Sunshine Challed; a wonderful little book for little children, big children, and parents
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BOX 655 This Book can be bought of any book dealtr, or it will be sent, postagt- prepaid, to any address upon receipt of price, to cents net. LIBRARY of C0NGf?E3Sj Two Ccpi?G Received DEC 16 1905 I Copyri£-ht Eniry CLASS CX xXc. No, / 3 X^9ii COPY B. ^ ,H5 Copyrighted. 1905, by Ella Snow I- ELLA SNOW. DEDICATION Lovingly dedicated to Donald Sheridan Challed, my only grandchild. The Author. Christmas, igoj. SUNSHINE CHALLED. "A child's laugh shall flit like sunbeams, Among the stern faced and stalwart." PREFACE In sending this little book out into the world, I do so to entertain and instruct both young and old, arid to awaken a stronger love between children and their parents. It is my hope that our little "Sunshine" may speak to my readers as he has spoken to me; and that his advent into the world may be the cause of our lives becoming improved. An innocent child may die, but, even though it be only an infant in its cradle, it will still live, in some way, in the hearts of those who loved it, and through these hearts it will play some part in fashioning the destinies of mankind. I sincerely hope that "Sunshine Challed " shall ever be: "A name thai shall hallow its spact. And be each purer souVs high resting placed The Author. INDEX Sunshine Challed PAGE Chapter I. To little children everywhere 21 Chapter II. My little fore-brother's death 25 Chapter III. My dear mamma's sorrow 37 Chapter IV. When little Sunshine came - 47 Chapter V. How to be good -------- 67 RECITATIONS AND POEMS. A mamma's love „ - - - 113 A little boy's dream ---------- 80 A very bad case 88 A boy's valentine ----------- 84  - ■ : 109 Don into pants 110 Grandmamma's angel 115 His mother's darling 87 His first recitation _ - - 83 I wish I were a little star - - - - 81 I'm very young ---- -- 93 Laugh a little bit ---_._ 104 Little  Mus'n't touch --- 94 Naming tlie forget-me-not --------- 122 Now is the time ---------- 103 One little act ------ 96 Papa's letter ----------- 123 Peddle sunshine ---91 Play you are sunshine 126 Saying grace ------------82 Sunshine - 79 Soldier-like 99 Sunshine cake ---- -- 95 The careful messenger -- 118 The dead doll 120 The days (in each month) --- 97 The little bird 112 The lightning express ---- -83 The falling stars 108 The courageous boy 98 The guardian angel -- 100 The baby's letter Ill Thank you, God! 101 Where did you come from, baby? - - 102 When I grow up -_ -- 105 When I'm a man 105 When papa's sick -------.__ 107 Whack 106 SUNSHINE CHALLED CHAPTER I TO LITTLE CHILDREN EVERYWHERE Dear little children! Dear little girls and bo3^s everywhere. I will now tell you a very interesting little story which you will be glad to hear; and, I will tell you how good I am, and how good I want you to be, and how you and I can become good friends to each other. Now be real quiet and listen to every word I say. I have so many good things, so many funny things, and so many sad things, to tell you about, that I send you five little chapters, all of which are printed in this little book. A different number is printed at the top of each of these little chapters, so that after you read these 2 2 SUNSHINE CHALLED chapters or have them read to you, you will know which one tells about something that you may want to read to some of your little friends, or have some one to read again to you. I am only a little baby yet, but I know how to talk to good little girls and boys, who will want to be my little friends after they read what I will tell them in this nice little book. Some of the things this little book tells about will make you laugh, and some of them will make you cry. That is why I want you to be real quiet while I am telling you my interesting little story; then, when I tell you about real sad things you will know when to cry, and when I tell you about real funny things you will know when to laugh. Before I tell you how good I am, and how good I want you to be, I will tell you about my little fore- brother who died; and, about my dear mamma, and, also, some wonderful things about myself. I am the only child of my parents, and am only six months old. SUNSHINE CHALLED 23 I am so little that I can't walk yet, but I can laugh, and pat my fat little hands, and kick up my chubby little feet, and do many other cute little things. As I have no little sister or brother, I want all of the good little girls and boys in the whole world to be my little friends. When you know how good I am, and how good I want you to be, you may become my little friends, and then, all of us together can become good little friends to each other. I am so happy and laugh so much that my dear pa- pa and mamma call me their little "Sunshine/ ' That isn't my real name though — my real name is Donald Sheridan Challed. My real name is pretty big for one of my size and age to bear, and it isn't very well known in the world yet, but some day, when I grow up to be a big man, I will give it honorable fame, and make it known in every land. A man took my picture yesterday, and to-day he printed it in this little book. Look at this picture, dear children, and see how happy I look, and then, mebby you will call me little *'Stinshine" too. 24 SUNSHINE CHALLED Now, dear little children, I will close this little chap- ter, and in the next little chapter, I will tell you all about my dear little fore-brother's death. It is a very sad little story, and you must be real quiet while you read it, and you must not read it very fast; for, as you read it you must try to think how pitiful my little fore-brother looked. When you read this sad story, it will make some of you feel like crying, and, some of you will cry; but, the next two chapters will make you feel happy, and the last chapter will make you feel so good that you will want to become my little friends. CHAPTER II MY LITTLE FORE-BROTHER'S DEATH Before our good Doctor gave me to my dear papa and mamma, they had another Httle baby boy, but he got sick and died. I don't know what relation to me big folks would call him, but I call him my little fore-brother because he died he-fore our good Doctor gave me to my dear papa and mamma. My little fore-brother has been dead nearly two years. He was a very smart little baby. He had large bright eyes, and he laughed good naturedly, just like I do. He was the first baby that my papa and mamma ever had. They loved him very much, and bought lots of nice little dresses and many other pretty little things for him. They were very proud of him, and said that they would educate him and train him up to be a good and great man. 25 26 SUNSHINE CHALLED My papa has a big store of his own; and, when my little fore-brother was living, papa stayed at the store a good deal of the time, but he went up to our house many times every day to see my dear mamma, and my dear little fore-brother. My mamma stayed at home nearly all the time with my little fore-brother, and one day, while papa was at the store, and mamma and my little fore-brother were at home — all alone, my little fore-brother got real sick, and acted as if he knew that he was going to die, in a little while. These very strange actions of my little fore-brother, frightened my dear mamma, and she hugged him lovingly to her breast while she went to the front window and looked out to see if my papa was com- ing. Papa wasn't coming though, and mamma felt so sorry for my sick little fore-brother that she hugged him still closer to her breast while she walked the floor and talked sweet baby words to him. Then, after a little while my sick little fore-brother closed his eyes and got real quiet, and my mamma laid him down in his soft little bed and patted him to sleep. SUNSHINE CHALLED 27 Then mamma looked out of the window again to see if papa was coming, but he wasn't coming yet. This made my dear mamma feel very sad and lonely, and as she sat down by my sick little fore-brother's bed, to watch over him till papa might come home, her eyes filled up with tears. She sat there a little while and then, my sick little fore-brother wakened up just a little, and made a fret- ful noise; then she felt very sorry for him and leaned over his little bed and tried to soothe him to sleep again. He then got real still again for a little while, and then, he wakened up a little more, and got a little more fretful. Mamma didn't take him up though, she just kneeled down by his little bed and gently patted his little shoulder, while she murmured a sweet little baby song to soothe him to sleep. She couldn't put him to sleep again though, and, in a little while, he opened his pretty, bright little eyes, and looked up into mamma's face, and moved his little lips as if he was trying to tell her that he was going to die, in a little while. He couldn't talk though, for he was too little. 28 SUNSHINE CHALLED He just knew what he wanted to tell mamma, but he couldn 't talk, so he couldn't tell her. He then looked at mamma for quite a little while, and, as he seemed to think that she couldn't under- stand what he wanted to tell her, he felt so sorry that he made a pitiful little face, as if he was going to cry. He didn't cry though, he just looked pitiful, then closed his eyes again, as if he was asleep. When he acted this way my dear mamma was so sorry for him that her heart seemed to come clear up into her throat, and she couldn't speak. She looked very sad and the tears rolled down her cheeks for a little while, then she got up and looked again to see if papa was coming. This time papa was coming, but he didn't know that my little fore-brother was sick, and was going to die in a little while. Papa was coming fast and was smiling as if he was very happy because he was going to see my dear mamma and my little fore-brother. When papa got home he opened the front door and went right in just like he always did; with his heart SUNSHINE CHALLED 29 overflowing with love for my mamma and my little fore-brother; and, as usual, his voice was full of joy and gladness. When papa opened the door mamma was standing by my little fore-brother's little bed, and papa saw that she was nearly crying. Mamma then raised her hand and motioned, to make papa be real still and walk easy so he wouldn't waken my little fore-brother; and then she whispered, sorrowfully, telling papa that my little fore-brother was very sick, and that she was afraid that he would never get well. My dear papa then felt real sad, and he tip-toed over to mamma and asked her what was the matter with my little fore-brother. Mamma wept so sorrowfully that she couldn't tell papa right away, and papa held her in his arms, just a little while, till she could speak to tell him all about my sick little fore-brother. Then, when mamma told papa all about how sick my little fore-brother was, and how strangely he had been acting, he felt very sorry for mamma and for my sick little fore-brother, too; and he sat down by my sick 30 SUNSHINE CHALLED little fore-brother's bed, and watched over him a little while. My little fore-brother's eyes were closed as if he was sleeping, when papa sat down by him, and his fat little face was very red and feverish, and he breathed very fast. After papa watched him a httle while, he put his ear down close to my sick little fore-brother's breast, and heard a gurgling sound in his little lungs and throat. When papa thus learned that my sick little fore- brother had such a high fever, and that he had a gur- gling noise in his little lungs and throat, he felt very sad, for he then knew from what doctors had told him, that when a little baby got that sick it couldn't live very much longer. Then, when papa looked up at mamma he was nearly crying, and he told mamma that he would go after our good Doctor right away. Papa then got ready to go after our good Doctor, and, just as he was starting, my sick little fore-brother made a fretful little noise and wakened up. Then papa and mamma leaned over my sick little fore-brother's little bed, and petted him a little and SUNSHINE CHALLED 31 talked some sweet little baby words to him, to see if he wouldn't feel better. This didn't do any good, though, for my little fore- brother just looked sorrowfully at them, and acted as if he wanted to tell them that he was going to die in a little while. He couldn't tell them this, though, for he was too little to talk. He only knew what he wanted to tell papa and mamma, but he couldn't tell them. He looked this way at papa and mamma for quite a little while ; and then, as they didn't seem to under- stand him, he made another pitiful little face, just like he did to mamma before papa came home, and then, after looking as if he was going to cry, he closed his eyes again as if he was going to sleep. When he acted this way it made my papa and mamma both feel very sad, and tears rolled down their cheeks. My papa then sent a man after our good Doctor, and then he and mamma sat down by my sick little fore- brother's little bed, to watch over him imtil our good Doctor would come. 32 SUNSHINE CHALLED • Our good Doctor came in a little while, and as he entered the room he saw that my dear papa and mamma had been crying about my little fore-brother being so sick, and because they thought he might not get well. Our good Doctor is a great big man. He has long whiskers, and he is so kind and good that everybody likes him. When our good Doctor came he didn't go up to my sick little fore-brother right away, he stopped, stood still, smiled real good naturedly, and told mamma that my little fore -brother might not be as sick as she thought he was, and that she must brace up and be brave. He then smiled a still bigger smile, and in a laugh- ing voice he good naturedly told papa and mamma that after they had had half a dozen children, they would not get scared so easy when one of them got sick. Our good Doctor's pleasant face and cheerful words made papa cheer up a little and not feel quite so sad; but my dear mamma's loving heart was overflowing with sorrow, and she cried all the harder; and besides, SUNSHINE CHALLED 33 she thought that it was no time for our good Doctor to talk that way. Just then my sick Httle fore-brother made a feeble little noise again and then opened his eyes. Our good Doctor then sat down by the little bed to find out how sick my little fore-brother was. He noticed that his fat little cheeks were very red and feverish; and then he held his little wrist a little while, and put his ear down close to his little breast and heard a gurgling sound in his little lungs and throat. Then, when our good Doctor saw how feverish my little fore-brother was, and how hard he breathed, and heard the gurgling sound in his little lungs and throat, he felt very sad; for he then knew that my sick little fore-brother was slowly dying, and that medicine couldn't do him any good. Our good Doctor didn't tell papa and mamma, just then, that my little fore-brother was dying. He just sat real still for quite a good little while, and looked at his feverish fat little face and watched to see how hard it was for him to breath. Then after our good Doctor had been looking at my sick little fore-brother that way for quite a little while, 34 SUNSHINE CHALLED my sick little fore-brother opened his eyes again and looked up and moved his little lips as if he was trying to tell the Doctor that papa's and mamma's sick little baby was going to die. He looked at our good doctor in this way, just like he had looked at my dear mamma before papa came home, and just like he had looked at papa and mamma just a little while before our good Doctor came; and then, as our good Doctor did not seem to understand what my little fore-brother's feverish little lips tried to tell him, my sick little fore-brother made another pitiful little face, as if he 'was going to cry; then he again closed his eyes as if he was asleep. When m}^ sick little fore-brother acted this way, our good Doctor felt real sad and nearly cried, for he knew that my sick little fore-brother, knew himself that he was going to die in a little while, and that he was real sorry because he couldn't talk to my dear papa and mamma and tell them that he was going to die. Our good Doctor, and papa and mamma were real quiet then for quite a little while, and, presently, when my dear mamma was weeping real hard again, she. SUNSHINE CHALLED 35 asked our good Doctor if he thought my sick httle fore-brother would get well. Our good Doctor didn't answer her, right away though, he just leaned over and looked at my sick little fore-brother for a little while longer, and didn't let on that he heard mamma, so that he wouldn't have to answer her just then, because he felt so sorry for my dear, little dying fore-brother, and for my dear papa and mamma that he couldn't speak. Then, after waiting just a little while longer, our good Doctor looked up and told my dear papa and mamma that their sick little baby was dying, and that it was very sorry because it couldn't talk to tell them how sorry it was because it was going to die, in a little while, and leave its dear papa and mamma, to never see them any more. Then, just as our good Doctor finished telling my dear papa and mamma about this, my sick little fore- brother looked up again, and my dear- weeping mamma went over to his little bed and took her dying little baby up in her loving arms and sat down in a chair with it. When mamma took my sick little fore-brother up, in her arms, our good Doctor, and my dear papa felt 36 SUNSHINE CHALLED so sad that they were nearly crying, and my dear mamma was crying. My little fore-brother then wakened up a little and looked up at mamma and saw her crying. He was very sorry for her, and after he looked at her for quite a little while, he smiled, and put his sweet little mouth up for his accustomed good night wmnma kiss. Mamma knew what he wanted and she hugged him up close to her and kissed him several times, then let him down again into her lap and let him lean back in her arms. Then he looked up again, and smiled, oh so pitifully, then slowly closed his eyes, and gasped a few times, then died in his blessed mamma's arms. CHAPTER III MY DEAR MAMMA'S SORROW A good mamma is The greatest of God's creatures ; She is the hoHest thing alive. In my last little letter I told you all about the sad death of my little fore-brother; and now, in this little letter, I will tell you all about my dear mamma's sor- row. Then, in my next little letter, I will tell you how our good Doctor and his noble big bay horse, "Prince," found me in a baby-forest, and how glad my dear papa and mamma were, when our good Doctor gave me to them. My dear papa and mamma were so sorry that my little fore-brother died that they were very sad for a long time. My dear mamma cried about it every day. Then, after a good many days, my papa told our good Doctor how sad mamma was and how she cried, 37 38 SUNSHINE CHALLED and then our good Doctor and papa tried to make her stop crying, and to brace up and be cheerful. All that they could say and do, though, didn't stop ii-amma from feeling sad, nor from crying, and taking flowers out to my little fore-brother's grave every day. Papa was very sorry for mamma, and was good, kind and loving to her all the time; but he couldn't get her mind off of my little fore-brother; and he was afraid that mamma might get sick and die too. My dear mamma continued to be very sad for a long time — until, finally, one bright sunshiny day she got a nice letter from her own mamma — who is my grandmamma, and who lives in a far away city. In that nice letter my grandmamma told my mamma some wonderful things that I don't under- stand; but, when mamma read them she quit crying and braced up, and got cheerful and happy just like she is now. I will now tell you what that nice letter said; and if you don't understand it now, you will when you grow up to be big folks like your papas and mammas are. SUNSHINE CHALLED 39 MY GRANDMAMMA'S LETTER. My grandmamma wrote a letter to mamma every week; and the letter of .which I now speak was, in part, as follows: "My dear Child: You must stop crying, brace up, and be cheerful again; so that you may do a great work which God, in His wisdom has planned for you to do. It is true that you have a deep sorrow; but, then, sorrow is, — sometimes, a great blessing in disguise; and when I tell you of some of its blessings you will understand why our all-wise Creator sends sorrows upon us. Now let me say some things, which you might not permit anyone but me, — your mother, to say to you. I feel that I can say to you, anything that I wish to say; for you now know, — better than you ever did, how dearly I love you; and that I would not inten- tionally say anything to you that I did not think was for your good. Now listen to the mysterious things of which I shall here tell you. 40 SUNSHINE CHALLED Sorrow is temporary darkness of the Soul ; And, as the darkness of night brings out stars, So a sorrow-darkened Soul brings out truths. God, who knows what is best, often takes dear little children from their mothers, so that those mothers will know, in their own hearts, the sorrows of other good mothers who loose children. Were it not for this, a young mother might not have the depth of sympathy that she should have for other mothers. When we understand God's laws, we then can see that His mysterious ways are wise. Sympathetic chords, in a good mother's soul,. Are, by the darkness of sorrow, set in action; As are bird voices, in darkened cages. Then too, my dear: Sometimes our eyes are washed with tears. That we may see our duties more clearly. Then, too, in His wisdom and goodness, God some- times takes dear little children from their good moth- ers, so that those mothers may know, in their own hearts, how dearlv their own mothers love them. SUNSHINE CHALLED 41 If it were not so, a young mother might never know how dearly her own mother loves her, and how her own mother would mourn her loss, should that loss be either by the death of her daughter, or by the alien- ation of her daughter s love. From experience, — In your own heart, you now know, dear, That a mother's love is deep and everlasting. Mother love Is the most fervent blessing That flows from human hearts. Now, my precious child, since you have had your sorrow, you know, in your own dear heart, the full measure of true mother love; and in this dearly bought knowledge, God, in his wisdom and goodness has, in a way, blessed you; therefore, instead of being grieved longer, my dear, cheer up, be brave, and bury away down deep in your heart, the grief that has so long worried you. God is wise and good. Let us acknowledge this now. and believe that God, in his wisdom and goodness, saw that it was best for Him to cause a sorrow in your heart, — that heart from which eternal love flows from you to that still living Soul, — your little child. 42 SUNSHINE CHALLED The little Soul of that darling babe still lives, dear: Come, now, cheer up, be brave, and believe; for you are young yet, and God can return to you, in a new body, the still living Soul of your little babe, whose body alone is dead. Cheer up, have faith, fervently believe, and God will, if yon prove worthy of his goodness, return to you the sweet Soul for whom you now mourn. Then, as at your side he will grow ; How I love you, you will know ; For my love follows you everywhere, You cannot get beyond my prayer.' I tell you, dear, A mother's love lies next to God ; And as you to yours would give, So God will give to you as His. When your heart is sad, listen to God's loving voice, and he will make it glad. Listen to His soul-inspir- ing songs, in the singing rose; in the violet; in the honeysuckle; and in other petaled beauties too. There, He whispers H,s words of joy. There, He His beauty glows. There, He sheds His perfumed delight, and transfuses into human hearts His mystic balm of healine love. SUNSHINE CHALLED 43 When your soul is sorrow darkened by grief, bright- en it with the vibrant Hght of mirthful music, — God's soul-illuminating fire. Play lively cheerful music every day. Play it buoyantly; play it with all your might. Sing cheerful songs; sing them with joyous fervor and fond delight. When your spirit is depressed, thus illuminate your soul with the energizing light of God's exalted love. Do all of these things my dear, then, God, in His wisdom and goodness, will send back to you the still living soul of your sweet little babe, whose body alone is dead, but whose subtile image around you hovers, linked to your mother heart, so strong and sweet that he ever feels his mamma's heart-beat. Then, some glad day, When you comb and curl his hair, Or watch him prance and pace At play; you'll see "Sunshine" there With bright eyes and sweet face; — A precious gift from God above, To bear your mother love. Now my dear child do as I say, and all that I have said will be sure to come to pass. Your loving Mother.'* 44 SUNSHINE CHALI.ED P. S. — "Before sending this letter I will add, that I have written just such serious thoughts as my soul has dictated; and I hope that they will be re- ceived by you in the same kindly spirit that I send them. You have so much to be thankful for that you ought to be very happy; and / want you to cheer up and he happy. As you are my only child, and the only child that I ever had, and as you have been my only companion from the time that you were one year of age, I want you to. know that my love for you has been the sweetest blessing that my Maker has given me during all of these many happy years. And, now, even though you are married, and have gone from my presence, you have not gone from my mind nor from the love of my heart. You have a good husband. He loves you, — aye fair- ly worships you; and he has in you a good wife who worships him; and now, therefore, I have, in my hum. ble way, appealed to your good heart, to encourage you to become cheerful, contented, and happy, that God may use you as an instrument with which to accomplish great good. SUNSHINE CHALLED 45 Who knows, my dear, but you may yet be the moth- er of a son who will be president of our Republic; or may be a Shakespeare, a Homer, or, possibly, a Cicero or a Demosthenes. Now, in conclusion I will say that you have and al- ways will have my devoted love and earnest prayers. My Dear Child: 'Though others braid your thick brown hair, And drape your form in silk and lace, And fondly call you "dear and fair," And hold your nands and kiss your face, Please' remember that dear sweet prayer Which you and I used to share; And don't forget that God above Gave to me for you, eternal mother love.' My daily evening prayer shall always ask that God's blessings be showered upon you and yours. Your loving Mother." ' After my dear mamma read this nice letter from my grandmamma she quit crying; and, day after day, after that, she played on her piano, sang songs, at- tended to flowers and read poetry. This made my dear papa very happy, and he gave mamma every possible encouragement* to enable her to follow these cheerful pursuits. 46 SUNSHINE CHALLED Then one day my grandmamma wrote another letter, asking mamma to cut out and send to her every choice ' ' stray ' ' poem that she could find in the newspapers ; so that she could have them printed in some of her books. By "stray" poems, my grandmamma meant those poems, the names of whose authors are not publicly known, — poems that are circulating around through the newspapers without the authors' names attached to them. When my grandmamma asked mamma to search for and send to her choice "stray" poems, she told mamma that if she would do this for more than a year, God might cause my little fore-brother to be a great poet when he came back to her and grew up to be a big man. Mamma and papa then sent some choice "stray" poems to my grandmamma every week for more than a year, during all of which time mamma was very happy. Then, God, in His wondrous way, With His mystic hand Divine, Began to mold from subtile clay And tiny sparks of bright "Sunshine' A little poet, whose mighty pen . Will surely please all wise men. CHAPTER IV. WHEN ''LITTLE SUNSHINE" CAME. "Little Sunshine" Was found in a baby-forest one cold night, When mother earth and all the trees in sight Were dressed in a beautiful garb of snowy white. From the time when mamma received that nice letter from my grandmamma on down to the present day, she has continued to play music, sing songs, cul- tivate flowers, and read poetry. It has been over two years since mamma received that letter, and it was over a year after that before our good Doctor was called to see her again. It was one very cold afternoon in February, more than a year after mamma had been playing music, singing songs, cultivating flowers, and reading poetry every day, that mamma told papa that she was not feeling very well, and that he must tell our good Doctor to come to see her. 47 48 SUNSHINE CHALLED Papa told our good Doctor about it, and he came to see mamma. When our good Doctor came he looked at mamma's tongue and felt her wrist, and then he put on his glasses and looked into her eyes for quite a little while. At first he could not see anything in her eyes except two tiny little images of himself, then he went to a window where he sat down in a chair and looked out a little while before he looked into her eyes again. When he was sitting there looking out of the win- dow he seemed to be studying about something, and he didn't look up nor didn't speak for quite a good little while. Finally, mamma asked him if he had seen anything unusual in her eyes. He didn't answer her question right av/ay, he just looked out of the window attentively, and seemed to be in a deep study. Then, presently a broad smile came over his face and he, while still looking out of the window, answered mamma by saying, "Yes, I saw that / am very little in your eyes.'' SUNSHINE CHALLED 49 The good Doctor then looked into mamma's eyes again, and this time he could see some sign, which told him that mamma was going to, shed a good many tears before another day, and he told her about it, but he said they would be tears of joy instead of tears of sorrow. Our good Doctor then sat down by the window again, and looked away off toward a large forest of very tall trees. He looked at this forest for a good while, without taking his eyes off of it. He just looked and looked and looked. Then, after he got through looking at the forest he turned around toward mamma and asked her if she had been working very hard. Mamma told him she had not been working hard for more than a year; and that during all this time she had played music, sang songs, cultivated flowers, and read poetry every day. The good Doctor then smiled a little and said that he guessed that mamma was only lonesome, and that he would not leave any medicine for her, but that he would come back to see her again early next morning, before papa would leave for his store. 50 SUNSHINE CHALLED Then our good Doctor went home and fed his noble big bay horse, "Prince," and ate his own supper, and told his good wife that he and Prince were going out to the baby -forest to find a little baby for m}^ mamma. When the good Doctor told this to his wife it made her feel very happy, for she loved my mamma very much, and she told the Doctor to be sure and get a little boy baby for mamma. After the good Doctor had finished eating his supper, his man put a saddle and bridle on Prince and brought him out of his warm stable, for his master to ride him to the baby-forest. While the good Doctor's man was doing this, the good Doctor's wife was helping him put on his heavy, warm overcoat and a large fur cap that came down over his ears. She then strapped the good Doctor's baby-basket tight to his breast, where he could see to put the little baby in it, and where he could watch it all the way back to my papa's house, so that the little baby might not fall out into the deep snow, for there was deep snow on the groimd, and the limbs of the trees were bending down from its weight. SUNSHINE CHALLED 51 When our good Doctor got ready to go, he looked so f tinny that his good wife laughed at him, and told him that he looked just like good old Santa Claus. He certainly did look funny, and he felt funny too, for he laughed, and cut up a good deal and talked real good naturedly. He wore big boots with sharp-pointed iron climbing hooks strapped to them, so he could climb the tall trees in the baby -forest. His overcoat was thick and wooly, and it came down to his feet. His cap was a regular Santa Claus cap, and his gloves were very large, white, wooly ones. The baby-basket which was strapped to his breast was just big enough to hold a little baby. It was lined with blue, and had soft, warm little blankets in it to wrap around the little baby. In one end of this pretty little basket, the good Doctor's wife had put some nice little clothes for the little baby, so that when our good Doctor would give the little baby to mamma she would have the little baby clothes all ready to put on it. 52 SUNSHINE CHALLED When Prince saw the good Doctor coming toward him, with the httle baby-basket strapped to his breast, he knew that his master was going to ride him to the baby-forest. Prince was a very smart horse, and he hked to have little babies and good little children to ride on his back, and when he saw his master coming to ride him to the baby-forest he held his head up proudly and pricked up his ears, and acted as if he was very glad to go. As soon as his master mounted Prince, the happy horse turned and started for the baby-forest as fast as he could well pace through the deep snow. The baby-forest was a long, long ways from our good Doctor's home, and it took a long time for Prince to take him there. It was in the middle of the night when the good Doctor and Prince arrived at the baby-forest, and all of the people in the country were fast asleep. The night was very cold. The moon was shming brightly and the stars were twinkling. The ground in the baby-forest was covered to a great depth with SUNSHINE CHALLED 53 snow, and the pretty white flakes were so thick and heavy on the trees, that the lower hmbs of all the large baby -trees were bent down to the ground. When the good Doctor and Prince went a short distance into the forest, they stopped to rest for a little while, for they had come a long ways and both of them were tired. They had not gone far enough in the forest, yet, to find the baby-trees, and when he got off of Prince and sat down on a big log. Prince look at him and nickered a little, as much as to tell him that they had not gone far enough. The good Doctor then patted Prince on the neck to make him rest a little while before they would go any further. Then Prince stood still and rested while the good Doctor sat on the big log and rested, and thought about what kind of a little baby he should get for my mamma. While thinking about this he remembered that my mamma had told him that she had been playing music, singing songs, cultivating flowers, and reading 54 SUNSHINE CHALLED poetry every day for more than a year; and this caused him to think that he should get a httle girl baby who would be a great musician, or a little boy baby who would be a great poet. After thinking this over very carefully he happened to think how sorry papa and mamma were when my little fore-brother died, and that if he should get them a little baby poet, it might have the soul of my little fore-brother, and that this would please my papa and mamma best. This thought made the good Doctor feel real happy, and he made his mind up that he would get a little baby poet. The good Doctor then said to himself, "It is well that I am getting this good rest now, because those little baby poets are to be found only in the tallest baby-trees in the forest, and I will have to climb to a great height to get one." After the good Doctor had rested for a good while longer, Prince well knew that there was something unusual to cause his master to take such a long rest; for he had carried him to and from these far away baby- woods many times before, when the good Doctor was after babies. SUNSHINE CHALLED - 55 Finally, after Prince thought it was high time for himself and his master to be on their way to the baby-trees, he nickered a few times to let the good Doctor know that he was eager to go. The good Doctor then looked at his noble horse and said: "My dear Prince, to-night we will carryback with us, the smartest and prettiest baby to be found in the baby- woods, and it is now 'up to you' to find him." The noble horse seemed to understand what his master said, and he began to prance and feel very proud to know that he was to be so highly honored, and that he himself was to find the little poet for his master. The good Doctor then mounted his horse and started off in the direction of the tall baby-trees. He did not want to go very fast though, because he rather dreaded to climb such high trees on so cold a night. Prince was in a hurry, however, and he soon started off in a lively pace. . After they had gone quite a long distance, Prince pricked up his ears and began to neigh as if he wanted 56 SUNSHINE CHALLED to attract the attention of some little baby poet, sleep- ing in a tree top. He had neighed but a few times when, sure enough, a tiny little baby poet in the highest treetop heard him, and then it sang out three times, in a voice like that of a canary-bird, the word, "Sweet," "Sweet," "Sweet." This surprised the good Doctor a little, for he had almost forgotten that poet babies are the only ones that make any kind of noise in the baby-forest, and that they sing out the word, "Sweet," "Sweet," "Sweet," three times, in a canary-like voice, to let doctors know that they are little poets, and that they will sing sweet songs to all the world when they grow up to be big men or big ladies. When Prince heard the voice of the little baby poet, he started direct to the baby-tree where the little baby's voice came from, and as Prince approached the tree he looked up toward the top of it, and neighed and nickered, and neighed and nickered a good many times, as if he wanted the little baby to look down. The good Doctor sat real still on Prince's back for just a little bit, and looked at the pretty sights to be seen all around him. SUNSHINE CHALLED 57 The woods were very quiet, and the deep snow on the ground and its beautiful white flakes on the trees made the whole forest look very pretty; and the good Doctor said to himself, "This sight is fit for thfe gods, — oh, what an ominous feeling comes over me!" As the good Doctor finished saying these words he then slid down off of Prince's back and stood there very quietly for a moment, while he looked at the shrine-like drifts of snow formed around the baby- tree, and at the beautiful arches made by the bending, snow-covered branches. It always had been the good Doctor's custom to kneel down and pray before he ventured to climb baby- trees, and now, as the sweet, musical voice of the little baby poet was ringing out the words, "Sweet," "Sweet," "Sweet," in the solemn quietude of the mid- night hour, and as the snow was drifted into shrine- like forms around the tree and beneath the arches of its bending branches, he felt a solemn ecstasy perme- ating his whole being as he knelt down to thank God for His goodness, in giving to him another little baby for my dear mamma. 58 SUNSHINE CHALLED While thus kneeling down in prayer, with his face turned heavenward, the good Doctor saw a holy light shining all around him, and around Prince, who was standing near by; and he also saw two wonderfully bright eyes looking down from a hollow knot far, far up in the tall tree. As this holy light cast its warm, mellow rays down through the snow covered, arched branches, the little baby poet listened carefully and heard every word that our good Doctor said. Then, after our good Doctor had finished his pray- ers, asking God to give him a little baby poet, the lit- tle baby up in the treetop, in order to let the Doctor know that a little^baby poet was up there, sang out in a sweet voice, down through the Divine light, the following poetic words, describing the Doctor's feelings: ''I knelt before a snowy shrine In solemn ecstasy; A holy light began to shine, I raised my eyes to see, And in the silence all Divine, Sunny eyes looked down on me." When the Doctor heard this sweet voice saying these poetic words a tremor of solemn delight thrilled SUNSHINE CHALLED 59 his soul, because he then knew for a certainty that the little baby singing in the treetop was a poet. The good Doctor then started up the tree and it took him quite a good little while to get clear up to the little baby's nest. While he was on his way up, the little baby quit singing, *'Sweet," ''Sweet," "Sweet," and settled back into its cozy nest to wait for the good Doctor. When the good Doctor got up to the baby's nest he peeked in, and saw, to his surprise, that the little baby was smiling and looking right at him. It smiled just like I am smiling in my picture, printed in this book. "Ah, ha!" said the good Doctor, **You are a little 'sunshine' baby, and I know a sweet little woman who is very lonesome because she has no little baby, and I shall take you to her." Then the good Doctor reached in and lifted the little baby out of its nest, and put it into his pretty little baby-basket, and covered it with the pretty, soft little blankets. 