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Show MARY GRAHAAa BONMER. MARBLES AND ELVES Nick and Nancy had been getting out their marbles, and had been piny-lug piny-lug with them. When Daddy came In be aw them all In a big txu on the table. "Have you commenced you? game? yet?" he asked. "Yes, we did today," Nick answered. "We've got them all out, all ready for many, many games. "We're going to play again tomorrow." tomor-row." "That's tine." said Daddy. "But the elves have beaten you out, for they had their first game several days ago." "The elves?" asked Nancy. "Do they play marbles? "How did they happen to think of playing marbles?" "You see, It was this way," Daddy continued, "the elves, as you know, have just quantities of games that little lit-tle boys and girls never even dream of playing. . "But sometimes the elves think It would be fun to play a game that is a special favorite with little boys and girls. "One day two litlie elves svere flitting flit-ting ahout near the village, off the A Wonderful Discovery. woods where they lived most of the time. "They suddenly spied a lot of little boys playing a game with little round things made of glass. "'What are they, I wonder?' asked the first elf. " 'I haven't the remotest Idea,' said the second elf. "At that moment a little boy exclaimed ex-claimed to another: 'You've won, and you'll get most of the marbles.' "'Marbles, marbles.' said the first eir. 'Those funny round things must be culled marbles 1' " That's certainly what they must 5e," said the second elf. 'Let's get dome and take them home to the other elves, and we can have a brand-new game. " 'I watched them playing, and I nm sure I understand the game perfectly, perfect-ly, so I can explain It to the other elves. You understand It. too, don't you?' " 'Oh, yes," said the second elf. "So they went together Into a little shop. "It was the only shop the elves ever went to, and that was because It was kept by a funny, mysterious old man. and It was near the woods where the elves lived " 'Have yon marbles?" they asked the old man. "'Dear tne. so you think yon would like to play the beloved spring game of little boys, and very often little girls? "'Well, here's a fine collection for you of all colors Rnd sizes, and for all the elves.' he replied. "The little elves thanked the old man and went home to the hanks of Silver Stream where they lived. "Then they told nil the other elves of the new game, and the plves thought It was a wonderful dls covery." And Nick and Nancy were so pleased to think that the elves player" marbles, too ! |