Los Angeles herald., 1909-10-17

LlSGll from tie uGiu.
EDGAR HULL.
S24 w. Avenue 3S, AS grade, Loreto
street school.
She turned quickly and holding out
her hand with a smile said: Come and
have something to eat, dears, you look
tired and hungry" And as Editha
came forward unsuspectingly, her
brother stepped in front of her just
as the woman was about to grasp the
girls arm with too eager hand. She
had a wicked look in her black eyes.
Squaring his small shoulders, and
pushing back his curly hair, he placed
his hand on his sword and looked up
into her face so defantly that 1t an
gered the witch and she raised the
large spoon she held in her hand to
strike him. 1t came down on Editha's
hand as she, seeing the witch's wicked
intent, and with all fear forgotten,
sprang before her brother.
The instant the spoon touched her
hand she changed to a raven and, soar
ing on high, disappeared in the clouds.
Rufus watched her until she was out
of sight and then turned to the witch.
She vas evidently in deep thought, for
when he spoke she started and, drop
ping her spoon, she came forward, say:
ing: Forgive me- it was my horrid
temper. Please come in and drink a
glass of wine with me as a treaty of
peace"
She led the way into the house. She
took two glasses from a cupboard,
filled them, and set one on the table
before Rufus and one on the opposite
side.
Rufus suspecting some evil, quick
ly changed glasses when the witch
turned to get the cake.
The witch quickly swallowed her
wine and turned to watch the eff
feet on Rufus. Her face grew ashen
and, clutching at her throat, she fell
at his feet, dead.
Without stopping an instant Rufus
jumped up and touching the magic
spoon flew away also. over rivers,
meadows and forests he flew and COM
ing down by the pond that their tower
overlooked, one day, he saw another
raven on it's banks, whom he recognized
as his sister
So together they took a bath in the
pond and, when they came out they
were restored to their right forms.
Arm in arm they went into the house,
happy to be safe at home together, and
to have rid the forest of the witch.
OLA HALL,
Baldwin park, Vineland school, Sth
grade.
The young woman turned around
when she heard their frightened cry,
and came toward them. They were
so frightened that they could not move.
But when she held her hand out in
friendly manner and told them not to
fear her they felt quite happy.
When she saw how wet they were
from the rain she told them to come
in. She said: DO you not know that
a witch lives in this forest and be-
witches everyone that comes near
her?"
They told her that they were going
to see how she looked, and see if she
was as wicked as people said she
was.
The children were just eating their
supper when they heard a terrible
sound. The young women told them
to hide under the bed as quickly as
they could.
They were just under the bed when
they saw an old woman enter with
stick in one hand and a long cape
thrown over her shoulders. She told
her daughter she had seen two little
children in the words, but she lost
track of them. She. said she would
like to find them.
After the mother had eaten her sup
per the girl took some of the liquid
in the pot she was stirring. When the
old witch did not see her, she mixed
IT with some coffee and gave it to her
mother to drink.
Very soon the old witch was sleep
ing. The girl told the children to
come out. She told them that her
mother was a witch, and bewitched
everyone near her; then she led them
to little path and the children told
her where they lived and she took
them safely out of the woods, and
they went home.
Rufus determined that he would not
go out in the woods to hunt after
witches again.
AMANDA LIEBEG.
Age 12, grade 6. Belvedere school, r.
F. D. No. 6, box SO.
They soon made up their minds that
the girl was not the witch. So con-
cluded to sneak to her. could you tell