The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-08-20
JUST wish | was mani" exclaimed Jamie,
emphaticaly, kicking a stone that lay in his
hum AInr

= pathway Men don't have To-"
Goodness! Was this cyclone-or what? He felt
himself being whirled, head over heels, up and away
-away|awa.a-ay, at a tremendous pace $50 it
seemed, as II some giant had shot him from a rub
Der Catapult.
Thump! He had landed as abruptly as he had
His head still whirng he staggered to his feet and
gazed about him. He found that he was in a meadow
near the border of small lake The first matter out
OF the ordinary that he noted the distance beneath
him OF the grass. Was he on stills? No; for when he
Wiggled his feet they stirred the green blades The
one matter in especial that he noted was number of
enormous DAISIES few yards from him. growing very
close to the turf, and bird utterng heDlessy in the
rlppeS some five or six rods from shore.
JAMIE moved to pity, ran forward to it. He
waded IN cautiously because he afraid of the
depth; but the water after ALL came up to his Shout
ders and he easily succeeded in reaching the poor,
struggling thing
behind. 9'eO " '0o' HUN
Jamme hastily turned and looked He saw on the
shore, a tall, thin man, whose crown and face were
apparently bare and clean as any egg So verv
smooth and bare were they that his aspect really
unCanny
Carrying the bird, which, haf-drowned as it was,
nevertheless futered and squawked and even pecked
JaTme made tor the spot where waiting the man
%"Howde-do, said the stranger as Jamie neared the
waters edge "Thank-ec," and he extended his hand
Give him to me-the mean critter"
Whereupon, Selling the bird, he popped him into
for the purpose.
THERE grunted the man, in a satisfied tone
lie set the cage down. and began scrutinzing his
face in small oval hand mirror Jamie observed also
that slung from shoulrer was a shaving mug from
one trouser pocket stuck the end of razor and the
other buged as If it might contain the brush and soap
needed TO complete the Outht; and he about to
inquire politely please, sir are you barber?" when
the bird Git might have been a swallow, or a spar
row. any feathered thing of that size so soaked and
unrecognzable was its plumage) having coughed sew
era times with sneezy explosive sound pped, husk-
DO wish folks would let me alone! Meddling men!
Ugh! Ughl A-chOO"
Jamie was astounded its ingratude as much as at
"The idea! After I've gone in and got him when he
was drowning" he appealed, Indignantly
Drowning" scoffed the bird. How can fish
drown?"
But you're not hsh-you're bird" retorted
Jamie, triumphantly
Certainly, he is! Just what tell him, every time,
SIR agreed the individual with the mirror brandish-
ing earnestly. He wanted to be bird and now he
rs bird; and here he's pnin' to be fish again! The
mean ear critteT! Did you ever see any meaner?"
don't know, answered jamie puzzled
Now that they side by side Jamie perceived
that the man was not tall after all. Why, himself
was OF nearly the same height
We'll it's hard world" responded the man. But
come on, come on While we're standn' here a-takin
some hsh will be tryn to fly, and we'll be too late"
Leaving the bird, which was moodily huncneu on its
perch in its cage, he hurriedy trugded off adown the
warm sandy beach, and Jamie followed.
see : suddenly spoke the man, over his shoulder,
pointing ahead Il told you SOL?
on landp y
VI course! snapped MS guide. What you do
ing here, again." he exclaimed hating at the wrg-
Cling tapping object STOPPING he picked it up lit
was about eight inches long,, and without more ado
tossed it into the water
Almost Immediately, however, the fish put its head
out in expostulation, and, balancing as if treading
raised funny, squeaky voice:
You mean old scamp!" it rallied. "You do that
every time start to fly! You ought to be"
You hush" commanded the man. you can't ex-
then, what's the matter? Why don't you be satisfied?
You got what you wished, didn't your"
i won't be fish | don't like it" replied the
squeaky head TIN going to be bird again"
YOU'RE not, eitherl"
Il am, too"
The fish jumped into the air and fell with fiat
splash.
Il SHALT"
"You sha'n'tp
/ SHALL"
well, you'd better not Ter ire ketch YOU OH shore
agaln--thats sail r threatened the man as his last
word. While thus scoding back and forth they had
gradually drawn apart, and the man. accompanied
by Jamie, proceeded upon his way. Jamie, gancing
behind, could sec the fish, apparently in a frenzy
bouncing up and dow: the surface like an ami
mated piece of wnalebone.
Isn't it disgusablel" asserted the man, causing and
scanning his face once more in his glass
Was anything disgustabuIlcr? Hey?n
viii You tell me where peascP" asked jamie
IN alarm, at the oddly Of his surroundings
Il will if you'll say need shaving" offered the
nan.
"But-but YOU dor'tl" responded Jamie $50
ant"
Jamie spoke only truth for assuredfy the mans
hin was as gutess of hair is dressed kid glove
"High- hum Harryl' sighed the man. sadly Il
eckon don't So Til tell you, anyway You're in the
and Of Wishcd-ToBe, and to get here you rst have