Verhovayak Lapja, 1943. július-december (26. évfolyam, 26-53. szám)
1943-07-29 / 30. szám
July 29, 1943 Verhovayak Lapja Page 7 Children' § Page Conducted by AMELIA NYERS The Merry Twins at Fairy Forest Sally felt a warm wetness on her cheek, and opened wide her eyes to see Cotton before her, licking her face. She gaze around her, and for a moment was bewildered, for the room looked strange to her. Her drowsy eyes fell on Cotton, the black Scottie, again; and, then she remembered, and sat upright. Of course! They were at the Wonder- Land, the small tourists’ hotel in Arizona! Dad and Mother decided their vacation this summer would be spent visiting the Painted Desert; and she and Sue had welcomed the opportunity. Sally looked at Sue, her twin, sleeping soundly beside her. She gave her a gentle shake. “Sue!” she said. “Wake up! It’s morning, and today we want to see the petrified forest — the Fairy Forest, as the Indians in the village call it.” Cotton jumped to the floor and barked softly, his white puff-tail wagging. “Oh, good morning!” Sue said, sleepily, rubbing her eyes. “Hello, Cotton!” She jumped out of bed, and frolicked with the dog on the floor. Sally went into the bathroom and Sue ran after her. They hastily washed their face and hands. They threw their pajamas on a chair; Cotton pulled them to the floor. The girls dressed and combed their hair, while the animal watched their every movement. “Sally! Sue!” Mother’s voice came from the other room. “Are you ready for breakfast?” “Yes, Mother!” the girls answered, together; then, raced down the hall and stairs, Cotton running ahead, and entered the small dining room breathlessly. There were only two guests in the room, a young man and his sister from New York, who were visiting their aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. Toby, owners of the Wonder-Land. Mother and Dad joined the twins. Mrs. Toby served them a breakfast of orange juice, poached eggs on whole wheat toast, and milk. She was a cheerful woman. Her brown hair was brushed back neatly and fastened in a knot at the nape of her neck. Her brown eyes were pleasant and bright; a smile was on her lips. While the guests ate their breakfast, she packed a lunch basket for their all-day trip into the desert. “Here’s a thermos bottle of cool water you will enjoy on the desert,” Mrs. Toby said, placing the container in the basket. “It grows plenty hot when the tun is high. There is an Indian village beyond the Fairy Forest. You will find the people there interesting. Deep in the desert is a shrine the ancient tribes built. There the first peop’i worshipped the Great Spirit on the altar of the Sun Shrine. The Indians on the mesa still worship there.” “You will like Fairy Forest,” Helena, Mrs. Toby’s niece said. “We saw it yesterday.” ‘The air is so fresh. Entirely different from what it is in New York,” Jack, her brother, added. “I have the horses ready, Mr. Merry,” Mr. Toby said to the twins’ father, entering the room. “We’ll look after Cotton while you are away,” Helena said. The animal raised his ears and listened closely. He did not want to be left behind. He still remembered the summer he stayed with Cousin Kathie. “We won’t be gone long,” Sue said. She stopped and patted his head. He looked at her pleadingly. “Dad, couldn’t we take him with us?” Sally asked. “It grows hot on the desert,” he answered. “I think it best we leave him with Helena,” Mother said. “Be good, Cotton, and mind your manners,” Sally told him. He whined when they went outdoors and mounted their horses. They went slowly down the road, Sally and Sue lingered, anxious about Cotton. He ran after them, barking. “Back, Cotton! Please go back!” Sue said to him, gently. “Come here, Cotton!” Helena called. The dog retraced his steps; then, rolled on the ground at Helena’s feet, kicking his legs in the air. The girl bent down and patted him. He stood up and wagged his tail. The twins smiled. They knew that when Cotton wagged his tail in that fashion, he was happy. “Here, Cotton!” Jack called from the doorway of the hotel. The animal went indoors at his command. The girls sighed with relief, and picked up speed to catch up with Dad anci Mother. The girls rode their horse well. Their Uncle Cal, cousin Kathie’s father, taught them how to ride when they visited his farm. Dad took the lead, with Mother close behind. The trail was a sandy road that took them into a strange land known as the “petrified forest”. All around were huge stone tree trunks, beautiful as gems. “Long, long ago — no man can remember when — there was a giant forest here,” Dad said. “Then the sea came — perhaps, it was the Deluge — and covered the beautiful forest of pines. For many years the forest was at the bottom of the sea. The mineral salts in the water caused the decaying trees to petrify and become stone. Perhaps an earthquake raised the sea-bottom into the air. The rains of many years revealed the ‘fairy forest’ which the sea hid for so long a time.” They dismounted from their horses, and examined the petrified trunks closely. Sally picked up a small oiece of stone. “Dad, isn’t this just like amethyst?” she asked. “Yes, Sally. Here is one that looks like topaz.” He held up the yellow stone. “A red agate!” Sue exclaimed, picking up a petrified piece of a tree. Mother admired the paleblue chip of chalcedony in the palm of her hand. “May we take some chips with us, Dad?” Sally asked. ‘I’ll have to inquir0 whether or not we are permitted to take away some of these chips,” Dad said. “Perhaps, Mrs. Toby can enlighten us.” “These stones would make lovely sets for rings,” Mother said. “I would like a ring of this agate,” Sue said. They mounted their horses and rode on. After a while they came to the Indian village built on a rocky mesa. The houses were flat-roofed, with no windows. Scantily-clad children came forward and welcomed the tourists. They rested a while at the village, and watched the Hop! women at work. Some of the - women were preparing a meal; enticing odors filled the air. * “You eat meal with us,” a woman said, haltingly, in English. “Thank you. But — we have our meal here in the basket,” Mrs. Merry said. JULY Here again is warm July; From the deep, blue vaulted sky Beams the brightly smiling sun, On each and every little one. The soft sweet-scented breeze Rustling through the leafed trees, Whispers greetings filled with joy. To every little girl and boy. Buds blossom into flowers Overhanging many bowers; And the growing corn in fields, A golden harvest Nature yields. The rain and wind together Do not make fair weather; — But the sun up in the sky, Makes a lovely warm July. # * * ALICE Alice is a charming girl, With soft blue eyes and golden curl; Her dimples are entrancing, sweet; Her pink ribboned dress is always neat. MISS TELEVISION 1943 Miss Television 1943—otherwise Betty Jane Creamer, 17—shows a new black tight-fitting: victory swim snit at the annual preview ed bathing stiit styles at the Atlantic City Steel Pie». The init, designed to save material, is utterly free of any excess frills w ruff!is—fvef the necessary wisp of cloth.
