The Washington times., 1913-05-19
For The Times Children
Just Before It's Bedtime
NO-WORK LAND.

| - REDA lived in a land where 1t Is
- said fairies and elves and gob-
llns are seen. but up to the time
when this story happened Freda
had never seen any and she was not
| quite sure she saw them then.
One morning her mother wanted her
| to help with the baking and Freda be-
| gan to fret and wish she did not have
| to help.
Il wish 1 lived in a country where
there was no work to be done" she
| said: then I could do as like"
Il am afraid you would ne as uncom-
Portable there as you think you are
here" said her mother, but II you do
not want to help me with the baking
you can take this basket of butter and
cream to the big house on the ether
side of the woods. 1t must ne there in
time for dinner, and you better start
now"
Freda thought that would be better
than cooking I'm a hot kitchen. 81 she
took the basket and started of. When
she reached the big house he sun WAS
hot AMI the good woman who lived
there gave Freda some cool drink and
, then put cake and cookies in her bas-
ket for her to eat as she went a.ons
home.
When Freaa again reached the woods
| she was tired and warm, SO she sat
down under a big tree and ate her
cookies and cake.
This is a nice place TO live thought
| Freda: there are no dishes to be
washed. and no beds TO make. I should
| like to live here II could have enough
| to eat. or anywhere that there was no
| work to be done
| Come with me and l will show you
land where there is no work TO do"
| said a voice and Freda saw beside her
| q funny-looking little creature in brown
| clothes. Before she could reply he had
tapped on a tree and II opened like a
door, and Freda found hrself inside.
They walked down a long, dark pas
sage and Freda was beginning TO be
a little afraid when she saw light.
! and suddenly she came to the queerest
! looking place she had ever seen.
| There were no houses hut one great
! big house where everybody lived, the
| little brown man told her.
| This in No-Work Land" he said.
Go right in and you will find plenty
! Oh VINO 90 not ike "pTk
| better than you do
Freda found herself alone after this
| remark for the little brown man dis
| appeared. She felt very small, the house
! was so big. but she walked up to the
| door and found it open.
We never close the door: no one
wants to work enough for that she
| heard some one say. When she climbed
| into the room. for the steps were so
| high she had to climb. she found the
| house had only one room. and 1t was
| filled with the largest and uueerest
! looking people Freda had ever seen.
They were very large and stupid look
| ing. sit anywhere you can find room
she was told. So she did. and there she
sat and waited for some one to speak.
but they all closed their eyes and paid
no more attention to her
After waiting what seemed to Frcda
a long, long time. she touched the wom-
an nearest 10 her and asked What
time do you have supper"
Supper. What is that? asked the
| big woman
Don't you cat supper hcre?" asked
| Freda in astonishmcnt
| We don't do anything here" replied
the woman. This is No-Work Land.
and we do nothing but sit about and
sleep.
But don't YOU get hungry" asked
Freda, more and more astonished
No. | told you We did not do any
thing here: we don't talk much. either"
she said. closing her eyes. and before