The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1919-06-12
STORYTELLING FOR HAPPINESS

What to do for Uncle SAM" etc.)
The children whose homes have
been touched by the world war have
been called upon to make the supreme
sacrifice of childhood, that of JOY. If
they are to be well and strong and eff.
hcient men and women, they must be
helped to find happiness in new values
and new forms. Tell them stories
that will help them to create their
own joyousness in spite of economies
and less play time.
/ The fairy tale of Dumps suggests
and here is What Happened to
/ Dumps:
Once upon a time there was queer
little elf named Dumps, who lived all
/ by himself in a dark little house down
1 in valley. Ever since he could re-
member, things had gone wrong with
/ him.
/ He shivered in the cold and kicked
! the coal bucket when the fire wouldn't
/ burn. He howled when he stumbled
over his own dinner pots that ne mad
/ left sitting in the middle of the floor,
and he stood in his front door and
scowled when the other, happy elves
went by, without speaking to him.
/ He and his family had lived like
! that for years. When any elf wanted
to describe something very sad he
would say it was Down in the Dumps"
and so Dumps went on without sin
Gle happy day.
But the elves decided. suddenly, 10
give a party. Oh, it was going to be
a very jolly party indeed, and Dumps
heard about it. Almost every elf who
passed was whistling, or singing some
thing cheerful. And some of them
to the Wood Fairy's house to be
pressed And when Dumps heard
about the party, he cried so loudly be-
cause he knew that he wouldn't be in
vited that the Wood Fairy heard him.
The noise disturbed her so much that
she went right down TO Dumps house
to see what was the matter with him
now.
Tell me all about it from the be-
ginning my dear" she asked poor lit
tie Dumps.
Il can't see the sunshine" Dumps
howled
"Of course you can't said the Wood
Fairy Your windows are dirty. Get
some nice spring water in your little
pail and wash them"
Dumps had never thought of doing
that When he washed the windows
the sunbeams streamed in like gold
en- ladder.
"Is there something else the mat
ter?" the Wood Fairy asked.
My fire won't burn even though
/ kick the coal bucket every day"
Dumps sobbed.
We'll, do try blowing the fire." the
Wood Fairy suggested.
Dumps had never thought of doing
that His bellows were stiff, but he
blew them very hard and crackle,
there was nice bright fire and his
tea kettle began to sing.
"Is that all?" asked the Wood
Fairy.
"Oh, no." Dumps sighed. THE 9th.
er elves are giving a party and | am
not invited"
1T is for all the elves and you don't
have to be invited" the Wood Fairy
said Stand up straight and let me
brush your suit. Now run along, my
dear"
So Dumps started up the hill TO the
party, laughing all the way for he
just couldn't stop. You see he had SO
many years of being one of the Dumps
to make IN for He laugher until all
his wrinkles were gone and he was
puffed out with happiness He started
bees buzzing and grasshoppers fiddling
and crickets chirping, and whole
crowd of yellow butterflies few along
with him.
who can this new, fat, cheerful
elf be-" asked all the other elves as
Dumps arrived at the party, turning a
double somersault into their midst
I'VE are all here except Dumps, and
of course this isn't he?"
Then Dumps showed them how he
could turn back somersaults and make
a see-saw out of rush leaf He
taught them how 10 play baseball with
white clover heads, and how TO make
swing of braided grasses. He sur
prised himself with all the good time
he was able TO think up.
"Of course, this isn't Dumps" the
other elves decided His name must
be Delight" and Dumps never told
them their mistake, for II wasn't real
ly a mistake at all. Now, was it?
Wv. s. S..