Los Angeles herald., 1909-10-17
Honorable Mention)


them some black bread and milk,
which the children were glad to get,
as they were hungry after their long
walk. After they had finished the girl
asked them who they were and why
they were in the forest alone. Rufus
told her everything and then asked
why she was in the forest
"Oh," she said, "that is a long story.
7 have lived here ever since | was a
child about your age. l did nVe IN
castle once myself, but my mother dled
and my father mourned his loss so
that he could not bear to be near other
people; so we moved to this forest,
where he studies wild animals ana
plants She rose to stir the boiling
ifouid in the kettle. Then she said:
"That in the kettle now is some herp
he has just discovered He has gone
to another part of the forest and wants
it ready for him when he comes oaek'
so I'm cooking it now"
'T would like to see your father
said Rufus. "He must be very wise
man." -,
'He is" said the girl. But he vii!
let no one see him, nor will he hlmseh
see any one. ,-, -
E6itha. who was asleep, "can you man
age to get us home tonight"
IT think so,' said the girl. Where
upon she gave a shrill whistle and
small pony trotted up to her. Iheh
she lifted Rufus to its back ana. get-
ting in front of him with Edltha IN her
arms, they set off through the forest
In about a half hour they came to a
clearing. She dismounted and lifted
the children down. Then she showed
them a path and told them to follow
it, They did so and soon found them
selves back at the castle, although II
was nearly daylight -.-o,
Age 13. B-8 grade,
Norwood street school
AS soon as the witch heard the cries
of the children she stopped stirring the
Hnuid and went to the door, but she
did not dare to go out because 1t was
raining, and the rain would make her
lose her magic power, so she changed
herself into a little mole and burroWed
into the ground until she got TO Where
the children were standing. Then she
came up lust so that the children could
see her She then began to bob IN ana
out to attract the children's attention.
This she soon did. The children soon
forgot about the witch and ran along
trying to catch the mole. The mole
ran straight for the house. Inc chli-
dren kept on chasing 1t. but dld not
notice where it was leading them TO-
and in a minute they were in the house
with the door shut and locked behind
them. =.
It was no longer light and CHEEKY, but
dark and cold, with no young girl SUR
ring liquid in the big kettle. Now ana
then an old hag would go across the
room. That night the witch came into
their room and said: Now I've got
you: you can't get away now! ana
she chuckled aind laughed to herselt.
Then she said: Tomorrow night you
will be changed into moles. Ha! Ha!
heard something drop. They huhted
and found that it was the key to the
door; she had dropped It, and the chill
dren jumped for joy.
But wait" said Rufus, we cannot
escape until morning when the Wltch
is out" -
Morning soon came, and the witch.
as usual went off to hide until night.
"NoW." said Rufus, "is our time to
escape" SO the children opened the
door and ran away from the mouse, put
they could not find the path to take to
the castle: Editha began 70 cry ,r oar
Rufus said, "Hark, l think L near
voices" and sure enough lot of men
were coming on horseback. Editha at
once recognized her father and went
to him.
They soon arrived at the castle, and
there was great rejoicing. Rufus told
the whole story after he had eaten, and
they both resolved never to run away
again. MIRIAM SPENChR'
Norwood school, B6 grade. Age IL
years.
When the girl heard the children
scream she looked up and then came
toward them, but Rufus, remembering
that he had brought his sister into
this trouble, now stepped forward to
protect her.
Seeing the girl advance he drew his
sword to kill the supposed witch. His
foot slipped and he fell on his sword,
cutting great cash in his arm. This
caused him to faint. Editha, seeing
her brother fall, rushed to his side.
Just then the girl came up to them
and seing the cash in Rufus arm she
called to her mother to come help her.
They took the boy into the house. After
having his wound dressed he was put
to bed and given some of the liquid
which the girl had been stirring, which
was nice broth of some wild birds