Vernon Parish Democrat. (Leesville, La.) 1917-193?, 1920-11-18

U7cle ian was not Just common
fisherman. To be sure, you would
think so when you first looked into
his cabin. Overhead were many pairs
of oars, hanging by, heavy cords, and
in the corner there were rowlOcks and
fishing tackle and gan hooks to pull
big fish in with. But If you looked
away back under the little window
you could see a writing table, and
above it, on, the wall, you could see
shelves filed with books, and you
could see some large glass jars there.
In the jars there were all sorts. of
sea urchins.
You see, Uncle Tan had good edu-
cation, and in his youth had taught
school. He loved to study all the
different kinds Of sea urchins. A sea
urchin is an odd little creature that
sticks to rocks and has prickles all
over him like thistle's, only not so
sharp.
After supper Jane said, "Uncle Tan,
can you tell storiesT
II can, but not very good ones. I
can bake biscuits better"
"Why aren't your stories good
ones?"
Because you wouldn't believe them,
and besides, they aren't true"
II don't care If they aren't true.
We can play they're true. That's just
as good"
>"Well, but" said Uncle Tan. "my
stories aren't even probable"
81 don't care" said Jane. 81 can
play they're probable"
Uncle Tan threw back his big white
head and laughed. Il think" he said,
'that you'd much better get your
mother to read you really good stories.
should be ashamed to have you tell
her my stories, because there isn't any
head or tail to them, and they're not
beautiful"
'Well," said Jane, "yOu could tell
us one and let us see. Maybe there's
just a weeny little beautiful something
in them, and maybe we could make
head or tail of them. You could tell
us your best one"
"Oh, bless your heart" said Uncle
Tan, 81 haven't got any all ready
made up. I've got a coOky jar, where
you can go and find a cOoky most any
time, but haven't got any story jar.
must make 'em up as go along
They're all in here"-and Uncle Tan
tapped his head with his finger, just
back of his right eye. "And some
times can't make any story come out
of my head Now, if there were only
an electric button there, so that every
time you pressed it,, story would
start out Of my MOUTH But there
isn't any button there"
'I'l tell you" cried Jane, hopping
down from the bench. 81 will kiss the
spot just back of your right eye, and
whenever kiss it you have to make
up a story She had no sooner said
this than she climbed up his chair,
took his big white head in her hands,
and kissed him just back of the right
eye.
'There," she said. "Now you must
be good talking machine"
Uncle Tan slowly got up and got his
pipe. He lighted 1t with a coal, and
then he said:
II don't suppose you ever heard of
the two children who were always get
ting lost?"
mo"
swell, once upon a time there were
two children who were always getting
lost. Their names were Brother and
Sister, and they had a dog named
Aristotle. And. they had plenty of
money. Their father had worked hard
to earn it. There was plenty of 1t,
but it was honestly come by. 1 will
now tell you the story of how they
got lost on Thanksgiving evening.
Every time they got lost they had to
spend the night somewhere, and they
spent it in some queer places. But
they always managed to be coy. They
always had cozy evenings"
"Cozy evenings?" said Jane. "That
sounds fine. like coy evenings bet
ter than anything in the world. Did
the children snuggle down in queer
places and go to sleep"
ayes, always"
"How many coy evenings will you
tell us about? Please tell us about
at least a hundredI"
"That is too many. But If you win
come ever here every evening for a
dozen evenings, 1 will tell you dozen
stories"
'Oh, goodyI'' said Jane.
So after all these interruptions
Uncle Tan told the first story.
THANKSGIVING EVENING AND