The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1908-06-11
MMXMMM
MMMMAM
hen LITTLE
JAMES STOPPED
THE sun.
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.EM X MAM


James Montmorency Stebbins. He
had yellow hair, turned-up nose and
freckles of assorted sizes, and he
didn't like to go to school. He hated
1t so much that at last he made up his
mind to go to the old gray witch who
lived at the top of a volcano that
overlooked the Stebbins' back yard.
This witch was very old and very
gray, and so wise that people used to
come from miles around to ask her
what to do when they didn't know
themselves. 5
SO one afternoon James put on his
coat and hat and started to climb the
volcano.
There was a path up the side of
the volcano that had been worn by
the feet of the people who came to
ask the gray witch questions. So
James followed 1t. And at first as he
went along there were trees and fow-
ers on either side, but as he got
farther up they grew less and less un-
til at last there was none left and
their place was taken by burnt black
stones and gray ashes. And there
were no birds or butterflies or hoppy
toads about, only a few brown liz
ards, which whisked out of sight as
soon as they saw James coming.
Everything was so lonely and so still
that he almost wished he hadn't come,
but he kept bravely on and by and
by he got to the top of the mountain.
There, just under the rim, .perched
like swallows nest, was little gray
house.
THAT must be where the gray
witch lives" thought James, so he
went up and knocked at the door
And right away quick the door flew
open, and there stood the gray witch
on the threshold.
She looked at the little boy over
her spectacles. Good morning.
James Montmorency Stebbins," she
said. you've come to see me about
school. haven't you?"
Now that surprised James Mont
morency Stebbins very much, for he
had never told any one of his plan
OF going to see the gray witch and
ne wondered how she could possibly
know. The gray witch chuckled when
she saw how surprised he looked.
Make your request, make your re-
quest" she said, land speak quickly
Tor haven't any time to waste.
- II you please, said James, as fast
as he could, ard like 1t never to be 9
O'Clock in the morning any more"
You won't like it bit," said the
witch, "but you shall have It If you
want IT," and she went into the house
and came back with a bow and arrow -.
which she gave to him.
Now, James Montmorency Steb-
bins" she said, this is a magic ar
row and II you shoot 1t at the sun to-
morrow morning early It will pin II
tight on to the sky so that 1t won't
De able to move forward. So then
IL can't ever get to be o'clock
And then | won't ever have to go
to school," cried James in glee.
But the gray witch only chuckled
In reply and shut the door before
james had time to say thank you.
But he was very happy and he went
down the mountain past the gray
ashes and past the green trees till at
last he came safe and sound to his
own back yard, and all the time he
thought to himself, How delightfully."-
delicious not to have to go to school
again." and all that night he was so
happy he could hardly sleep.
The very first thing next morning
he was up and dressed and he ran
out into the back yard with his magic
bow and arrow.
The sun was Just rising over the
hills. James took his arrow, fitted
IL TO the bow, aimed at the sun and
pulled the string.
Whizz went the arrow I'D through
the clear air; up, up and up till It
reached the sun and pinned Il fast
onto the blue sky,
Then James was delighted. He
Jumped up and down and clapped his
hands.
No more school for me- nc cried,
with Joy.
And he ran into the house. "Oh.
mother and father" he cried, Il don't
nave to go to school to-day. Let's
have breakfast and then go of and
spend the day in the woods."
BREAKFAST" said his mother.
why, James. 1t is much too early
for breakfast. Go out into the garden
and play. will call you when it is
ready"
So James went back to the garden
and played for long while. But his
mother didn't call him, SO after
while he went to the door and said:
Mother, isn't 1t most time for
breakfast"
Goodness gracious, no. his moth
or said. Don't you see the sun is
Just over the mountains. II won't
be time for breakfast til 1t gets high
up over the pear tree. .
James went slowly back 10 the
garden. He was thinking a thought
-r~lf 1t never gets any later than now,
II viii always be Just before break
fast. II was a narrowing thought.
ny and by he went back to the
house.