TheCurlytops were in trouble. It was not the first time they had been lost, no indeed! But it was the first time they could remember being lost so far away from home, and in such a big place as a Western prairie. They did not know what to do.
"Don't you know the way home?" asked Janet, still keeping close to her brother. It was getting dark, and, somehow, she felt safer near him, even if he was only a year older than she was.
"I'd know the way home back to the ranch house if we could find the rocks with the cave where Clipclap was," Teddy replied.
"Let's look for them some more," suggested Janet. "If we don't get home pretty soon we'll be all in the dark and—and we'll have to stay out here all alone."
"Are you afraid?" asked Ted, looking at his sister.
"Yes. Won't you be?"
"Pooh! No!" he exclaimed, and he talked loudly, perhaps just so he would not be afraid. You know a boy always whistles very loudly at night when he is walking along a dark place alone. And if there are two boys they both whistle. What girls do when they walk through a dark place alone I do not know. Maybe they sing.
Anyhow Teddy talked very loud, and when Janet heard him say he was not afraid she felt better.
"But will we have to stay out here all night?" she asked.
"I guess so," Teddy answered. "But it'll be just like camping out. Daddy and Uncle Frank and the cowboys are going to stay out."
"Yes, but they've got something to eat," objected Janet, "and we haven't anything. Not even a cookie—lessen you've got one in your pocket, Teddy."
"No, Jan," answered her brother, after a quick search, "I haven't. I forgot to bring any."
"So did I," went on Janet. "I don'tthink I like to stay out here alone all night if we haven't anything to eat."
"No, it won't be much fun," agreed Teddy. "I guess maybe I can find those rocks, Janet, and then we'll know how to get home. Come on."
He turned his pony's head and the tired little animal walked slowly on and Janet's Star Face followed. But the truth of the matter was, Ted did not know in which direction to guide his little horse. He could not remember where the rocks lay. But Janet was trusting to him, and he felt he must do his best.
So he kept on until it grew a little darker, and his pony was walking so slowly that Trouble would have found it easy to have walked almost as fast.
"What's the matter?" asked Janet, who was riding behind her brother, looking as hard as she could through the darkness for a sight of the rocks, which, once they were reached, almost meant home. "What's the matter, Ted?"
"Matter with what, Jan?"
"What makes the ponies go so slow?"
"'Cause they're tired, I guess."
"Can't you find the rocks and let themrest and get a drink? I'm awful thirsty, Teddy!"
"So'm I, Jan. We'll go on a little more and maybe we'll find the rocks. Don't cry!"
"Pooh! who's goin' to cry?" demanded Janet quickly.
"I—I thought maybe you were," Teddy answered.
"I am not!" and Janet was very positive about it. "But I'm tired and hungry, and I want a drink awful bad."
"So do I," added Teddy. "We'll go on a little more."
So, wearily, the ponies walked on carrying the Curlytops. Ted kept looking ahead, and to the left and right, trying to find the rocks. But, had he only known it (which he did later) he was going away from them all the while instead of toward them.
All at once Clipclap stumbled and nearly fell.
"Whoa there! Look out!" cried Teddy, reining up the head of his animal as he had seen Uncle Frank do. "Don't fall, Clipclap!"
"What's the matter?" asked Janet. "Did he step in a hole?"
"I don't know. I guess he's just tired,"and Teddy's voice was sad. For he was very weary and much frightened, though he did not tell Janet so.
"Well, let's stop and rest," said his sister. "Do you think you can find those rocks, Ted?"
"No, I don't guess I can. I guess we're lost, Janet."
"Oh, dear!" she answered.
"Now don't cry!" warned Teddy.
"I—I'm not!" exclaimed his sister. "I—I was just blowing my nose, so there, The-o-dore Mar-tin!"
Teddy grinned in the darkness, tired as he was. He was glad Janet was a little angry with him. That meant she would not cry, and if his sister started to weep Ted did not know what he would do. He might even cry himself. He was not too big for that.
"Let's stop and give the ponies a rest," suggested Janet.
"All right," agreed Teddy. "And maybe they can hunt around and find water. One of the cowboys told me his pony did that once when he didn't know where to get a drink himself."
"I wish Star Face could find water,"went on Janet. "I'd drink some of it, too."
"So would I—if it was clean," said Teddy.
Wearily the two Curlytops slipped from their saddles. The ponies seemed glad of this, and at once began to eat the grass that grew all about. Teddy and Janet looked at them awhile. It was not so dark but what they could see things close to them, and the stars were twinkling brightly overhead.
"They don't seem very thirsty," said Janet.
"Maybe they'll start to go after water when they've had their supper," suggested her brother, with a sigh, which, however, Janet did not hear. "We've got to wait—that's all."
The Curlytops sat down on the ground and waited, while the ponies with the reins over their heads—which was a sign that they must not go far away—cropped the sweet grass.
"I wishwecould eat grass," said Janet, after a bit.
"Why?"
"Then we could eat it like the ponies do and not be hungry."
"It would be a good thing," Teddy agreed."But we can't. I chewed some sour grass once, but I didn't swallow it."
"I ate some watercress once at home," said Janet. "But I didn't like it. Anyhow I don't guess watercress grows around here."
"No," agreed Teddy.
Then they sat and watched the ponies eating in the darkness. Clipclap was wandering farther off than Teddy liked and he jumped up and hurried after his animal. As he caught him Teddy saw something on the ground a little way off. It was something round and black, and, now that the moon had come up, he could see more plainly.
"What's the matter, Teddy?" Janet called to him, as she saw him standing motionless, after he had taken hold of Clipclap's bridle. "What are you looking at?"
"I don't know what it is," Teddy answered. "Maybe it's a prairie dog, but he's keepin' awful still. Come and look, Janet."
"Oh, I don't want to!" she exclaimed.
"Oh, come on!" urged Teddy. "It isn't moving. Maybe you can tell what it is."
Janet, making sure that Star Face was all right, walked over to her brother. She,too, saw the dark object lying on a bare spot in the prairie. It did not move. The moonlight became stronger and Janet, becoming brave all of a sudden, went closer.
"It's nothing but a bundle, Teddy Martin!" she exclaimed. "Somebody has dropped a bundle."
"They have?" Teddy cried. "Then if somebody's been past here they can find us—or we can find them—and we aren't lost anymore!"
"Oh, I hope it comes true!" sighed Janet.
"Here, you hold Clipclap—he's starting to walk away"—went on Teddy, "and I'll go see what that is."
Janet took the pony's reins, and her brother walked toward the bundle. He could see now that it was something wrapped in a blanket, and as he came closer he saw that the blanket was one of the kind the cowboys at Uncle Frank's ranch carried when they went out to spend the night on the prairie.
"What is it?" asked Janet, as her brother picked up the bundle and came back toward her.
"I don't know, but it's heavy," he answered. "We'll open it."
"Maybe we'd better not," cautioned Janet. "It isn't ours."
"But we're lost," Teddy said, "and we want to be found. Maybe there's something in this bundle to help."
The blanket was fastened with a strap on the outside, and Teddy managed to unbuckle this after two or three trials, Janet helping. Then, as the moon shone down on what was in the blanket, the Curlytops gave a cry of delight, which startled even the ponies.
"It's something to eat!" cried Teddy.
"And to drink!" added Janet, as she picked up the canvas-covered canteen, or water bottle, such as soldiers carry. By shaking it she knew it was full of water.
"Say, this is good luck!" cried Teddy.
Stopping no longer to wonder who had dropped the bundle, the Curlytops took a drink from the canteen. They had not been used to drinking out of a bottle since they were babies, and some of the water ran down their necks.
But they did not mind this. And, even though the water was rather warm, they felt much better after having had a drink.
"I wish we could give the ponies some," said Janet. "But there isn't very much,and they would drink this all up and not know they'd had any."
"Anyhow I guess they're not thirsty, or they'd try to find water just as the cowboys said they would," added Teddy. "They can chew the grass."
He and Janet looked into the bundle again, and found a number of sandwiches, together with some uncooked bacon, a little ground coffee, a small coffee-pot and a tin cup.
"Oh, goody! We can eat the sandwiches," Janet said.
"And in the morning, when we find a spring, we can make coffee," added Teddy. "I know how, 'cause grandpa showed me when we were camping on Star Island. I haven't any matches to make a fire, but maybe I can find some."
"Will we have to stay here all night?" asked Janet anxiously.
"I spect so," her brother answered. "I don't know the way back to the ranch house. We can't even find the rocks. We'll stay here all night. It isn't cold, and now we have a blanket we can wrap up in it like the cowboys do. And we've something to eat and drink."
"But mother and daddy will be awful worried," said Janet.
"Well, they'll maybe come and find us," answered Teddy. "Look out!" he cried. "Clipclap's going off again!"
Indeed the little pony seemed to want to walk away, and so did Star Face.
"Maybe they know where to go to find water," suggested Janet.
"Maybe," agreed Ted. "Let's let 'em go, and we'll go with 'em. That water in the canteen won't be enough till morning."
The children ate nearly all of the sandwiches, and put away the rest of the food in the blanket which Teddy strapped around it. Then they mounted their ponies, Ted taking the bundle with him, and let the animals wander which way they would.
"They'll go to water if they're thirsty enough," Teddy said.
"Who do you s'pose dropped that bundle?" asked Janet.
"A cowboy," her brother answered.
"One from Ring Rosy Ranch?"
"Maybe."
"Oh, I hope he did, and that he's around here somewhere," went on Janet. "I'm tired of being lost!"
"We've only just begun," Teddy said. But, truth to tell, he wished very much that they were both safe back at the ranch house with their mother.
On and on over the moonlit prairies went Star Face and Clipclap. They seemed to know where they were going and did not stop. Ted and Janet were too tired to guide them. They were both getting sleepy.
Pretty soon Janet saw ahead of her something glistening in the stretch of the prairie. The moonlight seemed to sparkle on it.
"Oh, look, Ted!" she cried, pointing.
"It's water—a little river!" he exclaimed. "The ponies have led us to water!"
And so the animals had. Teddy and Janet slipped from their ponies' backs at the edge of the stream and then Star Face and Clipclap took long drinks. Ted emptied the canteen, filled it with the cooler water, and he and Janet drank again. Then they felt much better.
The ponies again began to crop the grass. The Curlytops, very tired and sleepy, felt that it would be all right to make their bed in the blanket they had found, dropped by some passing cowboy.
But first Ted looked around. Off to oneside, and along the stream from which they had drunk, he saw something dark looming up.
"Look, Janet," he said. "Maybe that's a ranch house over there, and we could go in for the night."
"Maybe," she agreed. "Let's go to it."
Once more they mounted their ponies. The animals did not seem so tired now, but trotted on over the prairie. They drew nearer to the dark blotch Teddy had noticed.
Then, as the moon came out from behind some clouds, the Curlytops saw that they were at the entrance to a hidden valley—a little valley tucked away among the hills, which they would never have seen had they not come to the stream to drink.
The little river ran through the valley, and in the moonlight the children could see that a fence had been made at the end nearest them. It was a wooden fence, and not one of barbed wire, such as there were many of on Ring Rosy Ranch.
"This is a queer valley," said Janet.
"Yes, and look!" exclaimed Ted, pointing. "Don't you see things moving around in it?"
"Yes," agreed Jan, as she looked. "Why, Ted!" she cried. "They're horses—ponies—a lot of 'em!"
"So they are!" exclaimed Ted. "Oh, we're near a ranch, Janet! Now we're all right!"
"Yes. But maybe we're a good way from the ranch house," answered Janet. "We maybe can't find it in the dark. Some of Uncle Frank's ponies are five miles away from the stable, you know. Maybe we'd better not go on any more in the dark. I'm tired!"
"Well," agreed Teddy. "I guess we could stay here till it's morning. We could sleep in the blanket. It's plenty big enough for us two."
"And in the morning we can ride on and find the ranch, and the cowboys there will take us to Ring Rosy," added Janet. "Let's do it, Teddy."
They looked again at the strange valley in which the horses were moving about. Clipclap whinnied and one of the other ponies answered. But they could not come out because of the fence, part of which was built in and across the little river.
Then, throwing the reins over the headsof their ponies, and knowing the animals would not stray far, Ted and Janet, taking another drink from the canteen, rolled up in the blanket and went to sleep on the prairie just outside the hidden valley that held a secret of which they did not even dream.
"I hopethe Curlytops won't ride too far," said Mrs. Martin, coming out into the kitchen to help with the work.
She had just got Trouble to sleep after Teddy and Janet had brought him in from the haymow before riding off on their ponies.
"Oh, I guess they won't," Aunt Millie answered.
But, could Mrs. Martin and Aunt Millie have seen them, they would have been much surprised to know where the Curlytops then were.
As you know, they were riding along the trail after the Indians.
The hours went on until it was late afternoon. And then, when the children did not come back, Mrs. Martin began to be alarmed. She went to the top of a low hill not far awayfrom the ranch house and looked across the prairie.
"I can't see them," she said, when she came back.
"Oh, don't worry," returned Aunt Millie. "They'll be along pretty soon. And, anyhow, there is no danger."
"But—the Indians?" questioned Mrs. Martin.
"Oh, they are far enough off by this time," said the ranch owner's wife. "They won't bother the Curlytops."
But Mother Martin did worry, and when supper time came near and Janet and Teddy were not yet back, Aunt Millie, too, began to think it strange.
"What do you suppose could happen?" asked Mrs. Martin. "I wish Dick were here."
"Oh, lots of little things might happen," said Aunt Millie. "The children may have ridden farther than they meant to. It's such a nice day for riding you couldn't blame them for going. Or one of their ponies may have gone lame and have to walk slowly. That would make them get here late."
"Suppose they should be hurt?" asked Mother Martin, anxiously.
"Oh, I don't suppose anything of the sort!" and Aunt Millie laughed. But Mother Martin did not feel like laughing.
At last, however, when it began to get dark and the children had not come, even the cowboys left at the ranch—those who had not ridden on the trail after the Indians—said it was time something was done.
"We'll go out and find 'em," said Baldy. "The little tykes have got lost; that's about all. We'll find 'em and bring 'em home!"
"Oh, I hope you can!" exclaimed Mrs. Martin.
"Sure we will!" cried Baldy. "Won't we, boys?"
"That's what we will!" cried the cowboys.
The men started out over the prairie right after supper, carrying lanterns, not so much that they needed the lights as that they might be seen by the lost children.
"Hello, Curlytops! where are you?" called the cowboys.
But no one answered them. Teddy and Janet were far away.
The cowboys rode as far as the pile of rocks where the spring bubbled up. There Baldy, swinging his lantern to and fro, said he thought he could see the marks of the feetof Star Face and Clipclap among those of other ponies, but he was not sure.
"We'll have to come back here and start out early in the morning when we can see better," he said.
"And what are we going to do all night?" asked another cowboy.
"Well, we'll keep on hunting, of course. But I don't believe we'll find the lost Curlytops."
One of the men rode back to the ranch to tell Mrs. Martin that so far, no trace of the missing children had been found. She could not keep back her tears, but she tried to be brave.
"Oh, where can they be?" she asked.
"They'll be all right," the cowboy said. "It's a nice warm night, and they're brave children. Even if they had to sleep out it would not hurt 'em. They could take the blankets that are under the ponies' saddles and wrap up in them. They'll be all right."
Though they were lost, the Curlytops were, at that moment, much better off than the cowboy thought. For they had found the big blanket and the bundle of food, and they were sleeping soundly on the prairie.
At first they had been a little afraid to liedown all alone out in the night, but their ponies were with them, and Janet said it felt as though Clipclap and Star Face were like good watch dogs.
Then, being very tired and having had something to eat and drink, they fell asleep.
All night long, though, the cowboys rode over the prairie looking for the lost ones. They shouted and called, but the Curlytops were too far away to hear or to answer, even if they had been awake.
"Well, now we can make a better hunt," said Baldy, when he saw the sun beginning to rise. "Well get something to eat and start out from the spring in the rocks. I'm almost sure the Curlytops were there."
Mrs. Martin had not slept all night, and when the cowboys came back to breakfast she said she was going to ride with them to search for her children.
"Yes, I think it would do you good," said Aunt Millie.
Mrs. Martin had learned how to ride when a girl, and she had practised some since coming to Ring Rosy Ranch. So she did not feel strange in the saddle. With Baldy and the other cowboys she set off.
They went to the spring amid the rocksand there began the search. Over the prairie the riders spread out like a big fan, looking everywhere for the lost ones. And when they were not found in about an hour Baldy said:
"Well, there's just a chance that their ponies took them to Silver Creek."
"Where's that?" asked Mrs. Martin.
"It's a stream of water quite a way off," Baldy answered. "It isn't on our ranch, and we don't very often go there. But if the Curlytops' ponies were thirsty in the night they might go to Silver Creek, even if Jan and Ted didn't want them to. I think the ponies went the nearest way to water."
"Then let us go that way!" cried Mrs. Martin.
Meanwhile Teddy and Janet had awakened. They could look right into the strange valley through which flowed Silver Creek, though they did not then know its name.
"And look what a lot of horses!" cried Janet.
"And cows!" added her brother. "I wonder whose they are?"
"Oh, I guess they live on some ranch," Janet said. "Now if we can find the ranch house we'll be all right."
"We'll look for it," suggested Teddy. "But first we've got to have breakfast. If I had a match I could make a fire and boil some coffee."
"Let's not bother with breakfast," suggested Janet. "I'm not very hungry. And if we find the ranch house we can get something to eat there. Come on, Teddy."
They got a drink at the stream, and then, rolling up what food was left in the blanket, they got on their ponies and rode away, going around the valley instead of into it, for Teddy saw that hills closed it at the far end.
"There's no ranch house in that valley," he said.
The Curlytops had not ridden far before Janet, who had gone a little ahead of Teddy, cried:
"Oh, look! Here come some cowboys!"
"I guess they belong to this ranch—the one where we saw the ponies and cows," replied Teddy, as he saw a number of horsemen riding toward them. The horsemen began to whoop and shout, and their horses ran very fast toward the Curlytops.
"There's a lady with 'em," remarked Janet.
"They seem awful glad to meet us," went on Teddy. "Look, they're wavin' their hats."
And so the cowboys were. When the riders came a little nearer Teddy and Janet rubbed their eyes in surprise.
"Why—why!" Teddy exclaimed. "There's our own Baldy!"
"And there's mother!" fairly shouted Janet. "Oh, Mother! Mother!" she cried. "Oh, how glad I am!" and she made Star Face run toward the lady on horseback.
"Oh, my dear children! Where have you been?" asked Mrs. Martin, a little later, as she hugged first Janet and then Teddy.
"We—we got lost," Teddy answered.
"Yes, but you ran away, and that was not right," his mother told him. "Where did you go?"
"We—we went on the trail after the Indians," Teddy answered.
"Did you find them?" asked Baldy with a smile.
"No, but we found a lot of horses and cows back there in a little valley with a fence," said Janet. "And we were going to ride to the ranch house when we saw you."
"Ranch house!" cried Baldy. "Thereisn't a ranch house within fifteen miles except the one at Ring Rosy. Did you say you saw some cows and horses?"
"Yes. In a valley," explained Teddy.
"Show us where it was!" eagerly cried the cowboy, and when the Curlytops had ridden to it, with Baldy and the others following, the lame cowboy, whose foot was a little better, exclaimed:
"Well, if the Curlytops haven't gone and done it!"
"Done what?" asked their mother.
"They've found the lost cattle and horses!"
"You mean Uncle Frank's?" asked Teddy.
"That's just what I mean! These are the horses and cattle the Indians drove away. The Redmen put the animals in this valley and made a fence at this end so they couldn't get out. They knew the horses and cattle would have water to drink and grass to eat, and they'd stay here a long while—until the Indians would have a chance to drive 'em farther away and sell 'em.
"Yes, that's just what they did. I never thought of this valley, though I saw it quite a few years ago. I've never been here since.The Indians knew it would be a good place to hide the horses they stole, and we might never have found 'em if it hadn't been for you Curlytops."
"I'm glad!" said Teddy.
"So'm I," said Janet, "and I'm hungry, too!"
"Well, we'll soon have you back at Ring Rosy Ranch, where there's a good breakfast!" laughed Baldy. "Well! Well! To think of you Curlytops finding what we cowboys were looking all over for!"
"And are daddy and Uncle Frank looking for these horses and cattle?" asked Teddy.
"Yes. And for the Indians that took 'em. But I guess they won't find either," Baldy answered.
And Baldy was right. Some hours after the Curlytops were back at Ring Rosy Ranch, in rode Uncle Frank and the others. They had not found what they had gone after, and you can imagine how surprised they all were when told that Ted and Janet had, by accident, found the lost cattle and horses in the hidden valley.
"You're regular cowboys!" cried Uncle Frank.
"I knew they'd turn out all right when they learned to ride ponyback!" said Daddy Martin. "Though you mustn't ride on the trail alone after Indians again!" he said.
Teddy and Janet told all that had happened to them, from getting lost, to finding the blanket and going to sleep in it on the open prairie.
One of the cowboys with Uncle Frank had lost the blanket, and he said he was glad he dropped it, since it gave Teddy and Janet something to eat and something to wrap up in.
That afternoon the stolen horses and cattle were driven in from the hidden valley; so the Indians did not get them after all. And a little later some soldiers came to keep guard over the Redmen so they could not again go off their reservation to make trouble. All of Uncle Frank's animals, except a few that the Indians had sold, were found, and the Curlytops were the pride of Ring Rosy Ranch as long as they remained there.
"Well, I wonder if we'll have any more adventures," said Janet to her brother one day, about a week after they were lost and had been found.
"Oh, I guess so," he answered. "Anyhow, we've got two nice ponies, and we can have lots of rides. Come on, I'll race you."
The bright summer days brought more fun to Teddy and Janet at Uncle Frank's ranch. They rode many miles on Star Face and Clipclap, sometimes taking Trouble with them.
"I want to dwive," said the little fellow one day, as he sat on the saddle in front of his brother.
"All right, you may drive a little while," Teddy answered, and he let Baby William hold the reins.
"Now I a cowboy!" exclaimed the little fellow. "Gid-dap, Clipclap! I go lasso a Injun!"
Ted and Janet laughed at this.
And so, leaving the Curlytops to their fun, we will say good-bye.
THE CURLYTOPS SERIESBy HOWARD R. GARISAuthor of the famous "Bedtime Animal Stories"12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. Jacket in full color.Price per volume, 65 cents postpaidStories for children by the best author of books for little people.1. THE CURLYTOPS AT CHERRY FARMor Vacation Days in the CountryA tale of happy vacation days on a farm. The Curlytops have exciting adventures.2. THE CURLYTOPS ON STAR ISLANDor Camping out with GrandpaThe Curlytops were delighted when grandpa took them to camp on Star Island. There they had great fun and a real mystery.3. THE CURLYTOPS SNOWED INor Grand Fun with Skates and SledsWinter was a jolly time for the Curlytops, with their skates and sleds, on the lakes and hills.4. THE CURLYTOPS AT UNCLE FRANK'S RANCHor Little Folks on PonybackOut West on their uncle's ranch they have a wonderful time among the cowboys and on ponyback.5. THE CURLYTOPS AT SILVER LAKEor On the Water with Uncle BenThe Curlytops camp out with Uncle Ben on the shores of a beautiful lake.6. THE CURLYTOPS AND THEIR PETSor Uncle Toby's Strange CollectionWhen an old uncle leaves them to care for his collection of pets, they get up a circus for charity.BROTHER AND SISTER SERIESBy JOSEPHINE LAWRENCE12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. Jacket in full colorsPrice per volume, 60 cents, postpaidBrother and Sister are the youngest of a large family of children and because they are so eager to do as the others do, Roddy and Betty sometimes tumble into a peck of mischief.These books will appeal especially to boys and girls from four to eight years old.1. BROTHER AND SISTERBrother and Sister are busy and happy all of the time and make friends easily. They learn that some children have less of the good things than they and set out to help them.2. BROTHER AND SISTER'S SCHOOLDAYSBrother and Sister attend the Ridgeway public school where their little, poor friend Mickey Gaffney is also a pupil. Brother and Mickey try to find a missing gem which their teacher loses from her ring which gets them into trouble with the janitor.3. BROTHER AND SISTER'S HOLIDAYSThanksgiving Day at their grandmother's house was lots of fun for Brother and Sister; also their Christmas time, when they helped the "poor people" for miles around.4. BROTHER AND SISTER'S VACATIONMany strange things happen to Brother and Sister while spending their vacation off in the woods. A most interesting story for children.THE BILLY BUNNY BOOKSBy DAVID CORY12mo. Cloth. Illustrated in colorsPrice per volume, 60 cents, postpaidFascinating stories about a little rabbit whose exciting adventures in the Friendly Forest and the Pleasant Meadow will delight every child.1. BILLY BUNNY AND THE FRIENDLY ELEPHANTBilly Bunny's uncle, Mr. Lucky Lefthindfoot, is the owner of a circus. The big elephant becomes the friend of the little rabbit and they have many strange adventures together.2. BILLY BUNNY AND DADDY FOXThis old robber is on the watch to catch the little rabbit, who has to use his wits to escape from the crafty old fox.3. BILLY BUNNY AND UNCLE BULL FROGUncle Bull Frog sits all day on his log in the Old Mill Pond catching flies, and telling Billy Bunny interesting stories.4. BILLY BUNNY AND UNCLE LUCKY LEFTHINDFOOT"Uncle Lucky," as he is called, because he is very rich, owns a Luckymobile, in which he takes Billy Bunny out for a drive almost every day.5. BILLY BUNNY AND ROBBIE REDBREASTBilly Bunny gets into trouble with nearly all of his woodland neighbors but they make up and become friends again. Robbie Redbreast has his troubles but they are only little ones.6. BILLY BUNNY AND TIMMIE CHIPMUNKBilly Bunny has many adventures with his friends of the field and forest. Timmie Chipmunk was often unlucky but he was smart enough to escape most of his dangers.THE RUBY AND RUTHY SERIESBy MINNIE E. PAULL12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. Price per volume, 65 cents, postpaid.Four bright and entertaining stories told in Mrs. Paull's happiest manner are among the best stories ever written for young girls, and cannot fail to interest any between the ages of eight and fifteen years.RUBY AND RUTHYRuby and Ruthie were not old enough to go to school, but they certainly were lively enough to have many exciting adventures, that taught many useful lessons needed to be learned by little girls.RUBY'S UPS AND DOWNSThere were troubles enough for a dozen grown-ups, but Ruby got ahead of them all, and, in spite of them, became a favorite in the lively times at school.RUBY AT SCHOOLRuby had many surprises when she went to the impossible place she heard called a boarding school, but every experience helped to make her a stronger-minded girl.RUBY'S VACATIONThis volume shows how a little girl improves by having varieties of experience both happy and unhappy, provided she thinks and is able to use her good sense. Ruby lives and learns.Send For Our Free Illustrated Catalogue.CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY, PublishersNew York
By HOWARD R. GARIS
Author of the famous "Bedtime Animal Stories"
12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. Jacket in full color.
Price per volume, 65 cents postpaid
Stories for children by the best author of books for little people.
1. THE CURLYTOPS AT CHERRY FARMor Vacation Days in the Country
A tale of happy vacation days on a farm. The Curlytops have exciting adventures.
2. THE CURLYTOPS ON STAR ISLANDor Camping out with Grandpa
The Curlytops were delighted when grandpa took them to camp on Star Island. There they had great fun and a real mystery.
3. THE CURLYTOPS SNOWED INor Grand Fun with Skates and Sleds
Winter was a jolly time for the Curlytops, with their skates and sleds, on the lakes and hills.
4. THE CURLYTOPS AT UNCLE FRANK'S RANCHor Little Folks on Ponyback
Out West on their uncle's ranch they have a wonderful time among the cowboys and on ponyback.
5. THE CURLYTOPS AT SILVER LAKEor On the Water with Uncle Ben
The Curlytops camp out with Uncle Ben on the shores of a beautiful lake.
6. THE CURLYTOPS AND THEIR PETSor Uncle Toby's Strange Collection
When an old uncle leaves them to care for his collection of pets, they get up a circus for charity.
By JOSEPHINE LAWRENCE
12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. Jacket in full colors
Price per volume, 60 cents, postpaid
Brother and Sister are the youngest of a large family of children and because they are so eager to do as the others do, Roddy and Betty sometimes tumble into a peck of mischief.
These books will appeal especially to boys and girls from four to eight years old.
1. BROTHER AND SISTER
Brother and Sister are busy and happy all of the time and make friends easily. They learn that some children have less of the good things than they and set out to help them.
2. BROTHER AND SISTER'S SCHOOLDAYS
Brother and Sister attend the Ridgeway public school where their little, poor friend Mickey Gaffney is also a pupil. Brother and Mickey try to find a missing gem which their teacher loses from her ring which gets them into trouble with the janitor.
3. BROTHER AND SISTER'S HOLIDAYS
Thanksgiving Day at their grandmother's house was lots of fun for Brother and Sister; also their Christmas time, when they helped the "poor people" for miles around.
4. BROTHER AND SISTER'S VACATION
Many strange things happen to Brother and Sister while spending their vacation off in the woods. A most interesting story for children.
By DAVID CORY
12mo. Cloth. Illustrated in colors
Price per volume, 60 cents, postpaid
Fascinating stories about a little rabbit whose exciting adventures in the Friendly Forest and the Pleasant Meadow will delight every child.
1. BILLY BUNNY AND THE FRIENDLY ELEPHANT
Billy Bunny's uncle, Mr. Lucky Lefthindfoot, is the owner of a circus. The big elephant becomes the friend of the little rabbit and they have many strange adventures together.
2. BILLY BUNNY AND DADDY FOX
This old robber is on the watch to catch the little rabbit, who has to use his wits to escape from the crafty old fox.
3. BILLY BUNNY AND UNCLE BULL FROG
Uncle Bull Frog sits all day on his log in the Old Mill Pond catching flies, and telling Billy Bunny interesting stories.
4. BILLY BUNNY AND UNCLE LUCKY LEFTHINDFOOT
"Uncle Lucky," as he is called, because he is very rich, owns a Luckymobile, in which he takes Billy Bunny out for a drive almost every day.
5. BILLY BUNNY AND ROBBIE REDBREAST
Billy Bunny gets into trouble with nearly all of his woodland neighbors but they make up and become friends again. Robbie Redbreast has his troubles but they are only little ones.
6. BILLY BUNNY AND TIMMIE CHIPMUNK
Billy Bunny has many adventures with his friends of the field and forest. Timmie Chipmunk was often unlucky but he was smart enough to escape most of his dangers.
By MINNIE E. PAULL
12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. Price per volume, 65 cents, postpaid.
Four bright and entertaining stories told in Mrs. Paull's happiest manner are among the best stories ever written for young girls, and cannot fail to interest any between the ages of eight and fifteen years.
RUBY AND RUTHY
Ruby and Ruthie were not old enough to go to school, but they certainly were lively enough to have many exciting adventures, that taught many useful lessons needed to be learned by little girls.
RUBY'S UPS AND DOWNS
There were troubles enough for a dozen grown-ups, but Ruby got ahead of them all, and, in spite of them, became a favorite in the lively times at school.
RUBY AT SCHOOL
Ruby had many surprises when she went to the impossible place she heard called a boarding school, but every experience helped to make her a stronger-minded girl.
RUBY'S VACATION
This volume shows how a little girl improves by having varieties of experience both happy and unhappy, provided she thinks and is able to use her good sense. Ruby lives and learns.
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CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY, PublishersNew York