The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1917-08-04

the door and went In.
The door led right into large
kitchen. which was full Of smoke
from one end 10 the other. The
DucheaA was sitting on three
legged stool I'm the middle. nursing
baby. the cook was leaning over
the fire. stirring a large cRuldron
which seemed TO be full Of soup.
There's certainly too much pep
per In that SOUP" Alice said TO
herself. as well as she could for
sneeEing.
There was certainly too much OF
Il In tho air Even the Duchess
sneezed occasionally: and as for
the baby. II was sneezinK and
bowling alternately without a mo-
ment's pause. Tho only creatures
in the kitchen that did not sncczc
were the cook and n large cat
which was sitting On the hearth
and grinning from ear TO ear.
Please would you tell me" said
Alice. timidly. why your cat grins
like thatT"
tits Cheshire cat" said the
Duchess. 'And that's why. Pig'"
She said the last word with such
sudden violence that Alice quite
jumped: but she saw In moment
that IL was addressed TO the baby.
and not TO her. 80 abe took courage.
and went on again.
Il didn't know that Cheshire cats
always grinned. in fact. didn't
know that cats could grin"
You don't know much" said the
Duchess: and that's fact"
Alice did not at all like tn. tone
OF this remark. and thought ~
would be as well TO introduce some
other subject OF conversation
While she was trying 10 fix on one.
the cook took the cauldrou OF soup
off the fire. and at once set TO
work throwing everything within
her reach at the Duchess and the
baby: the fireirons came first.
then followed n shower OF sauce
pans. plates. and dishes. Tho
Duchess took no notice OF them
even when they hit her. and the
baby was bowling so much already
that IL was quite impossible 10 say
whether tho blows hurt IL or not
"oh! please mind what you're
DOING" cried Alice. jumping up
and down In an agony of terror.
"Oh. there goes his precious nose I"
as an unusually large saucepan
flew quite close by Il. and very
nearly carried II off.
"Here' you may nurse Il bit
II you like" said the Duchess TO
Alice. flinging the baby at her as
she spoke. Il must 10 and get
ready TO play croquet with the
Queen" and she hurried out OF
the room. Tho cook threw a fry.
ingpan after her as she went. but
Il just missed her.
Alice caught the baby with some
difficulty. as Il was a aueershaped
little creature. and held out It's
arms and legs in all directions.
AS soon as she had made out tho
proper way OF nursing II (which
was to twist II UP into n sort of
knot. and then keep tight hold OF
its right ear and left foot. so as to
prevent It's undolng itselD she car.
ried IL out into the open air.
III don't take this child away
with me-" thought Alice. they're
sure to XIII II in a day or two
Wouldn't ~ be murder to-Jeave II
behind7" She said the last words
out loud. and the little thing grunt-
cd in reply OF had left off sncezinF
by this tlme) Don't grunt," said
Alice. that's not at all n proper
way OF expressing yourself"
The baby grunted again. and
Alice looked very anxiously into
It's face to see what was the matter
with Il. There could be no doubt
that II had very turn-up nose
much more like snout than n real
nose: also it's eyes were getting
extremely small for a baby.
"lf you're going 10 turn into n
pig. my dear" said Alice. seriously.
"1ll have nothing more to do with
you. Mind now" The poor little
thing sobbed again Tor grunted.
It was impossible TO say which, q,
and they went on for some while
in silence.
Alice was Just beginning 10 think
to herself, Now. what am to do
with this creature when | get II
homc?" when II grunted again so
violently that she looked down into
its face in some alarm. This time
there could be no mistake about It:
1t was a pig, and she felt that It