THE COMING OF MISS OCTOBER MONTH. 



Over in Farmer Goodman's timber 

 there was a great stir. Everybody was 

 busy. All summer the trees had been 

 planning a picnic reception to be given to 

 the Month brothers and sisters when the 

 hot weather had passed. 



When it became noised around the 

 whole neighborhood was delighted with 

 the thought. Everyone wanted to do 

 what little he could to help things along. 

 Several dignified old owls, who had holes 

 in the trees, promptly offered to chaper- 

 one the party. The cat-tails along the 

 brook just at the edge of the timber prom- 

 ised to wear their prettiest head-dresses 

 if they would be allowed to wait on the 

 door. The golden rod, purple asters 

 and other flowers along the road and the 

 ferns, wahoo, sumac and their compan- 

 ions agreed to outdo themselves in the 

 effort to furnish beautiful, tasty decora- 

 tions. 



The refreshments would cost nothing. 

 The spring at the foot of the hill offered 

 to supply clear cool drinks for all, free of 

 charge. They had an abundance of wild 

 grapes, wild cherries, pawpaws, red haws, 

 hazel, hickory and other nuts. 



Prof. Wind was engaged to have his 

 band there to furnish music for the danc- 

 ing. 



As it was hoped to make this a long-to- 

 be-remembered event, all summer was 

 spent in planning and preparation. Many 

 were the happy hours passed by the trees 

 in discussing the styles and colors in 

 which they were to be decked. When- 

 ever the band was practicing its new 

 pieces for the occasion the little leaves 

 would dance and skip for joy. 



The names of Mr. January Month and 

 all his brothers and sisters, February, 

 March, April, May, June, July, August, 

 September, October, November, Decem- 

 ber were written on a sheet of paper. The 

 list was handed to a gay little squirrel, 



with a handsome tail and pretty stripes 

 down his back. He was then given in- 

 structions and sent to do the inviting. A 

 funny little hop-toad wished to go along. 

 The squirrel said that he would be pleased 

 to have company, but he scampered 

 around from place to place as though he 

 were going for a doctor for a dying child. 

 As the little hop-toad could not keep up, 

 he came home crying. 



Fancy the disappointment when the 

 squirrel brought back word that pretty 

 Miss October Month was the only one 

 who had accepted the kind invitation. All 

 c ^id that they would be delighted to be 

 there, that they knew that it would be a 

 very happy, jolly affair; but each month 

 claimed that having his own work to do 

 without help he is kept so busy that he 

 has no time for roving and sport. After 

 the trees and their friends had so kindly 

 made such great arrangements for their 

 entertainment and honor, the narrow- 

 minded months were not grateful nor po- 

 lite enough to even try to manage their 

 work so that they could get off for a day. 

 Perhaps they had forgotten that there is 

 such a thing as fun and rest. Poor 

 Months ! No wonder they die so early ! 



Every plan for a brilliant event had 

 been made. Bright, amiable October 

 came. The day was sunny and warm, 

 but not hot. Everyone did his part ac- 

 cording to agreement. The common yel- 

 low butterflies, some caterpillars and oth- 

 ers insects who had been in no hurry to 

 disappear, were there. Although many 

 of the birds had left for their southern 

 trip, there were a number of catbirds, her- 

 mit thrushes, brown thrushes, phoebes, 

 song sparrows and others who furnished 

 rare solos and grand choruses between 

 dances. The cowbirds and yellow-bellied 

 sapsuckers who do not sing wished to do 

 something, too. The cowbirds offered to 

 keep the flies and other insects off of the 



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