Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-04-26
DREAMLAND
ADVENTURES
The Garden OF Years
Nv DADDY
CHAPTER II
The Growing Years

The Growing Years
Doggy and Billy and Judge Owl
l. sented themselves on the white robe
Of Old Father Time, as he had told
them to do. Old Father Time picked
up his big scythe, holding it very care
fully so It would not touch the children,
and he tucked his hour glass under his
arm. Then he spoke two magic words !:
Thine flies"
And time did fly and with him flew
Peggy, Billy and Judge Owl. The mu-
scum in which they had been standing
faded strangely away and they rushed
swiftly but smoothly through the air.
They could see the city whirling past
below them then the country, and
finally they came to broad garden.
In this garden Father Time alighted.
and Peggy and Billy and Judge Owl
stepped from his white robe. II was
beautiful place, filed with blooming
flowers and opening buds.
These flowers are the growing
years. said Father Time to Peggy and
Billy, and then he pointed out two spe-
cial rows of plants. the nearest of which
was JupN W buu' th'
beyond being smaller and going down
like steps until the farthest were just
peeping from the ground.
One of these rows had tag on which
bore the name PEGGY. The
other bore the namae "B-i-l-l-y.'
Here are your own growing years,
spoke Father Time, stroking his beard
as he looked down upon them with
thoughtful eyes. You can pick each
year flower as 1t blooms, and enjoy it
in full measure until it fades. Wouldn't
YOU rather do that than gather them in
bunches?"
Billy looked at Peggy and Peggy
looked at Billy. Which should they
choose?
II you please, I'd rather like to gath
er enough years so l would be old
enough to- go TO parties with the high
school boys" said Billy.
And I'd like to be old enough to
put up nay hair, said Peggy. -,
Father Time sighed. You will. be
sorry" he warned them. But you
shall have your wish. ! will cut off
enough years to make you old enough
60 go to high school parties" Father
Time began to sweep his scythe back
and forth
"Whoo. Whoo. Wait minute :"
hooted Judge Owl. IF you are going
to use that thing l m going to get away
from here. haven t any years to lose. v
And Judge Owl tapped away as fast
as he could.
Old Father Time swept the scythe
through Billy's row, cutting half doz
en- plants off short. Another sweep of
the scythe brought down as many plants
in Peggy's row.
Father Time gathered up the cut
plants from Billy's row, placing them in
| Billy's arms. Have your WISH he
whispered. Here are your years"
No sooner had he said this than Billy
suddenly grew several inches in height
His weight became greater and he looked
at least six years older. Even his
clothes changed, smart long trouseI
suit replacing the knickcrs which Billy
had worn.
"Why. Billy has grown up" cried
Peggy in surprise and dismay, but al
that moment Father Time placed IN
her arms the plants from her own row
and in an instant Peggy gained in heigh,
and weight and years as Billy had done
She was now Il girl Of sixteen and she
wore her hair done up instead of hang
ing in curls down her back. Billy looked
in astonishment Mt Peggy.
"Jmenity. Peggy, but YOU have
grown into a very pretty girl. he said
"Will you be my partner at the high
school party
Yes" answered Peggy, but where
is the party
Father Time waved his hand TOWARD
a handsome building at one side of thu
garden. From this garden came th'
sounds of lively music, and when Pegg!
and Billy looked within, they found thu
place to be beautiful ballroom.
Dance" whispered Father Time
Dance. that you may not miss YOU
lost and wasted years And Pegg!
and Billy looked down at the plant
which they held in their arms, only t
find them already withercd.
But the music was calling them
Hand in hand they ran into the beau
tiful ballroom and whirled away ami'
the gay young folks, keeping step t
the stirring strains of the music.
Dance. Dance whispered ole
Father Time, signing again. "iou vii
be coming back to me soon, eager t
gather more years
And Peggy and Billy did come back
and what they wanted will be told to-
morrow.