Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-10-22

vOTS1E had lived in her new
home out from the city only
few weeks. Around the
house was a large garden with
a little brook running away
day after day, day after day, just as fast
a its silvery little feet could patter. Every
morning the little girl sat under the tree
by the water looking into the streams and
saying half aloud: Tell me, little
brook" Then she would bend her little
head down to the bank just as baby
sometimes mods to a watch to hear the
ticking. She was very patient, for her
question had always been asked In the
same coaxing tones, yet the brook never
answered. Her mother had often said
to her when she worried with questions,
II am too busy now to tell YOU Walt
awhile" The brook, she thought. must
be very busy, for it never paid the slight
est attention to her.
One morning after Totsies brothers and
sisters had kissed her goodbye and had
gone to school the little girl went down
to the water as usual. She must have
thought 1t all out, for she had on her
little bonnet and her dolly was dressed,
too. in her coat and hat. Little Brook.
will you tell me now? Tell me now!
she pleaded, but no answer was heard.
Then you horrid stream, I shall find
out your secret, for you know secrets are
not polite and l shall know where you
are going so busy, busy busy. day after
day" With that Totsie started or to
follow. On and on she went, coaxing
and then scolding all the way. Dolly.
dear. hold tight. for / think we shall
soon be there" she said many times.
Yet the brook ran on as fast as ever.
Dolly, dear. don't get so frightened, for
the cows won't hurt you. Now don't cry.
for muzzer is here If dolly had looked
up she would have seen two. big tears in
her mothers eyes. but the dolly only
looked into the stream. Dolly, dear,
don't say that your feet are tired, for we
must find out where the brook is going,
and then Totsie's steps, became slower
and slower. Dolly, dear, o dolly.
dear, do be good. We must go on. so don
saw that you are tired and hungry, even
if it is lunch time. / didn't think you
would act so. Well-el, If you say we must
and sit down to rest minute" Nap
time for Totsie had come and gone, so
that is probably why she thought of put
ting dolly to sleep with her gentle little
"hush-sh-sh" Heavier and heavier grew
Totsie's own little curly head until very
soon all thoughts Of the brook and even
thoughts of the pretty bisque baby were
gone.
for the little girl had been missed. How
do you suppose the ducks knew that they
had any work TODD that morning! they
knew. though, for after while long line
of them waddled down past Totste. Per-
haps 1t was because they were surprised
or thought that queen had been sent
them that they Quacked. quacked. quacked
so long around the little girl that they
Woc en- q 20
she had always been afraid of ducks. To
he sure, she was brave. but when she saw
that the inquisitive creatures were peck
ing at dolly dear she cried out very
farmer to the scene. "Well. little one. you
are in trouble he said in his kind-heart-
ed way "Who are you child. and where
are you going" my name Is I9tsle
this horrid little brook Is travelling day
after day I have asked 1t to tell me.
but it won't. Dolly, dear, and I will find.
out though
Then the man just laughed. OF course |
he felt sorry for Totsie, for he lifted the
little girl up in his arms and told her that
the stream travelled so many miles that
she could not walk there. After Totsie |
had told the story OF her wander1ngs then
Mr.. Reed knew in which direction she
lived So he hitched up old DICK and
drove the little miss back to her mother. |
Did she ever find out where the brook |
went? Indeed she did. for her papa was |
On glad to see his little one once more |
that he told her all about the journey |
of the sparkling water. He told her that /
# flowed on and on over sands and stones |
until 1t came to another little brook that
MAS IT'S brother. The two brooks kissed |
each other and then travelled on together |
hand in hand until they were Joined by |
other brother and sister brooks until |
there was one great family. Then this !