New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-25

some time after, assure you, for ne
was so busy eating that he had no
thought Of anything else, ne was IN
deed frightened. He pounded on tne
walls of his sponge cake prison and
called loudly TO the Gnome, but Tor
some time he heard nothing. Finally
after franticaly running around and
around inside the huge cake ball he
thought he heard the voice OF his small
friend. He pressed his ear close to
the wall and listened. Sure enough, he
could Just hear the words, Hold on
tight TO one side, and brace your feet
and the next moment. he perceived
that the cake was in motion.
Slowly at first. but in few minutes
the great cake ball began to revolve
faster and faster. Ned was terrified
at first as it was with great difficulty
that he kept his body from playing
battledore and shuttlecock. The great
or the speed Of the huge mass, how
ever. the less inclination there was to
bounce from side 10 side. and he soon
found himself literally glued. as It
were. TO one side While thus travel
ling IN this novel way. he began TO
entertain some fear as to what would
happen should an obstacle be cncoun-
tered. and by some strange coincidence
no sooner had the idea come than il
was followed by terrific crash, The
crust Of the cake ball broke into
thousand pieces, and Ned landed safe
ly some distance from the spot. still
chngIng TO huge piece OF sponge
cake. which acted like cushion be-
.vccn him and the ground.
Looking anviously around. alter
wIping some stray crumbs from his
eyes. he saw his little friend. the
Gnome. running frantcally down the
steep incline. which, luckily for Ned,
had been the cause Of his liberation
Finding him unhurt. he Gnome sat
down on the piece of cake to rest him
self and regain his breath before
spcakinc. When he did. however, what
he said caused Ned TO run quickly over
20 the brook TO look at himself in the
water. To his dismay. what the Gnome
had SAID was indeed too true. Ned
was nearly as broad as he was high.
nc cake he had eaten had evidently
occupied the same space inside Of him
80 IT mad inside the brown crust, and
ia order TO do this poor Ned had been
pushed out as it were, until he pre-
rentcd a most grotesque appearance
Why his clothes had not burst was
oven a greater mystery.
Turning to his small friend. Ned
said, rather tearfully: What am | ever
going to do"
Twas a lucky thing kept you
from drinking another gobetful of the
watermelon juice" answered the
Gnomc. otherwise you might have
eaten the whole cake, and then, good
ness knows. you might have been
twice as large as you are now"
81 don't think there is anything TO
laugh at said Ned. as his small
friend, unable longer TO control his
mirth. burst into hearty peal Of
laughter.
"Of course, you don't" replied the
Gnome, you can't see yourself. II
you could, though oh, my" and he
again burst into peals Of laughter.
Ned waited until he subsidized. and
then asked: well, what are we going
70 do"
Don't worry. Ned dear" repled his
httlc friend. touched by his good nat.
urc and feeling sorry for him. don,
worry. The watermelon juice made the
sponge cake swell All that j. neces-
ssry now is 10 take an antidote. and
know where 1t can be found without
any trouble