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Literary
July 14, 1925
The Bismarck Tribune
Bismarck, Mandan, Burleigh County, Morton County, North Dakota
What is this article about?
Twins Nick and Nancy enter Pixie Cave with a magic key, finding a secret cupboard that transports them to the topsy-turvy Land of Wonders. A talking sea-cow greets them, explains the upside-down world, and offers help to retrieve the pixies' stolen honey-bees for the Fairy Queen, inviting them home to her husband Henry.
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ADVENTURE OF THE TWINS
BY OLIVE ROBERTS BARTON
THE LAND OF WONDERS
At last the Twins came to the entrance of Pixie Cave and peeped in.
Not a soul was around anywhere, so they crept in ever so softly.
All the glow-worms and fire-flies had their lights turned down, and the cave was so dark it was like going into the movies in broad daylight. Neither Nick nor Nancy could see a thing.
But by and by they gradually became accustomed to the darkness.
Then they saw fifty tiny beds and fifty tiny chairs, all made out of tree-roots. Besides this there was a big cupboard marked "Clothes Closet."
The Twins took a peep inside this and saw fifty tiny "best" suits hung neatly in a row.
Beyond this was another cupboard marked "Secret Cupboard, Don't Touch and Keep Out."
"The golden bee-hive must be in there," whispered Nancy.
"We'll get the Fairy Queen's bees for her right away."
Before Nick could answer, the magic key jumped out of his pocket and fitted itself into the lock. The door flew open, and a hand seemed to push them through. Then the door slammed shut behind them.
Instead of a cupboard, the Twins found themselves in a strange country.
"My goodness!" said Nancy.
"It is Wonderland," said a large sea-cow, waddling up and shaking hands with its flipper. "You'll find in this land of wonders, that everything is turned around topsy-turvy, helter-skelter, hit-and-miss. Are you after anything in particular?"
"Yes," said Nick. "The pixies stole the honey-bees that make the rose honey for the Fairy Queen.
They put it into their secret cupboard.
The Green Wizard told us and we got the key from the Sour-Old-Woman. After all sorts of trouble we got here, and we find that the secret cupboard isn't-"
"Stop right there," said the sea-cow.
"You said plenty. The secret cupboard isn't! That's all! It isn't! There is no such thing. The secret cupboard is really the Land of Wonders and I'm the first wonder--a sea-cow on dry land! Now then down to business. You say you are after those bees. Up until last Monday there was not a bee in the place.
And now all we do is jump and dodge. I certainly hope you will find them and take them away with you."
The sea-cow went to a telephone booth and dropped in a quarter.
"Give me Henry," she said to the operator.
The operator gave back twenty cents change, and must have given her Henry, for the sea-cow began to talk at once.
"We have company, Henry, so get supper ready. Have cold tea and hominy and plenty of soup. And use the best spoons."
"Come on home with me," said the sea-cow. "Henry's my husband, the sea-bull.
He does the cooking. I told you everything was upside down, inside out, hind foremost in the Land of Wonders. We'll talk it all over with Henry. He's pretty smart and knows a lot. He can help you to find the Fairy Queen's bees."
The Twins were too much surprised to answer, but turned and followed the sea-cow.
(To Be Continued)
(Copyright, 1925, NEA Service, Inc.)
BY OLIVE ROBERTS BARTON
THE LAND OF WONDERS
At last the Twins came to the entrance of Pixie Cave and peeped in.
Not a soul was around anywhere, so they crept in ever so softly.
All the glow-worms and fire-flies had their lights turned down, and the cave was so dark it was like going into the movies in broad daylight. Neither Nick nor Nancy could see a thing.
But by and by they gradually became accustomed to the darkness.
Then they saw fifty tiny beds and fifty tiny chairs, all made out of tree-roots. Besides this there was a big cupboard marked "Clothes Closet."
The Twins took a peep inside this and saw fifty tiny "best" suits hung neatly in a row.
Beyond this was another cupboard marked "Secret Cupboard, Don't Touch and Keep Out."
"The golden bee-hive must be in there," whispered Nancy.
"We'll get the Fairy Queen's bees for her right away."
Before Nick could answer, the magic key jumped out of his pocket and fitted itself into the lock. The door flew open, and a hand seemed to push them through. Then the door slammed shut behind them.
Instead of a cupboard, the Twins found themselves in a strange country.
"My goodness!" said Nancy.
"It is Wonderland," said a large sea-cow, waddling up and shaking hands with its flipper. "You'll find in this land of wonders, that everything is turned around topsy-turvy, helter-skelter, hit-and-miss. Are you after anything in particular?"
"Yes," said Nick. "The pixies stole the honey-bees that make the rose honey for the Fairy Queen.
They put it into their secret cupboard.
The Green Wizard told us and we got the key from the Sour-Old-Woman. After all sorts of trouble we got here, and we find that the secret cupboard isn't-"
"Stop right there," said the sea-cow.
"You said plenty. The secret cupboard isn't! That's all! It isn't! There is no such thing. The secret cupboard is really the Land of Wonders and I'm the first wonder--a sea-cow on dry land! Now then down to business. You say you are after those bees. Up until last Monday there was not a bee in the place.
And now all we do is jump and dodge. I certainly hope you will find them and take them away with you."
The sea-cow went to a telephone booth and dropped in a quarter.
"Give me Henry," she said to the operator.
The operator gave back twenty cents change, and must have given her Henry, for the sea-cow began to talk at once.
"We have company, Henry, so get supper ready. Have cold tea and hominy and plenty of soup. And use the best spoons."
"Come on home with me," said the sea-cow. "Henry's my husband, the sea-bull.
He does the cooking. I told you everything was upside down, inside out, hind foremost in the Land of Wonders. We'll talk it all over with Henry. He's pretty smart and knows a lot. He can help you to find the Fairy Queen's bees."
The Twins were too much surprised to answer, but turned and followed the sea-cow.
(To Be Continued)
(Copyright, 1925, NEA Service, Inc.)
What sub-type of article is it?
Prose Fiction
Journey Narrative
What themes does it cover?
Nature
Friendship
Moral Virtue
What keywords are associated?
Twins Adventure
Pixie Cave
Land Of Wonders
Sea Cow
Fairy Queen
Honey Bees
Magic Key
What entities or persons were involved?
By Olive Roberts Barton
Literary Details
Title
The Land Of Wonders
Author
By Olive Roberts Barton
Subject
Twins' Quest To Retrieve The Fairy Queen's Stolen Honey Bees From Pixies
Key Lines
"It Is Wonderland," Said A Large Sea Cow, Waddling Up And Shaking Hands With Its Flipper. "You'll Find In This Land Of Wonders, That Everything Is Turned Around Topsy Turvy, Helter Skelter, Hit And Miss."
"The Golden Bee Hive Must Be In There," Whispered Nancy.
"We'll Get The Fairy Queen's Bees For Her Right Away."
"You Said Plenty. The Secret Cupboard Isn't! That's All! It Isn't! There Is No Such Thing. The Secret Cupboard Is Really The Land Of Wonders And I'm The First Wonder A Sea Cow On Dry Land!"
"Come On Home With Me," Said The Sea Cow. "Henry's My Husband, The Sea Bull. He Does The Cooking. I Told You Everything Was Upside Down, Inside Out, Hind Foremost In The Land Of Wonders."