Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-27

about the Finger family, and about their
conduct which brought them into ill re-
pute.
The Finger family belonged on the two
hands of Little Jack Arrow. And Little
Jack Arrow was a seven-year-old boy
who had a very dear mamma and papa.
But Little Jack Arrow had no sisters or
brothers: therefore he often got into
mischief. I say therefore he often got
into mischief" for had he possessed a
sister or a brother it is very probable
the Finger family would have been kept
so busily engaged with play that they
would have behaved themselves very nice
ly. But, of course, there can be no
good excuse for Finger family's bad
behavior, even though their owner has no
brothers or sisters to keep him out Of
mischief.
Well. this is the way it all happened:
One day Little Jack Arrows mamma said
to him: Sonny, I am going shopping
and shall be away from home all after
noon. AS cook is very busy in the
kitchen, and Jane has an afternoon OFF,
you will be your own master during my
absence. Will you behave very nicely
while mamma is away? L shall question
YOU closely on my return. and nope
you will do nothing you will be ashamed
or sorry to confess. Remember. how
eager Finger family is to get into mis-
chief and do your best TO induce them
to be good" Then mamma kissed Little
Jack goodbye and was off on her shop
ping expedition.
After mamma had departed Little Jack
sat by the window for several minutes.
watching the passersby. But soon he
grew tired of this, and determined to go
exploring in the library. Now. Little
Jacks mamma never denied him the
liberty of the whole house. and he felt
free to visit any room whenever his
fancy prompted him to do so.
Once In the library he fell to examining
various great volumes which ne found
piled upon a table. Some of them con-
tanned very interesting pictures. but Lit
tie Jack thought these might be improved
by some color. He ran to his own room
and got his box of watercolors and a
brush. Then he went to the dining
room and procured "a glass of water.
Jack heard wee small voice saying TO
him: Watch the Finger family. They
might ruin the beautiful pictures in the
fine books" For a moment little Jack
listened TO the wee small voice. and re
membered what his mother had said TO
him about the Finger family. But the
Finger family conquered for five of the
members held the box of watcrcolors.
while the other five members clutched the
paint brush And on the floor rested the
glass of water. So down sat Little Jack
on the floor. dragging one of the huge
books beside him. Then the Finger fam
lily set to work with will. And before
Little Jack hardly knew what was in
progress the pictures i'm one of the boons
had been gayly colored. And more than
that had happened The cover of the
book had suffered an accident. Once while
dipping the brush into the glass of
water Little Jack tipped the glass and
some of its contents went on the floor.
running under the book and staining the
cover very badly.
From one book Little Jack went to an
other, and the Finger family kept the
paint brush busy till the illustrations had
been colored in very crude way in three
great handsome volumes. Then the
Finger family became tired-or maybe
Little Jacks stomach made protest
against further work by the Finger fam
lily, insisting that it perform some work
on its own account. So, putting the books
on the table again. and removing his paint
box. brush and glass of water Little Jack
strolled out of the room and went In
quest of food.
At the kitchen door he was met by a