NOT WANTED UNDER THE PILLOW.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9605, 21 December 1896, Page 3

NOT WANTED UNDER THE PILLOW.

.' — » • . .-■■./■ Rudyard Kipling's jungle Btories., with their marvellous realistic conceptions of the inner life of animals, have made the author an idol for child worship in many a household. A little American boy, only five years old, who had devoured the stories of MowgU and his jungle triends and foes over and over again, heard one day that Kipling was coming to New York, and he set hie heart on seeing the man who had created this new world for him. Fortunately fee the little fellow's peace of mind, hie parente knew Kipling, and took the boy with them ,when they went to call. The boy wm in a state of suppressed excitement, but he said nothing until they reached the house. Rudyard Kipling's rooms were upstair*, and the entrance passage was somewhat dark. " Mummy," whispered the little fellow, "isn't it dark! It's a regular Mowgli house 1" At last the boy was happy, for he was face to face with hie ldoL Kipling spoke very kindly to bis interviewer, and in conversation he found that the boy knew intimately every incident ef the adventures of Mowgli and Bagheera, the black panther, Baloo the bear, Kaa the snake, and all the rest of the figures in the jungle stories. "I wish, Mr Kipling," said the boy, "that you'd written the jungle stories as long and as big as the 'Arabun Nights?'" "Why, my little man f asked Kipling. " Because then I could go on, and on, and on " "Bat," said Kipling, " that would have, been each a bifr book that you couldn't get it under you pillow." " Ah J" replied the boy, with a aigh, " bat I should never want to pat it under mr pillow." The author who can win eueh appreciation as this should be a happy mtt<