Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1908-02-05
ON THE SHELF.

l
May Macy in the Washington Star.
| ON THE SHELF.
They were three little boys, very
little ones at that. Ted was two,
Jack was four, and the Oldest and big
| gest was Harry. and he was almost
six.
Their mother and father lived in a
small house, but it was sweet and
cozy, and the little boys played hap
pity each day in the tiny backyard.
Just as other little boys would have
done in much larger space. They
had been born in small quarters, AMI
too much room might have made
them unhappy.
One day their mother received a
letter from an old school friend, and
1t brought look of perpleaity into
her face.
I'm sure don't know how to man.
age" she said to her husband. II
should be delighted to have Annie
pay us a visit, but where to put he.
is a mystery. The daytime doesn's
worry me in the least, but" with a
laugh at her three wide-eyed little
boys, unless throw Ted and Jack
and Harry out of the window. have
no place for her to sleep"
Mamma often joked like this;
Harry understood at once that it was
Joke and laughed. too; but Ted and
Jack were very much alarmed. To
be thrown out of the window just to
make room for other people was not
| pleasant to think of.
THAT would not be good plan,"
said papa gravely. 1--WE must think
of some other way. What space can
you spare in this tremendous house"
and he glanced around the toy dining
room with a critical eye and shake
OF his head.
"Oi course, she must have the
chifdren's ROOM" said mamma, "and
we might take Ted in with us, but
Jack and Harry" here she waved
her hands, there's simply no place
to put them"
I'VE might spread them out on the
parlor floor like rugs" suggested
papa"
"No," said mamma quite soberly.
I'VE might step on them by mistake.
The roof would be better. but I'M
afraid if it rained 1T might ruin their
clothes: besides don,t want Anmia
to think that we are putting ourselves
to any Inconvenience"
''she wouldn't know If thew were on
the roof" persisted papa. in such n
tone that Harry and Jack were real.
ly alarmed.
"Oh. no" said Harry, there's bats
at might"
"And balls?" asked papa.
Not that kind of bats. but things
with wings" explained Harry, "and
me and Jack don't like bats. We
needn't sleep up there. need we.
mammal" he asked anxiously.
mot if you think of better place"
said mamma seriously.
| So Harry subsidized and put on his
thinking cap. This is a small close.
fitting cap, and when Won MT n nm
you must put your fingers in yo,r
ears and shut yonr eves +;ah. 81
they can look into your .thinks. y.
Jack wasn't big enough to wear a
thinking cap, but Harry,s fitted nice.
ly. Ted didn't care he was ssfe
enough.
Presently Harry,s ewes onened with
a spring, and his fingers came ont
of his ears.
There's the closet!,' he said bnt
at this Jacks lower lin began ~
droop. The big closet in their room,
had been the scene of a recent MN.
ishment. jack had stood there he.
hind the locked door for good half
hour before he would saw "1'm sorry !,
when he tore Teds new picture hook
"1t's not for Furnishing. IFS for
sleeping" said Harry reassurine,v
TITS fine place"
But how" began mana wbila
mamma clapped her hands.
Good, gotd!" she cried mrha
closets the place, and Harry sbo1I
have a nice large slice Of bread and
Jam for doing such beant;fu1 tb;mr,
ing"
me too, me too!. cried lack anil
Ted. so mammals rash reward ended
in three slices and as many .iam.
my" little boys.
Then mamma went to work. tha
closet had two wide shelves whic1,
were emptied, and she made them
UP like berths in a sleeping oar ono
above the other. Each could hold n
small boy comfortably, provided he