THE STORY OF A RAINY DAY (By Tad, the Scotch terrier puppy) I AM a well-bred puppy, but I hate rain. There is only one time in my memory when I had fun on a rainy day, and this is how it happened. Jack was studying, Alice reading a magazine, and Edith knitting a muffler. I was on the floor trying to eat the baby's rubber doll. "Look here!" cried Alice, suddenly. "Here 's just the thing for us!" She showed Edith something in the magazine. "We could cook that if Mother will let us, and we are n't in Katie's way." "Let 's ask," said Edith, and they bounded away. Soon they returned, in long aprons, and I followed them to the kitchen, where Alice got out some yellow bowls and Edith got sugar and eggs. In a few minutes, Alice was beating up a queer mess in a bowl, while her sister buttered the pans. Then they put the stuff in the stove. "Now, let 's practise our duet while we wait," suggested Edith. I can't bear music, so I retreated into the study with the doll. Suddenly the music stopped, and I smelled a queer odor. I rushed into the kitchen, and found the girls looking at a black mess in a dish. A SONG OF PEACE BY E. JOSEPHINE DICKSON (AGE 14) I THE cannons boom, the thunders roll, The monster War strides through the land, His bloody sword is in his hand; He laughs, nor heeds the feeble cry- II Then, lo! a light shines from above; HOW TO PASS A RAINY DAY BY VIRGINIA M. ALLCOCK (AGE 15) W of doors it was raining "pitchforks and hammersuingles." Beth thought it one of the grayest days she prize ver known. What was there to do? shall "A HEADING FOR APRIL." BY ANNE EUNICE MOFFETT, AGE 14. Sew? She detested it. Amuse herself with music? This was impossible, for Beth was not possessed of musical talent. Read? The very thing! She picked up the first book which she saw and opened it at random. It chanced to be the arrival of Queen Elizabeth at the castle of Kenilworth, in the book of that title written by Sir Walter Scott. She immediately became fascinated, and when, having finished that chapter, Beth found that she could not catch the drift of the plot, she turned to the beginning and read until the darkness closed around her and the words could not be seen. Then, lighting the wood fire, she went over what she had read, seeing the pictures in the flames. Never again did Beth say she had nothing to do on a rainy day. Instead, she would pick up some book of Sir Walter Scott's and revel in the vivid adventures of Guy Mannering, Waverley, and the others. They were companions who were ever ready to take her with them on their many journeys. Thus Beth learned "How to Pass a Rainy Day." HOW TO PASS A RAINY DAY BY WILLARD CARPENTER (AGE 11) JACK lived in the country. One day he thought haYMATES. Jack then got the scissors, a pencil, and his paint He cut out houses, painted their shutters, made wago with wheels on them, stores, post-office, and fire-statio with engine, hose-cart, and hook and ladder wago Then he began to move things. In a little while he r quite an industrious city. That night he said: "I had a good time, even ie. was raining." "UGH! What a horrid day," exclaimed Elsie, frowning. "We could have played Hare and Hounds if it had n't rained," she said, staring resentfully at the bare, leafless trees, muddy ground, and occasional yellow puddles. "There goes the telephone, what a nuisance! Hello! Yes. A candy-pull! Oh, how lovely it sounds. Yes, I'll be over in a minute." Rubbers, raincoat, and hat were on before you could say "Jack Robinson," and out she went into the pouring rain. In the house next door a merry party was gathered, and the candy-pull was soon in full swing. A delicious odor arose from the stove. The candy was soon done and the pulling began. "O-u-c-h! Mine 's too hot. I don't believe I can stand it another minute." BY PENELOPE POTTER, gracefully saluted The Matterhorn of Men, while the children of the "Rose Alba" watched him, in eager wonderment. Next came little Maggie, with her luckystone, and then Rodman and Harriet. Marjorie thought that they had all gone, when she saw Will and Jim walking by. "Say," called Will, "would n't you like to go with us to see that new building?" "No, she can't!" cried the little elf, suddenly. "It 's six o'clock, and time for supper." And with that the three whisked lightly through the flames and were gone, leaving Marjorie rubbing her eyes in bewilderment, and thinking of the lovely afternoon she had spent. A SONG OF PEACE BY ELEANOR JOHNSON (AGE 16) In the footsteps of the Lord!" Winifred W. Dr Smith's Discovery Will Save Your Hair Before It Is ALL Gone! DR. SMITH'S HAIR TONIC AMEILL "TOO LATE!" BY EDWIN M. GILL, AGE 15. Dorothy Woolcott Rose G. Kadishevitz Florence Helwig Alexander W. Kruger PHOTOGRAPHS, 1 Elizabeth Allchin Virginia E. McConkey PHOTOGRAPHS, 2 Margaret Wyer Marian Hall A. Gordon Grove Helen M. Lancaster George Nichols, Jr. Clark Scott Lucy B. Duncan PUZZLES, I Henry N. Pierce Ruth West PRIZE COMPETITION No. 186 THE ST. NICHOLAS League awards gold and silver badges each month for the best original poems, stories, drawings, photographs, puzzles, and puzzle answers. Also, occasionally, cash prizes to Honor Members, when the contribution printed is of unusual merit. Competition No. 186 will close April 24 (for for. eign members April 30). Prize announcements will be made and the selected contributions published in ST. NICHOLAS for August. Verse. To contain not more than twenty-four lines. Subject, "The Harvest." Prose. Essay or story of not more than three hundred words. Subject, "An Outing Adventure." Photograph. Any size, mounted or unmounted; no blue prints or negatives. Subject, "The Water, or the Hills, at Twilight." Drawing. India ink, very black writing-ink, or wash. Subject, Going Up!" or a Heading for August. Puzzle. Any sort, but must be accompanied by the answer in full, and must be indorsed. Puzzle Answers. Best, neatest, and most complete set of answers to puzzles in this issue of ST. NICHOLAS. Must be indorsed and must be addressed as explained on the first page of the "Riddle-box." The Wild Creature Photography. To encourage the pursuing of game with a camera instead of with a gun. prizes in the "Wild Creature Photography" competition shall be in four classes, as follows: Prize, Class A, a gold badge and three dollars. Prize, Class B, a gold badge and one dollar. Prize, Class C, a gold badge. Prize, Class D, a silver badge. But prize-winners in this competition (as in all the other competitions) will not receive a second gold or silver badge. Photographs must not be of " "protected game, as in zoölogical gardens or game reservations. Contributors must state in a few words where and under what circumstances the photograph was taken. No unused contribution can be returned unless it is accompanied by a self-addressed and stamped envelop of the proper size to hold the manuscript, drawing, or photograph. RULES ANY reader of ST. NICHOLAS, whether a subscriber or not, is entitled to League membership, and a League badge and leaflet, which will be sent free. No League member who has reached the age of eighteen years may compete. Every contribution, of whatever kind, must bear the name, age, and address of the sender, and be indorsed as "original" by parent, teacher, or guardian, who must be convinced beyond doubt-and must state in writing-that the contribution is not copied, but wholly the work and idea of the sender. If prose, the number of words should also be added. These notes must not be on a separate sheet, but on the contribution itself—if manuscript, on the upper margin; if a picture, on the margin or back. Write or draw on one side of the paper only. A contributor may send but one contribution a month-not one of each kind, but one only; this, however, does not include the "advertising competition" (see advertising pages) or "Answers to Puzzles." Address: The St. Nicholas League, 353 Fourth Avenue, New York. "GRANDFATHER WHIRLED QUICKLY. WHAT'S THAT? HE CRIED, HIS EYES TWINKLING. 'WHAT'S THAT?'” GRANDFATHER sat down in the wide rocker, put on his spectacles, picked up the morning paper, and scanned the top line. "Oh, yes," he said aloud, "this is the first day of April, sure enough!" Richard and Mildred were reading a new story-book, and five-year-old Ted was cutting pictures. "Wonder if we could April fool Grandfather!" whispered Richard, glancing warningly at the rocker. "Easy!" Mildred whispered back. "Easy!" "Um!" exclaimed Grandfather. "Sure enough! April first! Well, I certainly should like to see any one make an April fool of me! I should indeed!" Richard read Mildred's lips as she said behind Grandfather's back, "Of course we can--without half trying!" Grandfather whirled quickly. "What's that?" he cried, his eyes twinkling. "What's that?" Richard and Mildred straightened their faces and pretended to be reading. |