've got to die" moaned Nanny. And,
indeed. feeling arose within her which
Il wish l had lived better life! groaned
| Betty
"It's awful to die so far from home."
sobbed Nanny. The five minute walk might
have been a thousand miles, for her
strength was gone.
They'll find us lying side by side" Betty
cried. ''and I do hope no horrid old robins
This idea was new terror. Just then
old DIR. Gray came in sight. medicine chest
| and all.
whats the matter?" he said, startled at
their white faces.
| Candy!
| Poison.
| Dear me- cried the doctor. opening his
chest chow fortunate that I came by!
| This is terrible combination. but 1 have
| Just one medicine that will cure you. We've
| taken 1t in time
Betty and Nanny gulped the bitter dose.
| The bitterness was worse than anything
| DR.. Gray had ever inflicted. For moment
| even death seemed preferable.
| Candy alone Is bad for small girls the
! doctor was saying while the bitter was
| sinking deeper and deeper into the two
| plump bodies, land poison is not a thing
| to tri1e with. but badness! Oh, my dears!
| Never NEEDLE with badness; it has very
injurious effect upon the system. Feel
| better?'
Betty and Nanny nodded. Life again
! looked promising.
What was that STUFF" asked Betty.
| Experience" the doctor said gravely;
at is the only remedy for such cases"
''Oh.' came a thankful chorus, wasn't 1t
just good you had it,"
II always carry it," the doctor smiled !:
sit has cured more complicated cases than
| anything else I use. Now go home make
| clean breast of this all to mother and
nurse. and tomorrow you will be as good
as new"