The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-09-22

BY Anna NJ. Pratt.


"oh. dear, wish l wasn't little
boy" said Rob. And what do you
think made him say It? 1t was be-
! cause his mamma had Just told him
Prince to the stable and give him
some oats. Prince In his rocking
horse. and the stable Ia the corner
between the rocking chair and the
south window. Every night Rob
ties Prince to the chair, and holds
a saucer of birdsesd under his nose
till he has eaten az much supper as
. roekiBg-horse ought eat 1t
doesn't take long. and he likes to feed
his pony; but he knows his bread and
milk are ready by that time. and HIS
bedtime has come. That Ia why he
said, "Oh. dear,'
why. what should do il hadn't
any little boy" said mamma, and
shat would you do II you hadn't any
little bed?''
Rob thought minute, and then
said: IL ] was little bril-. shouldn't
want one. o mamma, may / play
am a bird 90
His mamma said. "Yes. you may lie
q robin" So he began 10 hop about
on the floor tapping his arms for
wings When he was tired of doing
that. she told him TO stand on one
foot. and put his head down on one
side and go to sleep.
Why. mamma" he said. IT can't
sleep in. that way. Besides. / am
hungry"
Are you 90 said his mamma well.
| here are some crumbs left from a
cooky my little boy had You may
eat them. but, IL yeu are a robin,
you must sleep ~ robins do.
Rob stood on one foot for two min
utea He thought It was an hour,
he was 10 tired: and then he said he
weHld rather Be . cat hecausA he
could lie down. His ma NINA poured
some milk into = saucer, and put II
on the floor. ana said, Come. kitty.
kitty: but he couldn't drink IT a.
pussy did. and be tipped 1t over before
he had tasted q drop. Then he lay
tried TO curl himself mp In q little
ball. but he bumped his head. and he
couldn't lie stiii and purr. though he
tried very hard.
II few minutes he jumped up,
and said: Mamma, don't want to
DE little boy yet, What else can I
be-" Mamma smiled. and said. do
you want 10 be a flower o.
oh, yea" said Rob. II will be q
morninKgjory" He had heard his
mamma call hts baby sister her little
herself in her crib, and he thought It
was a very sweet name.
Well aaid mamma. the morn
ingglories have all gone to sleep by
this time. So You must come and
stand by me, and 20 to sleep, too"
Rob went to her. and stood very
still to show he was on q stam. Nam
ma put his arm through herA because
that flower always puts out little run
ners TO hold on BY. Thsn she told
him how II twists Itself up when its
his eyes 30 Tight and puckered his
lips 30 close that his little face was
as red as a rose.
Just then nurse came into the room
with bowl of bread and milk, and
mamma said. Shall ] sprinkle my
flower with water or shall ! give my
little boy his SUPPER
.soh.-EA-aa my snrperIsald Rob
I'd rather you'd be my mamma than
anything else"
80 he sat in his ma mma's lap while
he a4e-fts bread ana milk, and she
told him he was her little robin
Ana them sha washed hb face nd
hands, and called him her little kitten.
heca use the mother cat always washes
har kittens.
And. when she put on his night
gown, she ssiA he we her little nower
and wore white dres. IKE the other
nowrA
And then she kissed him. and said
MY darling little how" ana that vas
the best Of ALL
When he had sald. 'recw I lay me. "
and the prayer mamma made for him.
he asked II he might say one more
Mamma smiled. TIES" and he said.
Dear heavenly Father. I thank you
for aking me . ltttls boy"
Then he shut his eyes. and in two
minutes he didn't know whether he
was n bird or a boy or = kitten or n
morning glory.