Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-12-09
CHAPTER I
Balky Sam Kicks

HDEACE! Peace! Peace
i The glad song fioated down to Peggy
from the church steeple far above her.
Peace! Peace with victory! Peace with
safety! Peace with joy and happiness!' The
chant grew louder as out from the steeple
there poured an army or pigeons
"Hurrah! !" cried Peggy. THE soldier birds
are home from war J"
Down swooped the pigeons. lining up he-
fore Peggy in military formation. In front
of them was handsome young officer, who
saluted smartly.
Princess Peggy we have done our duty
and helped to make the world safe for every
one. We thank you for sending us to war.
and giving share in this noble triumph
Peggy looked closely, in pleased surprise.
1t was Airy Pouter, but not the snobbish, lazy,
sneering Airy Pouter she had known Of olo.
This was a snappy, soldlery, likable pigeon
Of very different sort.
"Oh, I'm so glad you're bacls,' exclaimed
Peggy. But where are Carrie and Homer
Pigeon?"
They have remained behind to prevent
Balky Sam, the army mule. from starting
another war. They want you and Billy Bel
gium to hurry over there as fast as you can
Goodness gracious! Why does he want
another war. just when every one is SO happy
over peace?'
Before Airy Pouter could answer, another
pigeon voice cried, Hurry, hurry!" and Peg
gy looked up into the air to see Bronze
Beauty darting toward her. Beside him was
Billy Belgium's toy airplane. with Billy him.
self. reduced to doll-size, in the pilots seas.
"Come on, Peggy. Here are Golickety
Leaves to make you small and invisible" :"
shouted Billy.
Presto! Peggy became as small as the
pigeons, and hoped into the airplane.
Europe! Bingen on the Rhine !" shouted
Billy. as If giving directions to chauffeur.
'Whir-r-r-! Whsh- -sh-sh-sh !" went the
airplane for dizzy minute. Then It slowed
up Looking below, Peggy saw a large river.
I'VE are in Germany. There's the Rhine,
shouted Billy.
Beside the town was huge military camp,
over which flew the American flag straignr
for this camp headed the airplane AS they
approached it. Peggy and Billy could hear a
violent racket. Bang! Whack! Thump;
Chatter! Bang! 1t sounded like a battle.
Has the war broken loose again?" cried
Billy in wonderment.
ut will mighty quick, If Balky Sam isn't
headed off," shrilled voice close at hand
and there were Homer and Carrie Pigeon fly
ing beside the airplane
A bugle call rang out below, and COM
pany of negro soldiers could be seen running
toward a long wooden building from whicn
the~racket was coming
whats dong?" shouted Billy Belgium.
''Balky Sans army of mules has taken
possession of the stables" shrilled Homer
pigeon. 1.-THE negro troops are attacking
them to prevent their beginning new war OH
Germany"
III.
screamed Peggy, Mortified at the sight of tho
weapons in the hands of the negroes-these
weapons being glstening ptchforks.
"Wah! Wah! Wah!" shouted the negroes.
rushing into the stables
For a moment there was silence. Then
bang bangety-bang, bang The racket rose
louder than ever. Above it sounded screams
"Oh, the poor mules !" cried Peggy cover
ing her ears.
Crash! Out through window came flying
a negro Crash! Right through a splinterea
board came another negro. Crash Up
through the roof came a third. Then crasn
crash crash, followed a chorus, and with
every crash sprawling negro few through
window, side roof. a
''Hee Haw!" roared familiar voice. and
there was Balky fam leading a troop or
prancing, kicking mules through hole
smashed in the side of the stables.
''Hee Haw!" brayed T sllfy Sam. "on
to Berlin"
"Stop him !" shrieked Homer Pigeon. "Stop
him before the war begins all over again."