Vernon Parish Democrat. (Leesville, La.) 1917-193?, 1921-02-03
THE CRATER OF ARISTOTLE.

che Peter and Jane who heard these
stories were packing up to leave the
seasnore. After the eleventh story
was told, Jane told Uncle Tan that
the next day would be her eighth birth
day, and that on the day afterward
she was going home. She said that
she was to have a little party at her
house, a birthday party, and that she
wished very much that Uncle Tan
would come to the party, and tell the
twelfth story there.
I doubt If Uncle Tan would have
gone if James mother had not come
and asked him to. But he went, and
his son went, too, for Jane had in
Nited him.
There were eight guests besides
Uncle Tan. Four Of these were small
aish boys and four were smallish girls.
I mean by that that they were from
six to ten years old.
While they were all eating toasted
marshmallOws, the round full moon
came up. Peter and James father and
mother came out the big fire was
started, and rugs were spread in front
Df Uncle Tan for the children to sit
on. He leaned back against a big
granite boulder, and his white hair
made him look like an old king on
his throne.
1t remains (said Uncle TAM to de-
scribe the children's visit to the Crater
of Aristotle. You will not know for
some time yet what the Crater Of Aris-
totle was. suppose Peters father,
who is a professor, knows all about
Aristotle and craters, but even he,
think, will have to wait to learn what
Aristotle we mean, and what crater.
Once upon q time 1t occurred to the
children that Flyback had been pretty
anxious to make them understand who
the magician was now. You will re-
member that Flyback said that the
magician's name was Pepper.
eff we only knew where he lived,
we could go and call on him." said
Brother.
"Well, we could ask Me. Perhaps
she knows"
No sooner said than done. It was
a holiday, and they, were ready for
a lark. They found Me in the nursery,
fast asleep.
wake up, my DEAR" said Sister, as
she put her hand gently under Me and
lifted her. Me hung limp and lazy;
she hung down some distance on both
sides of Sisters hand.
pepper, Pepper, Pepper" said
Brother. 'DO you know where Pro
fessor Pepper ISL"
Me came to life as quick as wink
and jumped up on the table. She
bobbed her head and mewed.
"Will you take us to call on himT
The cat sprang down and made for
the door. The children seized their
wraps and followed.
Me marched out into the street and
trotted softly, cat-fashiOn, downtown
to the subway. She sprang upon a
Harvard Square car and sat down on
the front seat. The children followed.
When they reached Harvard Square,
where Peters father goes to deliver
lectures to college students, Me bound
ed to the sidewalk and kept on past
Tie OQudIS. OuC went vi " a pa :
OF the town which is not very pleasant.
The children followed patiently.
At last Me made her way into an
alley and climbed a long dark stair
way. Up went the children after her.
She paused at a certain door and
scratched on 1t with her claws.
There was the sound of shutting
Geet, and presently the door opened.
There stood a little old man with a
very bald head and very large pair
of spectacles. He carried a large
handkerchief and was shifting. Over
the stove the children could see sew
eral other large handkerchiefs dry
ing out They had all been wet with
Professor Peppers tears.
"Come in, my dear Me-" said the
professor, "and bring your friends in.
You must excuse my weeping, but 1
can't help it. 1 can never think with
out tears of how lost the carpet.
Mot that 1 begrudge it to you, my dear.
1t makes me happy to think that you
can talk"
The children came In and were
seated, and at once they explained
how it was that Me had given up the
habit of talking 1t was because they
and not she, now owned the wonder
full carpet.
Professor Pepper was not the man
TO hold a grudge against innocent chill
dren, and so he came over and shook
hands with them and congratulated
them through his tears.
He then explained to them what a
sad time he had, living in Cambridge.
He had invented some very wonder
ful and even magical things since he
reformed, but he could not get the pro-
fessors to believe in them. They
laughed at him.
"Why," said Brother, shat seems to
me surprising. know of gentleman
who is a professor there, and he Is a
very nice man. don't know him my
self, but know that he has son