The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-01
:--:Editorial and Literary Departments:

dead. but their uncle had promised
them before they died that he would be
kind to them. And at first he was
kind and made pets of them, but when
year had gone by he spoke OF the
will that their father had made. which
said that IL the children died the
money that was theirs (and they were
very rich) should go to him. and he
wished for it, and made up his mind
to save It, SO he hired two cruel mon
to take the poor babes into n wood and
kill them there. He told the little
ones that the two men. whose fierce
looks frightened them, were going TO
take them to London, where they would
see pretty toys and have nice cakes
TO eat When they heard this they
were glad to go, and the men each
took one of them before him on his
horse and rode off.
They chartered so prettly and were
so sweet and gentle. that even these
cruel ruifians loved them. and did not
wish to hurt them.
When they came to the wood the one
who had Jane before him told the
other that he would not let them be
killed. But his comrade said that
they must die because their uncle
had given him n great deal of gold
10 kill them. This led to n quarrel.
and the men drew their swords and
fought The children stood still in
great fear. but their friend killed the
one who was more cruel than he. and
then he took their little hands and led
them into the wood a great distance,
till they We're tired and hungry. and he
let them sit down under the trees
stay here" he said, and wait while
|, go to buy some bread and meat"
They sat and waited a long time. but
he did not come back. Then they went
to look for him. and walked on till
they found some blackberries. and ate
them. But now the sun was gone, and
it wns growing dark.
The birds left off singing; only an
owl made n strange noise, boot. and
by and by squirrel dartcd out and
ran up tree close by them. Little
Jane had never seen one before. and
she thought that II was a wild beast:
she gave loud cry and chung To her
brother. who. though he was a brave
boy, began TO feel fear also. for it
grew darker and darker till it was
night. and there was no moon. At last.
tired out. they lay down on the ground
and fell asleep side by side. with tho
tears on their poor little checks.
The wicked man never came back.
and the babes. who could get no food
at last died with their arms round
each others neck. The birds were the
only eyes that saw them lying under
the old trees and they were very sorry
for the babes. and sung sad songs
over them. The robins brought green
leaves. with which they covered them
rs they slept in their long sleep. But
God had seen them and had taken
them to Himself. They were safe and
happy; but the bad uncle's sin was at
last found out The ruffian who had
left them in the wood was put in
prison for having killed some one. and
was to be hanged. SO then he con-
fcssed what he and the other man had
done for a sum of gold. The wicked
uncle would have been taken up and
hanged also. but he had died before
in Jail; for all the riches he had gained
/ by his crime were soon lost, and he
| had been put in prison for debt
J ESTHEI, FARMER
News Ferry, Va