Mexico Missouri message., 1916-07-20
l4DDY,S EVENING
-, TyI G $50
PROUD POPLAR TREES.

"Down by one bank of River was
row of Weeping Willow Trees, and on
the opposite side stood row Of Poplar
Trees" said Daddy.
"Underneath the Willows 1t was so
delightfully."- cool and shady that little
Boys and Girls would get their books
| and sit under the wide shading
branches. There were many Picnics
given under the Willows, too, and the
Trees were splendid for climbing. And
many a nice place to sit in between
two branches, or out on good, strong
| branch that leaned over the River,
were found by the Boys and Girls.
But one day the Brownies thought
/ they would like to have q Breakfast
Party underneath the row of Weeping
| willows.
eyes said one of the Elves, when
the Brownies were inviting them to
their Breakfast Party, 4 think it would
be a fine idea. But somehow, we've
always felt sorry for those Poplar
Trees standing opposite. They see
all the Children fiocking to the Weep
| ing Willows, and there they have to
stand just as straight as they can and
pretend they don't mind in the least
"'Well, how do you know they mindT
asked one of the Brownies. I've never
heard that Poplar Tree ever felt sad
and the very name of the Weeping
Willow means Sadness
"That's true, that's true said the
Elf who had spoken first. But will
tell you what We'll do. Wen each have
a Breakfast Party and then Wen tell
our experiences. How about 1t, Brown
ies?'
"'All right shouted the Brownies.
Wen all go tomorrow bright and early
in the morning.
"The next morning the Brownies
with Picnic Baskets anu the Elves with
their Picnic Baskets started off for
their Breakfast Parties. They went in
boats of Pond Lily leaves down along
the River until they came to the Weep
ing Willows and the Poplars, and there
they separated.
"'Goodby,' they shouted to each
other. And soon they could be seen
from either side unpacking their Bas-
kets.
"'Well,' said the Elves to the Poplar
Trees, we've come to honor your And
they made deep, low bows before the
Poplar Trees.
'The Poplar Trees paid not the
slightest bit of attention. They still
stood with their heads straight up in
the air.
severe about to have Breakfast,
continued the Elves, thinking that the
POplars had not heard them. Were
very sorry that Trees don't care fol
the same goodies to eat that Elves
door we'd be delighted to share with
you. But we've come here to eat to
cheer you up. We think you're very
fine and straight and tall. In fact
we admire you
''The Elves started In eating and
frisking about as they ate the good
things they had brought along. Some
of them ran up the Trees and whis.
pered little secrets to the Leaves
which We're shaking in the Breeze
They didn't sit about their branches
as the Brownies were over in the
Weeping Willows side.
"SOon the Elves heard the Poplars
muttering. This is what they said:
"'We'll be much obliged if you &c
to those silly Weeping Willows they
whispered, as they waved just little
in the wind. The idea of thinking
you've paid us compliment to come
and eat your silly food here. Why
it's almost an insult to us-why, We
we are Friends of the Sun. Weir,
great Friends Of his. Do you suppOs,
we care about silly People, or ever
Elves, when we can chat with Mr.