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Show THE WESTERN tinued, “Trot now, boys, make her fly.” “Hold on tight, Davy,” shouted Tom, and still flushed from their recent exertions, they again began running. The wheel fairly whirled and creaked ominously. “Stop! stop! I’m. getting dizzy,” S | shrieked Davy. “Let’s turn him the other way then, he’s only fooling,” cried one of the boys ‘| heedlessly. They lessened the speed, somewhat; turned quickly round to commence running in the opposite direction, but were surprised and horrified as Davy dropped A“ RHYME FOR LITTLE Oh, Til tell you a story knows, Of ten little fingers and ten Of two pretty eyes and one And where they all went that nobody little toes, little nose, one day. Oh, the little round nose smelled something sweet, So sweet it must surely be nice to eat, And patter away went two little feet, Out ofthe room one day. Ten little toes climbed up in a chair, T'wo eyes peeped over a big shelf where Lay a lovely cake, all frosted and fair, Made by mamma that day. . The ‘mouth grew round and the eyes grew big At taste of the sugar, the spice, the fig; And ten little fingers went dig, dig, dig, Into the cake that day. - And}when mamma‘ kissed a curly head, Cuddling it cosily up in bed;§¥[OJ “TI wonder, was there a mouse,” she said, O “Out on the shelf today?” fs) “Oh, mamma, yes,” and a laugh of glee¥ Like,fairy{bells rang merrily—, Bia [J “But_the little bit ofga mouse was me - Out on the shelf today.” | St. Nicholas. Thanksgiving Prize Story. Little: Willie's Thanksgiving, BY MRS.“LYDIA SNOW ““Come on, come on; it’ll hold us up,’ they shouted to the more timid ones on the shore, and thus encouraged, others started out. “‘Let’s PEIRCE. “Come on, fellows, let’s go down to the Big Wheel,” said Davy Mason, the “bad boy” of the school. Fortunately, he was not seriously hurt; only stunned by the fall. On recovering he said, with a pale, rueful countenance and shaky voice, “Father’ll whip me just awful, if he hears of this.” “Let's not tell anyone anything about | it,” said Tom. It was now ge‘*ting dark and they started homeward, walking together until they reached the main street of town; there they bade each other good-night and separated. Willie had been silent during the walk home. He felt uneasy and regretted that he had gone. On entering the house, his mother greeted him with: ‘Where have you been Willie?” He murmured something in an inaudible voice and found an excuse to leave the room. Being busily engaged at the time, she failed to notice his unusual conduct. The following day was Thanksgiving and also Willie’s birthday. As was the custom on Thanksgiving, the relatives were present at Mrs. Clayton’s, and, go too, Gracie,’ said her says we'll get hurt if we don’t do as we’re told. Please don’t go, Roy,’ said his sis- ter, in a pleading voice. | “But the joyous laughs and shouts of the others were ringing in his ears, and he was deaf to Gracie’s warnings and entreaties. In after days, what bitter tears of sorrow he shed for not together. Crack! Crack! Another, then, another. They rushed tumultously for theshore, but not soon enough for all to escape. The ice suddenly gave way, and two were precipitated cruel water. “Several men heard the passing screams of at the into the time, covered. | ‘Roy saw his little sister again, but she was in her coffin, cold amd stiff. ‘Oh, Gracie, Gracie, speak to me! Say that you forgive your brother,’ sobbed the boy, as he knelt beside her. But innocent little Gracie never spoke again.” Uncle Leroy ceased speaking. There was silence for a few seconds; then he said, ere leaving the room, “Children, that broken-hearted lad was your Uncle Le-| Toys’ Pitying tears stood in the eyes of th listeners, and they no longer wondered why this kind uncle was always sad on Thanksgiving. it, and containinga beauti- * * * Davy, as they paused for a moment, ex- hausted and out of breath. “You'd better not get on there,” said Willie, “you know that’s how Jim got his arm broke last summer.” _ “I’m nobody’s baby,” was the sarcastic reply; for like all wrong-doers, Davy enjoyed saying a spiteful thing to one he kknew-to be better than himself; then outstretching upon a huge spoke,he con- Gracie, and be sure that you don’t go on the ice, was the to the boy, as hood; then she they trotted off “On the mother’s last injunction she tied the little girl’s kissed them tenderly,and together, hand in, hand. |: shore of The Pond, they found a number of children; the most. daring of which were testing the strength |. of the ice, by making grimages out upon cautious it. little Finding pil- that it would sustain their light weight, grew bolder and bolder and each they time venturing farther and farther. Two or three were now a considerable distance out:— $30 #£4Prize Srory. children; hastened to their assistance, and with much difficulty succeeded in rescuing one. ““Gracie! Where’s Gracie,’ shrieked Roy; for his sister was missing. | “See! See! There she is.’ “For a moment, there was seen above the broken ice and water, a little white hand like a prayer to heaven—another, and it was gone. ee “Her lifeless body was afterward re- in $30 the On DeEcEMBER 15TH, THE WESFERN Pay A PRIZE WEEKLY WILL OF & SSO.00 « For THE Five s BEST 6 ‘arinieibis STORY” « THousanp.To FOR Srx PUBLICATION $20 THousanp IN ITS Prize Worps, FURNISHED CHRISTMAS ‘NUMBER. $20 Porm. * ful, little watch and chain. Willie reThat night, after the relatives had Aftera little demurring on the part ceived it, while a great lump rose in his gone to their homes, Willie retired to his throat, and a big tear stood in each blue of some, they all expressed their willingbed, but not torest. Thoughts of his . ness to go, except Willie Clayton who eye. Other packages were brought forth, disobedience on the day previous, of his quietly started to leave the crowd. mother’s great kindness, and of his Observing him, Davy whispered to a there being a little present, of less value, uncle’s sad _ story—all combined—so boy close by, “Let’s make him go, or for each child. The afternoon was spent in playing prayed upon his mind, that he could not he’ll tell on us.” How the children en- sleep. ‘“Ain’t you going, Willie?” asked the various games. He could hear the ticking of his} joyed that day! boy. : On every side, Willie heard expressions mother’s beautiful present beneath his| ‘“Mother told me not to go there any like these:—“Ain’t Willie’s mamma good pillow, but it gave him no joy, because more since———” he felt that he did not deserve her good“Oh, he dassent go,” interrupted Davy, to him?” ness. He tossed about, thinking and “See what a pretty watch!” ‘hes “fraid his mammy’!l lick him. ” thinking, feeling so lonely and wicked. And Willie,—how did he feel? He ‘This created a laugh at Willie’s expense, | When he could endure it no longer, he who blushed deeply and felt uncomfort- would have been one of the proudest and arose, went to his mother’s bedside, and, happiest boys on earth, but for the reable. bursting into tears, confessed every“Come on, Willie, don’t be a coward,” membrance of the day before: oh, how thing. he wished that he had told his dear said Tom. | ee Taking him in her arms, she said:—“T After more scoffs and persuasions, mother all, and asked her forgivness, in- forgive you, Willie, now let us ask God stead of doing as he had done. Willie reluctantly accompanied them. | In the evening, they gathered around to forgive you, also.” On the outskirts of the little village, Willie again retired to rest; this time were the remains of an old-fashioned the fire with the promise of a story from to sleep, and to dream that the face of and disused molasses mill. The boards Uncle Leroy, a pale-faced man with sad, the little watch was that of his mother’s, dark eyes. of the floom were warped and whitened “Mine is a true story,” he began; “it kindly smiling upon him, and its joyous by the action of the weather and th in happened many years ago in Chester, a tic, tic, her voice softly murmuring sun’s rays. The great wooden wheel, his ear, “Willie, I forgive you.” though in a dilapidated condition, still small town near which was a body of firmly hung on its supporting beams; the water, called The Pond. “Tt was Thanksgiving. The weather water that once turned it, had long since been directed in another channel. The was not so unusually mild and beautiful place was forbidden ground, as a child as now; there had been slight frosts had been seriously injured while playing during several nights previous, and, in, consequence, The Pond wascovered with there. Reaching the spot, the boys entered a thin layer of ice. “A boy and a little girl stood at a the wheel and commenced running up one side; it began to turn, and the cottage door. ‘Now take good care of faster they ran, the more rapidly it reVOlVEs. otek oS “Hold on, boys, let me get on one of the big spokes and have a ride,” panted 00 IN PRIZES. heeding them! ‘“Come'on, or I’ll leave you here alone, and the big Indians will come and carry you off.’ This threat both silenced and frightened the child, and she followed him. They joined the others, and all | went well for atime. _ “Presently they’ crowded too closely honor of her son’s birthday, she had added to the usual festivities, a surprise for him. A separate dinner had been arranged for the little people, and, everything being ready, they were seated around the table with fat, good-natured Uncle George at the head. After pronouncing a blessing, he began to carve the turkey; pieces of the light and the dark meat were distributed, and he prepared to get at the dressing;—but now, how cautiously he carves, and how brightly he smiles, and what is that he brings out on his fork? The children stared in open-eyed amazement. What strange dressing for a Thanksgiving Turkey! It was a tiny package, with the words, “Willie Clayton, ‘from his mother,” written upon us brother. “No, no; mamma said not to.’ ‘““‘Oh, come on,’ urged the boy; ‘all the rest are going; mamma won’t care; she don’t know how thick the ice is.’ “‘Maybe it'll break; you know mamma from the spoke, white as a corpse. FOLKS. WEEKLY. On: Decemper 20TH Tor WESTERN A PRIZE WEEKLY witt Pay OF + $20.00 3 For mm BEST “NEW YEAR’S POEM” © Firry,ro aA HunDRED LINES, FURNISHED IN 1rs New YeEar’s These Prizes will. be awarded whose given. of THE names will be published when FOR PUBLICATION NuMBER. by a committee of three One of the committee w'ti be from the editorial WESTERN persons the announcement of rewards is department WEEKLY. Contributions must be received one named for the awarding of prizes. week previous to the daie |