FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS.

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 604, 1 February 1921, Page 3

FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS.

LIVED IN PEACE. In a certain church, as the story runs, there lived two spiders. One day the spiders to meet aud got into a conversation relative to their domestic habits.’#‘l live under tlio pul* pit,” said-the first slider, “and every week I run a terrible risk of being killed. During his sermon the minister ?s constantly banging down his hand, and I have to crawl into the smallest possible space to keep from being crushed.” “You are foolish to stay in such a place,” commented the sed-. ond spider. “You ought to come and live with me. I never got disturbed from one year’s cyd to another. “You don’t mean it!” was the surprised rejoiner of the first spider. “Where da you live?” “I live in the poor-box,” answered the second spider. OUR CAT’S VISITOR. “Oh, mother, do look !” said Ruth. “There’s our Tom and another puss playing together in the garden.” Mother looked and laughed at their funny antics, and Wilfrid said, “it is a strange.cat; I never saw it before.”

The children stood and watched the merry game for some time, and then turned away and thought no more about them. But in the afternoon mother happened to look into the ktichen, and what she saw there made her Jaug'h so much that she called the children. As they came running along she held up her finger so that they should not make a noise. They crept on tiptoe to the door and peeped in. Now, Tom the cat had a favourite 5C at —it was on the hearth in front of die oven; and he always kept to the same place. When mother and the children looked into the kitchen they «aw two cats —Tom and the stranger cat that was playing with him in the morning.

But now Tom had given up the seat of honour to his visitor, whom he was doing his best to entertain, for there It sat in front of the oven, whilst he himself sat in front of the boiler on side of the hearth. “I think,” said Wilfrid, ‘‘that our Tom must have invited his friend, riie itrange cat to spend the day with him!” And so indeed 't seemed. The Stranger cat stayed until the evening, When the two friends went out together, and having seen his guest safely home, as a polite; puss should do, Tom came back alone. A WOMAN’S CLEVERNESS.

Over 000 years ago the good city of (Yeinsbcrg was, on a certain morning, all in commotion, Conrad, tlio great Hohenstanten Prince, whose army lay before their walls, having just sent word that he would let' the women and children go free, but the men must surrender themselves to him. The worthy burghers were in despair. Long and bravely had they fought for their honor, and they knew that Hohenstanten would show them little mercy. The Town Council mot foi the third and last time that day, and wagged. their heads very gravely ovei the news. Put no loophole oi escapo could they see, and before nightfall all Weinsberg knew that its brave defenders were doomed.,

Most of the people at once began to gather their possessions, lor Conrad had graciously added that the women might take with, them their greatest treasures. While the work of picpaiation for the morrow’s journey was being pushed forward the wife of one of the -burghers went round among her acquaintances, and wherever sue went heads nodded together and hurried whispers took place at neighbour s doors. Put when she returned to her own house there wore lew women in the town who did not fall asleep with new Lopes in their hearts. In the morniJg the long procession of \v6men children marched slowly to tlo city gale... V*. lien, how ever, the sad*?need burghers thought the time had come to begin taking their last ferawe’ys v-o stout-hearted who whose head had been so busy the ingot before with a plan for their deliverance, threw down tier bundles, and turning to her companions, said: “Women of WVmsburg. It is granted that We may hoar a way the greatest of our treasures. We have Conrad’s plodsrcd word; jtlius, then, let us hold him to it.”

So saying, she seised her astonished husband by the waist, and with soma difficulty hoisted him upon her back. The others quickly followed her example, and in this manner the oddlooking couples, with the children by their sides, trooped out ol the descried town. ■ “Wo. have obeyed thy edict, good Conrad, and we thank thee for thy courtesy in allowing us to depart with our treasures in peace.” was lho cry that greeted the mighty 'Prince’s ears as he came out of his tent. And, moved to admiration for the clever way in which he had been outwitted. Conrad generously pardoned the brave burghers, leaving their homes untouched. '