Omaha daily bee., 1919-10-19
By FRANCES coNNoR.

1t was lazy day in the late sum-
mer. Soft. feecy clouds foated
slowly across the sky; gentle
breeze lulled the leaves to sleep.
The leaves were happy just to
wave in the bright. warm sunshine
and live their quiet lives. all save
one whom they called Krinkle.
krinkle, with all her brothers and
sisters, lived on a great tree. where
they had grown from wee baby buds
to full grown leaves and now they
were resting. Some were sleeping,
others were singing soft sweet
melodies, in tune with the quiet
beautiful day. -
But little Krinkle could not sing
or enjoy the song of her sisters
She was forever wriggling and
twisting, this way and that. trying
to get awy from her mother. who
was the great tree, and her sisters
and brothers, who were the other
leaves.
At length she whispered to one
of her sisters:
This is lazy. stupid life-it makes
me unhappy. | should love to 20
away. Some day l will leave you
all, never to return"
"Oh, Hor' said her sister. "You
will not 60 far. What can a little
leaf like you, do away from her
mother?" And she laughed and
she laughed and told her other sis
tiers and brothers and they all laugh
ed at Krinkle.
One said, "You had better not
60. There are more handicaps than
pleasures in the world"
Another said:
Don't be such q silly. Krinkle,
you know you can't do it."
And still another said:
Dear me, Krinkle, whatever does
make you SO wayward?"
But she listened not to one of
them and kept right on wishing and
longing for q bigger greater life.
Soft South Wind.
Then the soft-voiced South Wind
came and whispered alluringly of
the beauties and wonders Of the
great world.
He whispered:
"Come, little leaf, I will take you
away and show you wonderful
sights. With me you may travel
for miles and miles and view the
wonders your poor heart Graves. A
great future awaits you. Better
come now before it is too late"
Then with glad heart. great hope
and without adieu, Krinkle left her
family.
Over the fields and prairies she
flew with South Wind and when
they grew tired they stopped in a
field of grain. There she saw a
field mouse carrying away grains
that had fallen to the ground, hur-
rying home to his children. and she
wondered how he could be SO intent
on his duty when he might as we'll
be playing in the sunshine as she
was doing.
When they had rested little thew
continued their journey. The mex:
stop found Krinkle seated in the
tall grass beside Mrs Grouse. who
was busily scratching around to find
food for her large brood of tiny
babies. Presently along came a
dog, shifting and smelling, around
and under, everything and when
Mrs. Grouse knew he was sure to
find them, she gave to her babies
the command to hide. Instantly.
every baby grouse slipped under a
leaf or hid in a little bunch of
grass. One slipped under Krinkle.
!. Then Mrs. Grouse flew up in the air
where the dog could see her
feigned broken wing and kept just
far enough ahead to keep the dog
following her. When she had
brought him far enough away to
know that danger to her babies was
passed, she flew swiftly back and
called to them and every baby came
forth from it's hiding place where it
had gone when she gave the quick
stern command to hide.
Certainly" thought Krinkle.
THAT was wonderful obedience. II
saved their lives. I never minded
my mother like that"
They passed on and on. over the
ground and through the woods.
Everywhere there was life and
everywhere the living things were
busy. =,
The evening came and Krinkle
slept. She was happy, her dream
had come true. She was now out in
the great world and it was all. in
deed, that she had expected.
Rude North Wind.
Rsfore she had s1ept long she was
rudely Weakened by North Wind,
He shook her and roared:
"Wsken. krinkle, there is no time
to sleep You wish to see the world.
Come. let us travel by night. It is
then you may see the real world"
Krinkie was sleepy and wished not
70 60 but North Wind seized her and
they flew with great haste through
the woods. There they saw animals
searching for food. insects running
hither and thither over the ground.
Everything busy. everything intent
on its own mission and Krinkle
wanted t. stop and look at every
thing but North Wind scolded:
There is another side of life. =
side you have not seen. Let US view
some Of the misery. You have known
none OF that"
But Krinkle hesitated:
Moth Wind, did not leave my
mother and family to come here and
see the scrdid things. I want to be
happy. / want to dance and play
and when am tired wish to sleep.
Why have you brought me here to
show me things which l do not care
to see2"
North Wind laughed cruel. harsh
laugh and he blew so cold that Krin-
kle shivered.
"You must see it ALL" Knocked he.
"You must feel the sting of my
IL =