The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1908-11-12

soda water.
John Kendrick Bangs, in The House
keeper.
REAL BABES IN THE WOODS.
They had not lived in the country
long, the Browns had not They had
Just moved into the pretty farmhouse
a few days before the things told
of in this story happened. There
were Papa Brown, Mamma Brown,
Bulger Brown Ga little boy) and Sis
sy Brown Ca little GRID.
Now, before go any farther,
must tell you that Bulger's real, sure
enough name was not Bulger: it was
Franklin James. And Sissy Browns
real sure-enough name was not Sissy,
but was Stella May. But as Papa
and Mamma Brown always called
them Bu1ger and Sissy it is better for
me to do the same. So, let them be
known in this story-which is very
short one-as Bulger and Sissy.
Well, on the third day after the
Browns had moved into their new
country home Bulger and Sissy went
out into the big yard to play. And
after they had explored every inch of
the yard they decided to investigate
the barnyard. And it was such loads
of fun to chase the big rooster about
the barnyard, and to hear the hens
cackle as If they were quarreling with
them for their mischief. Then they
visited the pig pen. And such fun
ny lot of little piggies there were in
it, too, trotting about-tails twisted
into knots over their backs after a
very fat mother had grunted, grunted,
every minute, and who looked toward
Bulger and Sissy with a distrustful
glance.
Then there was nothing new for
Bulger and Sissy about the house,
yard and barnyard. And they stood
looking at each other, wondering
where they should go.
Bulger, being five years old, spoke
first. Lets go down yonder." And
he pointed to line of timber about
a quarter of mile from the house.
Sissy, being four years old, trusted
to her big brothers judgment and
said: "All wight, buver."
hand in hand, toward the dark woods.
Its very big an dangerous" ex-
planned Bulger, pointing to the line
of timber Maybe bears are there. .
Sissy held tighter to Bulger's hand.
not fearing even bears while safely
guarded by him. But no bears will
bower us-fof won't let 'em," went
on Bulger.
And then they reached few OF
the outside, struggling trees. ooh
it isn't so very big an dark, is it?'
asked Bulger.
mo, it's just bufi-ful," said Sissy.
But still she chung tightly to Bulger's
hand.
And so they walked about and
about, going a little deeper and q
little deeper into the woods. And
then it became a little darker and
they could not see so far about them
and Bulger decided they would better
return to their home. ct dess we'd
better do home, Bulver,'' said Sissy
seeing the uncertainty in her broth
er's face.
Eyes, it's mos dinner time," said
Bulger, not wishing Sissy to know
that he was getting a bit afraid OF
the lonely woods.
And SO they started out to go home
but, having forgotten just which way
they had come, they went in the
wrong direction. And so they walked
and walked, growing so tired at last
that Bulger said that he would have
to sit down and rest bit.
And all the while they had been
walking both Bulger and Sissy had
been afraid, but neither owned it to
the other.
While they sat on the messy bank
of a little brooklet Sissy fell asleep
her head in Bu1ger's lap. Then Bull.
gers blue eyes grew heavy, and he
too, fell into slumber, forgetting
where he was and that there might
be bears in the woods.
And there is no knowing how long
the two little Browns might have
slept in the woods or whether or not
they might have come to harm, OF
4 have been forever lost, or whether at
night the birds might have felt pity
for them and covered them with
leaves; but about half an hour after
they had fallen asleep their own dear
mother found them, and, lifting Sissy
in her arms and calling gently to Bull
ger to wake, she kissed each and
said: THANK God, found my dear
little babes safe in the wood" And
Bu1ger and Sissy were thankful to be
found, too, and promised never to go
away from home again without their
1mamma's consent.-Washing Star.