I guess I'll go to sleep and dream About the fairies now!

A JOKE ON UNCLE JIMMY

"Hurrah!" cried Jack, "here comes the snow!" Sister May came to the window and looked out. "If it keeps on like this, Jack, we'll be able to build a snowman today. We'll take that old silk hat of father's to put on his head and he will look so jolly."

"I'll tell you what we'll do," said Jack laughing at the idea that suddenly came into his head. "Uncle Jimmy is expected late this evening.

Now, we'll make Mr. Snowman close to the walk--we might almost put him on the walk, and then we'll dress him up in some old clothes, so he will look very natural. Perhaps we can fool Uncle Jimmy."

"I don't see just how," remarked May thoughtfully, "unless it is so dark that Uncle Jimmy will almost run into him."

"That's just it," answered Jack. "If it keeps on snowing all day, and doesn't stop even when it's dark, our snowman will have a good chance to fool almost anybody."

In an hour or so there was enough snow on the ground for the children to commence. "May," said Jack, as he finished rolling the ball which was to be Mr. Snowman's head, "I'm going to build this snowman close to the walk so he will look just like a man standing by the tree, and perhaps we can think up something to make Uncle Jimmy imagine he is being attacked by a highwayman."

"You goose," said his sister, laughing; "how will you manage that?"

"You just wait," said Jack, "I'll work out some sort of a plan."

The snowman grew bigger every minute. It was getting dark, and at a little distance the snowman looked as natural as life. But how to make him scare Uncle Jimmy was the question. All the afternoon Jack had cudgeled his brains for an idea, but in vain, and here it was almost time for the climax.

Suddenly Jack gave a whoop of delight. "I've got it! I've got it!" In a moment he was rushing inside the house, and in a few minutes returned with a long rope. "May, stuff the right coatsleeve with snow, while I climb up the tree." In a few minutes Jack had the rope over an overhanging limb, and having tied one end to the wrist of Mr. Snowman's right arm, he led the other end around the side of the piazza.

"Come on, May," he cried excitedly, "I see Uncle Jimmy coming!" Both children darted behind the house as the front gate clicked. Up the walk came Uncle Jimmy and just as he got abreast of the tree Jack let go the rope and the right arm of Mr. Snowman hit Uncle Jimmy on the shoulder.

There was a smothered exclamation, and then Mr. Snowman's hat flew off his head like a cannon ball.

A hearty laugh followed and before the children could escape Uncle Jimmy, guided by the long rope, darted around the side of the house and Mr. Jack Joker was being treated to a face ma.s.sage of cold snow. Uncle Jimmy was not any too particular about some getting down Jack's collar, either. When his nephew finally begged for mercy Uncle Jimmy let him up and gave chase to May. What a scramble! And what a lot of screams! May had seen Jack's good-natured punishment, but nevertheless she didn't want any of Uncle Jimmy's facial treatment. Just then, kind fate intervened, and mother opened the door. "What are you children doing?"

she called, peering into the darkness. "Come in at once!"

"All right," answered Uncle Jimmy, and with a rush they all ran for the open door.

After kissing him mother turned to Jack and said: "Goodness, what makes your face so red? Why, it's all wet!"

"I'll run up stairs and fix up," answered Jack hurriedly, and off he went. Uncle Jimmy smiled. "That snowman of yours, Jack, tackled the wrong fellow, don't you think so?" But Jack kept right along going upstairs, so good-natured Uncle Jimmy didn't say another word.

Goosey, goosey gander Whither do you wander?

Of your winged motor car Are you growing fonder?

[Ill.u.s.tration: _Harvey Peake_]

LITTLE SIR CAT

Little Sir Cat Saves the p.u.s.s.y from the Well

"_Ding, dong bell, p.u.s.s.y's in the well!_"

When Little Sir Cat heard that he whipped up Dapple Gray and pretty soon he came to a crowd of people standing around an old well. Just then a crooked-nosed man let down the water bucket and p.u.s.s.y crawled in and was lifted up dripping wet, but still alive.

"Where is the naughty boy who put her in?" asked Little Sir Cat. But n.o.body knew. I guess he had run away, as bad boys generally do after they have done something they know is wrong.

"Give her to me," said Little Sir Cat, and he started to ride away when Little Polly Flinders who sat among the cinders said, "I'll take her home and warm her by my fire!"

All of a sudden, a regiment of soldiers came by. And when the Lord High General saw Little Sir Cat, he came forward and said, "Will you play the little drum for us?" And what do you think this little kitten replied?

You know already, I'm sure, but I'll tell you just the same.

[Ill.u.s.tration: LITTLE SIR CAT SAVES THE p.u.s.s.y FROM THE WELL]

"Yes, my Lord," he answered, and then the leader of the fife and drum corps handed him a little drum, and Little Sir Cat started right in to play just like a regular drummer boy. And the way he made that little drum sound was just wonderful. The whole regiment began to cheer, and one big captain said, "Three cheers and two tigers for Little Sir Cat!"

And, goodness me, the cheers that went up from that regiment were heard all over Mother Goose Land and everybody asked everybody else what was the matter, and the little yellow bird, whose name I'm going to tell you some day, told them it was for Little Sir Cat. Then all the Mother Goose People began to cheer and when the regiment heard them, they asked what was the matter, and the little yellow bird told them who were cheering.

Wasn't that a wonderful little bird?

_Diddle Dum! Diddle Dum!

Went the little drum, As Little Sir Cat marched off to war Beating the drum sticks o'er and o'er._

Pretty soon they came in sight of the enemy, and all the big guns were rushed to the high places and the infantry spread out in long, thin lines, with the cavalry in the rear. All of a sudden the bullets sputtered and the big sh.e.l.ls screamed, and, oh, dear me, the little drum couldn't be heard at all, although Little Sir Cat beat on it with all his might. By and by the enemy ran away. Then the tents were set up and the field where they had been fighting looked like a tented city, only it didn't have any little church or school house.

At last, when everything was quiet, the general pinned a gold medal on Little Sir Cat, who felt very proud, and told his little drummer not to be afraid for he would never let the enemy get him.

And pretty soon you will find another story--unless--

_The postman in the morning Gives me a candy pill, And the doctor sends me a valentine Instead of a great big bill._

A LITTLE GIRL'S DIARY

Tuesday

_I love her on Tuesday As she irons smooth and clean Her little dolly's dresses With the tucks and frills between._

Tuesday, directly after lunch, I play with my doll's house. You see, I have all the work to do for Dolly, and so I take out the clothes from the basket in the doll's house kitchen, and smooth them out, ready for ironing. There is a cunning little ironing board, besides two small irons, for "Ironing Day." There are lots of things to iron, all Dolly's table linen and the cute little sheets and pillow cases and towels, too.

Oh, dear me! Sometimes I feel that Mother has a pretty hard time with our big house when I see how it bothers me to keep Dolly's house in perfect order.

Sometimes, before I have finished, my little friend Eleanor Gray will come in, and want me to go out with her. Then we both take our hoops and go to the park and play all afternoon. As soon as I get home I put Dolly to bed, before I have my own supper, because if I don't, very often I haven't time to attend to her afterwards and she has to sit up all night, which must be very tiresome even for a doll.