her little charges and it hurt her to see them unhappy. "I was
only joking. And now children I will tell you a story."

"Oh goody goody," cried they all. "Tell us a true story."

"All right," said Aunt Polly. "I shall tell you a true story,"
and she began.

"Once there was a brave handsome man--"

"Mr. Welsbach," cried the children with one voice, for it was
well known in the neighborhood that Aunt Polly had long been
sweet on Julius Welsbach, the popular superintendent of the
Sabbath School and the best whisky maker for miles around.

"Hush children," said Aunt Polly blushing in vexation. "Of
course not. And if you interrupt me I shall not tell my story at
all." But she was not really angry.

"And one day this brave handsome man was out making whisky and he
had just sampled some when he looked up and what do you suppose
he saw?"

"Snakes," cried little Elmer whose father had often had delirium
tremens, greatly to the delight of his children.

"No, Elmer," said Miss Pinkwood, "not snakes."

"Pink lizards," cried little Esther, Elmer's sister.