The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-05-31
A HIGHLY MAGNIFIED HISTORY.

1T is but honest that 1 should
| acknowledge at the beginning of my
recital that 1 was born an ordinary
woggle- bug" began the creature, in
| a frank and friendly tone. knowing
| no better, used my arms as well as
my legs for walking, and crawled
| under the edges of stones or hid
among the roots of grasses with no
| thought beyond finding few insects
smaller than myself to feed upon.
The chill nights rendered me stiff
| and motioLless, for 1 wore no clothing,
but each morning the warm rays of
| the sun gave me new life and restored
me to activity. A horrible existence is
| this, but you must remember it is the
regularly ordained existence of wog-
gle-bugs, as well as Of many other
| tiny creatures that inhabit the earth.
| But destiny had singled me out,
| humble tho I was, for a grander fate!
One day 1 crawled near to country
! school house, and my curiosity being
| excited by the monotonous hum of
| the students within, 1 made bold to
enter and creep along a crack between
| two boards until reached the far end.
where, in front of hearth of glowing
emhers sat the master at his desk.
No one noticed SO small a creature
as woggle-bug, and when I found
| that the hearth was even warmer and
more comfortable than the sunshine.
l resolved to establish my future home
! beside it. So 1 found a charming nest
between two bricks and hid myself
| therein for many, many months
| Professor Nowital1 is, doubtless,
the most famous scholar in the land
of or, ana after a few days 1 began
to listen to the lectures and discourses
he gave to his pupils. Not one of
them was more attentive than the
| humble, unnoticed Woggle-Bug, and 1
acquired in this way a fund of knowl-
edge that will myself confess is SIM
ply marvellous. That is why 1 place
IT. E.'-Thoroly Educated-upop my
cards; for my greatest pride lies in the
another Woggle-Bug with a tenth part
| of my own culture and erudition."
Il do not blame you" said the
Scarecrow. Education IS a thing to
be proud of. I'm educated myself.
The mess of brains given me by the
Great Wizard is considered by my
| friends to be unexcelled."
Nevertheless" interrupted the Tin
Woodman, "a good heart is, I believe,
| much more desirable than education
or brains"
ITO me-" said the Saw-Horse, "a
good leg is more desirable than
either"
could seeds be considered in the
light of brains?'' inquired the Pump
kinhead, abruptly
Keep quiet" commanded Tip,
sternly.
Very well. dear Father" answered
the Obedlent Jack.
The Woggle-Bug listened patiently
even respectfully-to these remarks,
| and then resumed his story.
! 81 must have lived fully three ye1rs
1 in that secluded school house hearth"
said he, drinking thirstily of the ever
| flowing fount of limpid knowledge be-
| fore me-"
/ "Quite poetical," commented the
scarecrow, nodding his head approx
ingly.
But one day." continued the Bug,
| "a marvellous circumstance occurred
that altered my very existence and
| brought me to my present pinnacle of
greatness. The Professor discovered
me in the act of crawling across the
| hearth, and before 1 could escape he
| had caught me between his thumb and
| forefinger.
| My dear children said he, 4 have
| captured a Woggle-Bug-a very rare
and interesting specimen. Do any of
you know what a Woggle-Bug tsp
| No! yelled the scholars, in chorus
Then, said the Professor, I will
| get out my famous magnifying glass
and throw the insect upon a screen in
highly agnified condition, that you
may all study carefully it's peculiar
| construction and become acquainted
with its habits and manner of life
He then brought from a cupboard