Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-10-19
OUR BOYS : !
and GIRLS 3 !
( {
THE RUNAWAY PENNY

"'ct auuuSHlluliS IN IIlt palm I
ms hand. He had weeded the pans
bed. that was one: then he had run |
tine store and earned Two more; NV
willing little hands had busted IN
psrior for mother. that made four, an
Yes. the NTH was for minding bah
sister ON the grass while mother sew
ed.
He felt quite like q business man
indeed. and began 10 hop gayly along
swinging his arms and thinking I,
himself just how delicious and COO
that ice cream cone was going Il
taste on the warm afternoon.
Now you know, when you have five
SAppery pennies in one warm LITTLE
land. and you run along Swingine
your arms. just what may happen
Wen. that very thing happened to
Jack! All Of sudden he hadn',
gone very far from home, either but
there. he opened his hand and found
only four pennies. One little penny
had slipped out.
or course, four pennies would never
buy an Ice cream cone, not at all, that
u. not the big, fat kind that Jack
wanted.
he tried to be real brave and began
70 hunt for that little runaway penny.
hut his face dropped as he thought
how hard he had worked for it.
He retraced his steps, slowly, look
Ing in The high grass on one side OF
the cement walk and in the soft vel
Nety lawn on the other side of the
walk, among the dandelion blossoms.
ana, IN fact, everywhere but the right
place. for then he would surely have
found It, you know.
He went round and round, down the
walk, thru the grass and back again.
but no penny could he find.
Then all of sudden what was
that? Jack looked up into the apple
tree. Why! He hadn't noticed before
that it was an apple tree. What a lot
Of fairly blossoms there were: big,
pink, smelly blossoms all noddins and
smiling at him in such friendly man.
ner. And right there. near queer lit.
tie hanging nest. sat the brightest,
prettIest oriole Jack had ever seen
As Jack looked up the bird cooked
his head saucily to one side and re.
p~ated the very words that had
startled him moment ago-"Rest-a.
while, Jackie boN Rest-awhile."
Now. little Jack was very, very
tired, 30 he just sat right down there
on the cool, soft grass and rested his
back against the tree, as the orioe
had told hin to GO.
He watcl ID the leaves as they nick.
cred about in tn light bree. seri.
ng funny little shadows dancing over
he lawn. He listened to the birds |
seeding and singing by I
.urns.
Then there was the oriole again say.
ng. just as sure as you live: Come
~. Jackie boy, Come up"
Jack wiped his sleeve across his
wondering eyes and looked up thru to
he bough where the oriole sat sway
NJ back and forth. And as he looked
he bird waved wing and motioned
o him.
Come up!' he repeated, Come
lp."
How can II" asked the little fel
Ow, quite GROSSLY.
why. just climb" replied the
riole. Cant do anything if YOU
ont try"
And the first thing Jack knew he was
limbing up the apple tree, hand over
and and leg over leg. just like the
Their Jack climbed up the beanstalk.
When Jack had climbed quite up to
be oriole he threw one leg over a
hick branch and sat down.
Well, what's the matter?" asked
he bird. Your face looks as long as
ne Mississippi River"
Now. Jack had learned just little
bout the Mississippi River at school.
nd he didn't like to think his face
'oked as long as that Two big tears
)lled down his cheeks. He looked
at thru the branches and began to
III the oriole all about the runaway
emmy and how badly he wanted that
Q cream cone. /
The bird was quite still while he
as talking; but when he stopped
ith a little sob the oriole began TO
ugh. And what was worse than all,
e other birds began to laugh, too.
Jack hadn't seen the other birds. so
} looked around to see where they
'ud be. Why, the branches were
II of them-all laughing and talking
,out him.
or course this made Jack feel very I
idly indeed He opened his lips to
II the oriole that he didn't think it
as nice at all for them TO laugh so,
It just then something cool brushed v
ainst his cheek. He looked around. [
ID oh! what do you think. The tree
asn't full Of apple blossoms at all,
It ice cream cones, full of the most
licious pink ice cream. h
why don't you eat one?" asked
0riole, and laughed again.
Jack didn't need second invitation. C.
u may be sure, but fell to with
n. He ate and ate and the mere he h
Q the more there were to eat. q
Then to Jacks further surprise, he