The mirror., 1923-06-21

nank you bennle. I'm so Siau!
said Justice, and, as Bennie ran away to
his mother, she stood looking after the re-
treating figure and unused to herself-"A
week ago the little shaver was a regular
little socialist lecturer-and a good one
too-and tonight he is almost a preacher.
Goodness me! I'll bet that he will be
asking his teacher some shrewd questions
soon.
The days following were filled with
cheerfulness for the more than two hun
dred little guests and their parents. Many
were the "hikes" taken through meadows,
along brooks, over hills, and through corn
fields where weird looking efigies with
old straw hats and dangling coat sleeves
were perched upon tall poles, bidding
defiance to the crows and black-birds that
flew overhead and screamed and called
their "caw-caw;" as if daring the scare
crows to come away from their stations.
Finally, and all too soon, came the last
night in camp but with it, came also
treat. A big show was staged in the
granary, and at its conclusion, as the aud
ience was filing back to their tents, there
came from just beyond the last string of
jap-lanterns an unearthly, hideous, and
discordant musical groan; followed by
another and still louder one-apparently
Ca1lino Hee-haw-awkl I"
Looking in the direction from which
the sounds came, the campers were
astounded to see a great grey-looking OBJ
ject seated upon its launches in the center
of the roadway. 1t appeared to be of
immense size, and possessed long pointed
ears that stood upright upon monstrous
head.
"A Goblin!-A ghost!" cried one of the
children.
"A Jackrabbit!" echoed another.
"Tis not!" said third.
"Guess 1 know!" piped the other,
"Cause 1 seed jackrabbit onc't, hang
ing out in front of a butcher shop"
"Oh G'wan! Jackrabbits amt ten feet
tall!" said the skeptic.
By this time, the old farmer appeared
leading the big awkward creature through
the crowd and toward the stables. "Just
old Samson singin' you an evening sere
rade," remarked the farmer as he passed
BY Samson" proved to be large grey
mule.
The crowd laughed, disappeared into
their tents, and were soon asleep. Even
the boots of the owls and the cries of the
night birds failed to arouse the tired
campers, who, for the first time in their
lives, were weary; not from the toll,
worry, and care, but from sheer JOY and
pleasure.
After breakfast when everything was
packed and ready, the newsboy's band
stationed themselves about the flagstaff,
while the crowd assembled in circle just
beyond them. AS the last strains of
"America" were reached, the flag was
lowered, and the crowd stood with barred
heads as the emblem came down and was
neatly folded. Then came the autos, the
band struck up "It's long long way to
Tipperary," and the party embarked for
home.
Even the city, with its squalid tene-
n-ents, its problems of life, and its many
cares, seemed brighter to the many who
returned from having enjoyed, for but
week, an excursion into Gods wonderful
outdoors. AS the car bearing the dea-
conesses and Miss True passed the Court
house, Miss Wall glanced aloft to the
tower where once stood the bronze figure
and remarked, 81 wonder whatever be-
came of the statue. But believe that if
it were possible for the figure t6 come to
life, that she, looking down upon the city
below and beholding its sorrows and trials
in the midst of wealth and plenty would