The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1921-07-14

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Alice broke off a piece from each
side of the mushroom. After eating
bit of one she grew so short her chin
struck her foot. Hastily eating some
of the other she grew so tall her head
was among the tree tops. "Oh, dear,
shall I never be my regular size
again - she cried nibbling from the
first piece and shrinking down to only
nine inches.
In despair she started to walk
through the wood and soon came to
a little house about four feet high.
Without knocking Alice walked into
the kitchen. The Duchess sat rock
ing a little pig in her lap, the Cook
was sprinkling quantities Of pepper
into a kettle of soup and a Cheshire
Cat on the hearth grinned from ear to
ear at her. All three sneezed violent
ly from time to time.
"Please, go away-I don't like your
grim" said Alice to the Cat. "All
right" replied the Cat. and vanished,
beginning with the tail and ending
with the grin-but the grin remained
after the rest had disappeared. To
escape from this horrid grin Alice ran
out of the house and into the wood
closely pursued by the grin. Seeing
little door open leading into a big
tree Alice slipped through and slam
med the door behind her, shutting
out the grin.
Turning about she at last found
herself in the beautiful garden. Stand
ing about a rose-tree near the en-
trance were three gardeners painting
the white roses red. "Why are you
doing that?" asked Alice. Because"
replied one, ''the Queen does not fan
cy white roses" "Hush! !" said an
other; there comes the Queen now !"
Alice turned eagerly to behold the
royal procession. There were soldiers
with clubs, courtiers bedecked with
diamonds and the royal children were
ornamented with hearts, while in and
out among them hoped the White
Rabbit. Last of all came the King
and Queen of Hearts.
When the Queen came to Alice she
stopped and asked, "My child, do you
play croquet?" "Y-y-y-yes," stam-
mered Alice much confused. "Then
here is your mallet," replied the
Queen handing Alice live flamingo.
Then the game began and such a
crazy game of croquet Alice had never
seen.
The croquet balls were live hedge
hogs and the soldiers bent over to
make the arches. Besides the ground
was full of hummocks and ridges. All
played at once. When Alice would
get ready to hit her ball with the
fiamingos head. either the hedgehog
would walk off, or the soldier making
the arch would stand up to rest his
back.
'How do you like the game?" asked
a voice. Looking up Alice beheld the
grin of the Cheshire Cat. Before she
could answer the Cats head appeared,
but no more of 1t. ~ don't like 1t at
ALL" replied Alice dropping her mallet
which at once flew off. The Cat turn
ed to look at the King, who did not
like being grinned at, and complained
to the Queen, who ordered the Cat be-
headed on the spot.
"That is all very WE'LL" said the
King, "but l should like to know how
1t Is possible to behead a cat which
has no bodyf" While they were argu-
ing the Cheshire Cat vanished, head,
grin and all.
Alice went to look for her flamingo,
but could not find 1t. When she re-
turned all the players had gone to the
found trial in progress. The King
and Queen sat on their throne hear
ing the evidence. The Knave Of
Hearts was being tried for stealing
some tarts the Queen had made. Sew
eral witnesses testified, but they talk
ed Of everything else except the sto-
len tarts.
what a silly trial ~ thought Alice,
nibbling absent-mindedly at a piece
Of mushroom she had left. Almost
before she knew it she grew so tall
her head bumped against the ceiling.
"Call the next witness !" command
ed the King. "ALICE" cried the
White Rabbit. "But | don't know any
thing about the stolen tarts," protested
Alice. "That's very important" re-
marked the King. Its against the
rules for a witness over a mile high
to testify" said the Queen. leave
this court at oncel" ordered the King
addressing Alice. 'In that case" said
the King, "let the jury consider the
verdict" Sentence first and verdict
afterward," objected the Queen. 'How
absurd to have a sentence before
verdict" said Alice scornfully.
"Off with that girls headr' shouted
the Queen pointing at Alice. "Will
you please stoop down so l can carry
out the Queens orders?" asked the
Royal Executioner politely. mo, 1
won't" cried Alice; you are all moth