Catoctin clarion., 1923-05-03
The Father John Family

Inc fatnef Jonn family mas recent
ly arrived here from Arizona; their
eldest child's name being Arabella,
the youngest Jad. Mrs. John was
formerly Miss Extra Size, and fine
name it was for her. When quite
young she suddenly married Mr.. Fa-
ther John, In later years they had
the above named children, Arabella
and Jad. When the children became
seven and eight years old respectively,
the family moved to their present
home in Fishersburg. AS this family
was very sociable, they quite frequent
ly received visitors in their home.
One afternoon a very old couple,
namely, Mr.. and Mrs. Fish came to
see the Johns. When these people
came Arabella and Jad were sent to
the nursery to play. The, children
played quietly for a while but when
they found no one was watching them,
they decided to start on an adventure.
They crept noiselessly from their play
room, and passed quickly through the
back gate.
When they thought they were fair
ly well out of sight they began to ex-
plore their new surroundings. Before
long they came to small village COM
monty known as Sportsburg. With
their hands in their pockets they en-
tered small store with the intention
of buying some candy.
"Do yu sell blackjack cigarettes in
yer?" inquired Jad of the store-keeper
"Yu-u-u d-don't mean cigarettes Yu
m-mean h-ch-che-chew-gum," stam-
mered Arabella.
"Aw, shut up, Arabella, means
what l sez," replied Jad.
AS the children became too fresh
for the store keeper to handle, he i'm
mediately dismissed them from the
store. Hesitating a few minutes on
the outside, discussing the recent alb
rupt interruption in their plans they
decided to look for some other center
of attraction.
On seeing advertisements of show
in town they followed directions and
soon found themselves in field, con-
tanning large tent, several smaller
ones in which they spied women and
children in bright colored clothes, such
as they had not seen since they left
Arizona.
The curiosity of these two "devilish
imps" became so great that it got the
better of them, and they daringly en-
tered a small tent, in which they found
fortune tellers. One old lady took
Arabella roughly by the arm and
placed her on a low stool.
"For what did you come in here?"
inquired the old lady. "I-I-comed in
ter see what wuz in yer, replied Ar
abella," who was very much fright
ened.
"Want your fortune told, dear?"
asked the lady kindly. Arabella nod
ded. The gypsy began telling her for
tune.
All went we'll until the gypsy an
nounced the charges. In her gener-
osity to the little ones she had reduced
her price from fifty to twenty-five
cents. |Arabella began crying as she
sadly informed the lady that she own
ed no money. However the lady told
her that she must remain there until
she handed the quarter over.
"Jad jumqed up excitedly and cried,
Oh! we gotta go home, Oh! we gotta
home, we gotta 60 home"
AS the lady was quieting Arabella,
Jad escaped through the doorway, and
started in search of a quarter.
In the meantime Mr.. and Mrs. John
became aware of the fact that their
children were missing. They at once
began searching for them, Mr.. and
Mrs. Fish aiding in their search.
When they discovered that their chill
dren were no where about the house
or its surroundings they became alar-
med, and started toward the village
in sore despair. The news of the
missing John children was soon spread
throughout the community. When the
parents with their assistants reached