Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1912-03-05
THE STORY or
The BROOM,


could understand all that the animals
the birds, the insects, the wind ana
the flowers were saying to each other,
went out to walk and came to a long
hillside, where the broom IA bushy
plant was shining like gold. The sun
Law upon 1t, a gentle breeze was blow
ing, the butterflies were fitting to and
fro and the bees were buzzing. The
child was tired and she lay down on
the ground and listened to what they
were saying to one another, and at
last she asked the broom brush.
Broom, haven't you any story to tell
mer
"Only one" 1t answered, "and that
is soon told. But you must not re-
peat It, for 1t concerns some one In
our family"
II won't" said the child.
1T Is the story Of the broom that
wanted to sweep before every door"
said the broom brush. "Once a wo-
man came gathering sprigs from which
to make brooms for sale. When she
had enough she sat down, took some
bread from her pocket and began to
eat 1t. Zidgag, the gnome, came out
Of the woods, pulled long face and
said, Woman, give me a little bit Of
your bread
"'Tm a poor widow answered the
woman, and have nothing to give to
everybody who comes along
"If you have nothing to give away
I'll give you something replied Zizi-
gag. Here Is q broom that will sweep
itself. You must not sell 1t. 1t will
sweep chambers and rooms for you be-
fore the house and inside the house.
Just walk along behind it and let 1t
sweep wherever 1t likes. You'll soon
see how useful 1t will be to YOU And
he gave her a fine new broom.
1.-THE woman went home, sold all the
brooms except that one. put it by the
door and went to bed. Early the next
morning she woke, for the broom was
Gathering to and fro, banging against
| the door Of the house and calling, Let
me out; let me out
"'Sweep inside first; then you can go
out said the woman.
"Let ME out! Ill do that after
ward cried the broom. SO she let II
out and 1t brushed around the house,
swept little dirt together here and
there, but not much, hoped In front
| Of the next house and began to sweep
and scrape there, calling loudly at the
same time: oh, how dirty 1t is out.
side and the inside worse still. Open
the door! want to sweep inside
1.-THE neighbor put his head out OF
| the window and said: What's all this
noise about? Let everybody sweep be-
| fore his own DOOR
| "'Oh,' said the woman, who had run
along behind, 1t isn't l. It's my new
broom. l can't help it, With that the
broom went on, whirling up the dust
scratching out the corners, sweeping
diligently everywhere, and the woman
keeping behind 1t. was thinking how
much pay she would probably Gel
when her broom had made everything
neat. Everywhere there was plenty OF
scolding, and once q lacemaker came
out and jerked the woman by the
gown so that he tore 1t.
Then the broom and the young wo,
man came to the mayors house. Here
the broom made the lOudest noise OF
all. This man pretends to be mayor
and the dust IL thick everywhere
around him and inside, too, inside the
worst Of all! Let me In! j must
sweep!
1.-THE mayor came out. He was Il
stern man. Selling the broom, he said
to the woman: What do you get by
this sweeping? You shall have your
pay now
when the woman saw where ne
was going she ran Off as fast as she
could, screaming. 1t isn't my broom!
and when she reached her house she
locked herself in and didn't come out
again. But Zizigag was sitting behind
the magistrates house. and he laugh
ed till he shook. After the mayor
threw down the broom he came out
sat astride 1t and rode away. This Is
my story"
ITS q funny one" said the little
Eirl. II should like 10 know what the
woman Is doing now"
But the broom brush did not answer
The story was finished.