Coronado Eagle and Journal, Volume XIV, Number 6, 10 February 1925 — Untitled [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

the SANDMAN STORY

\* 1 / CHINA CAT GROWS WISE /“JNCE In a farm house there lived in the parlor on a high mantel a china dog and a china cat. The cat was white with yellow spots on Its sides and she sat looking over the big parlor for many years until one night when the house was quite still the black dog with white spots said "Bow.” China Cat Jumped up and humped her back and glared at little China Dog, but he was Just as scared as China Cat, for until that night be had never discovered be could bark at the magic hour when all toys and such folks talk. “What do you mean by barking like that?” said China Cat. "One would

think you were like the master’s dog that comes In here sometimes all covered with hair. You are nothing but a smooth-coated toy dog—not real at all." “I am real, or I could not bark, and I want yon to get right off of my shelf,” snapped China Dog. “Your shelf T” said China Cat. “I want yon to know If anyone owns this place It la I. Get down on the'floor yourself If you think you are so real. That Is where dogs belong." “Not handsome dogs like me.” said China Dog, "but common cats belong on the floor, and If you do not Jump down where you belong I shall drive you down.” “You Just try It: that Is all,” answered China Cat. showing her claws “If I had such a shiny, smooth coat as you have I should know I wasn’t a real cat at all, but Just a toy like you.” “Bow wow,” laughed China Dog. “Yon had better look In the mirror behind you. Yon haven’t any fur coat

like the real puss that comes In here sometimes and Is always driven out, and that la why I cannot understand how It Is you are allowed to remain. * “My coat Isn’t soft and furry, but It Is nice and clean and not a bit like •that puss who Is driven out of here," replied China Cat, “and If you will look In the mirror yourself you will soon find out yon are no mure like the dog that comes In here than that vase In the middle of the shelf.” “Tour eyes are all wrong," said China Dog. “I am a very big, fierce dog with « hairy coat and —” In the middle of the mantel holding a vase for flowers stood a china boy. “Como here,” he called to China Dog, at the same time giving a low whistle which made China Dog stop quarreling and run to hla master. “Stand up on your hind legs and beg,” .commanded the china boy, and up on his legs stood little China Dog and whined; “Good doggie,” said China patting China Dog’s head. “Now roll over and play dead.” Little China Dog obeyed, and when China Boy told him to Jump up he patted him again. “If we were real folks I’d give you a bone,’’ he said. Again China Dog whined, and this time he wagged his tall. “Now go hack to your place on the end of the shelf and stand there until tomorrow night.” said China Boy. “Well. If I shan’t give up.” said China Cat “I would Just like to see myself minding that vase boy the way you did.” “Look I There U a mouse,” said China Boy. “It ran back of the sofa." China Cat Jumped to the floor and there she lay next morning, with her head broken off, and though she was mended and put back on the shelf, when the magic hour came around next night she kept to her own end of the shelf and -said not a word. But China Cat thought If she did not speak, and what she thought was that she did not like boys or dogs and she would rather not speak at all than have to mind that vase boy as little China Dog did. “Bow," said China Dog as he start-

ed back to hla comer after playing with China Boy. “Yon aren’t real. I told you you were not” "I am wise If I am not real,” thought China Cat. “I’ll alt here the rest of ray days and never let you or that vase boy know I can Speak at the magic hour. Then I shan’t bo bothered by two such silly creatures as you. who think they are real when they are nothing but china like me. But some day they will tumble off the shelf and then they will' find 11 out Just as I did.” (® by McClur* Nawapaper Syndicate.)

“Come Here,” China Boy Called to • China Dog.