The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1909-02-13
The "Dream Story"

The hour before supper was called
the story time by the little Simpson
children, and it was such happy
time; for they were tired then of play,
and it was delightful to get close to
mother or Aunt Frances, and hear the
stories read or told. Mother usually
read the stories out of their books,
and the children took turns in select
ing those they wanted read. But Aunt
Frances always told them stories that
she knew or made up. or about some
thing that had happened during the
day.
One day she said it would be nice
to form a little story club, and all
take turns telling the stories. SO the
children were always on the watch for
a little story to tell at the club. Moth
err said il would be nice to write down
some of the stories, and then she
would read them. The children
thought it would be great fun to hear
one of their own stories, just like
real story from a book.
was told by Bessie. She went in town
one afternoon with Aunt Frances, to
visit her Aunt Sarah, and after dinner
Aunt Sarah said:
Bessie, don't you want to take Bobs
out for run? The poor dog does not
get any exercise, now that John is
AWAY"
"Bobs" was a little white woolly
dog, and Bessie always liked to take
him out So she put on her hat and
got Bobs' chain, and they started off
up the avenue. All of sudden Bobs
pulled on his chain, and would not go
any farther. Bobs was such q funny
little dog! He would trOt along as
fast as ever. and then, without warn
ing. he would stop and pull on his
chain, and you you'd simply have to
pick him up and take him along for a
little, when he would run all right
again..
This time Bobs had refused to
bulge, as usual; and Bessie always
said that if it had not been for his
stubbornness there would not have
been any story to tell. She had stopped
down to pick Bobs up, when she saw
a five cent piece lying on the side
walk, and she said aloud, "Why,
there's five cents!" and, picking it up,
she looked all round, and was just
going to take another step, when she
saw a ten cent piece. She could not
help shouting Ten cents!" and she
picked that up. And then what do you
suppose she saw lying all about? Pen
MES, nickels and dimes! When she
saw all the money, she thought she
must be dreaming. She could not pick
up the money, for it did not belong to
her, nor did the five cent piece or the
ten cent piece that were in her peck.
ct, and she did so wish some one
would come along and tell her what
| to do.
Just then she heard somebody run
ming up the street, and, looking up
saw two men, all out Of breath, talk
| ing and making their hands go at q
| great rate. ucy IuSHSu uP W Ilc SpOi
where she was standing and did moi
seem to see her in their eagerness t.
pick up the money. Then Bessie saw
how it all had happened, for during
| dinner she had heard street piano
playing outside, and these were the
men who had been playing it. Wher
people gave them money, they put i
in little tin box, and 1t must have
dropped off. That was what Aun
Frances thought. The men did no
stop to tell Bessie ABOUT it-perhap!
because they did not speak English
But, when she took out the five-cen
piece and the ten-cent piece, and gave
them to the men, they both took of
their hats and bowed and bowed ant
said, Tanks! Tanks"
Bessie ran breathless into the hous,
and told her aunts, and they said
was quite an adventure.
Wont it be good story for tn
club" said Bessie.
Il think 1t WILL" said Aunt Frances
And, when mother wrote 1t down
she called it, THE Dream Story" b,
Bessie impson.-Catherine S. Foster
in Youths Companion.