The Washington times., 1912-05-21
FOR LITTLE FOLK JUST BEFORE BEDTIME
The Sandman S Stories
THE PoPPIES.

and so the strengthening man began
his work, but before he would do any
thing for the King he insisted upon
hands. and when this was done he set
TO work. No one was allowed to be
near him. and the King was left alone
In the castle with him.
one morning, not long after, the King
saw what looked to be sea of green
all around the castle, but 1t really was
bed of green leaves, and soon there
appeared white flowers among the
leaves, and then the strange man told
the King to walk among them.
soon the King felt drowsy feeling
stealing over him. and he sat down in
few minutes he was sound asleep.
Ihen the strange man begin to repeat
something in a sing-sonR tone and wave
his hands Ger the sleeping King. He
repeating his queer rhyme and the
leaves and flowers grew taller and
taller until the King could not be seen,
and the man moved away still chant
Poppy. poppy, flower OF sleep.
Your drowsy spell around him keep.
For can all his kingdom take
IL You do not let him wake.
The peoples grew until they reached
the top of the castle, and every one who
went near to look for the King fell un-
der the spell Of their strange power un-
,r sil the people around gave II up and the
strange man became King: he built
new castle and the old one was for
gotten,
All went well with the new King until
young man called at his castle and
| aaSed him about the cid King and the
servants told him how the strange flow
ers had grown around the castle and no
one could go near and that everyone
Thought that the old King was dead.
The New King, when he heard that
| the stranger was asking for the old
| king, had him driven from the castle.
| to the servants, that he will hear from
me again"
The stranger went into the woods,
| where there lived an old witch and at
| midnight they came out and went to
the castle among the strange flowers.
The witch held her hand high over
| her head and waved them up and down
| saying all the time:
Poppy. poppy, sleepy flower.
Now have you in my power.
| would have you shorter grow,
Until the sleeping one you show.
| Down came the tall flowers and bushes
until the young man cried out. Here
| grow small. The witch knelt beside the
4 sleeping King and whispered in his ear:
Awake. good King. tits break Of day,
And drive the false king far away.
The King opened his eyes and looked
! at the witch and the young man beside
/ her. What has happened?' he asked
| "I will leave you to tell him." said
the witch: the sun is up and 1 must
| 60"
when you offered to give half your
kingdom to the one who could make you
sleep" said the young man, II set out
for your. castle with a box which con-
tanned az strange flower that had the
power TO make people sleep but 1t had
to be used with the greatest care. and
] alone knew the secret OF using IT, for
it was given to my grandmother by an
Before l could reach you i was over
taken by a band of robbers and the box
stolen. They made me tell what ! in
tended doing with the plant on pain OF
Cret. Then they put me in a cave and
rolled a stone in front of 1t too heavy
for me to move, and left. / was almost
dead from starvation when / was found
By some peasants, who nursed me until
] was well enough to travel, when
hurried here. only to find that one of
the band of robbers had taken your
whole kingdom after putting you to
He drove me from the castle wher
he heard that ] was asking for you and
II 1t had not been for the witch who
lives in the wood l should not have beer
able to awaken you She knew the secre
as she is the daughter of the witch
who, gave the flower to my grand
mother"
When the King heard the strang'
story he hurried with the young man t
the castle where the robber king lived
He was asleep when they arrived ant
the servants, who did not like thei
new master. ran out to meet the olt
King, and when they heard what haC
, happened they went back to the castl'
and bound the robber while he slept
and when he awoke he was so fright
! ened that he promised to tell where th'
/ rest of his band could be found II theI
would spare his life.
This they promised to do, and th'
, country was rid of these bad men, TO
, they were put on a ship and made tC
: work the rest of their lives.
The King was so grateful to thu
: young man who rescued him that h
I made him his heir. and when the Kinl
! died he left him his kingdom.
Tomorrow-"Sunshine and Clouds"