Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1871-03-23
Youths Department.
LITTLE 4 PAUL,

Youths Department.
an LITTLE PAUL. e,,s,,6
LITTLE PAUL was bright boy Of I'VE
summers, and just - many winters, who
used TO wear . green jacket But he did
not always wear It, and he was glad enough
to 60 without It But he dearly loved his
hat. He never. went without that, II he
could possibly help il He used to put it
on the minute he got out Of bed, and has
been known TO sleep in IT. One morning
when he woke up found himself all alone
in the room. So he sprang out Of bed,
clapped on his hat, and pulled it down
tight on his little, round head. Then, as
there was nobody about, he thought il
would be of no use to bother about the
rest of his clothes, and 80 he put his hand
under his pillow, got out the copper cents
that he had put there the night before,
and, in his hat and little night-gown,
started out into the street. He went d.
rectly to the largest and handsomest toy
store in the city, which was not far from
his fathers house, and before the windows
of which 1t was little Paul's greatest de-
light to linger. When he entered the
store, there was no one there but the sales
man, and couple Of gentlemen who were
talking to him. You may be sure they
laughed enough when they saw little
boy come in with nothing on but hat
and a long white night gown. But little
Paul had no idea they were laughing at
him, and he marched around the store,
looking at all the grand toys, as independ-
ent as king. Presently he made his sc.
lection, and going to the salesman, he
said: :.z. 3...5
II want a cents worth of hummin'
tops"
The salesman roared out laughing.
"You had better get cents worth of
Jacket and trousers" he said
Little Paul looked disconsolately down
at his costume. He saw that something
was wrong, and, little abashed, he re-
commenced his tour around the store. He
now asked the price of nearly everything
he saw, and the man got tired of telling
him how many dollars the expensive toys
cost At last, coming to fine rocking
horse. little Paul said:
"How much is thatY"
"Oh! nothing" exclaimed the man.
"Tll take that" said little Paul.
But he didn't take it, unfortunately.
The man would not keep his word.
This little chap was never afraid Of any
thing. When he went to live in the coun.
try that summer, he made friends with all
the beasts, birds and insects he could find,
and once came into the house with wig
Cling garter snake in his hands. He took
great pleasure in catching bees, and,
strange to say, he handled them with per
feet safety.
But don't you try it.
One day bee flew in his mouth and
stung him dreadfully But when the
swelling went down, little Paul said
"Oh! that was a stranger bee If he
had knowed me, he wouldn't a. stinged
me-" .I
and it did seem as if his dunn play
mates knew him. The horse never kicked
him; the dog never bit him; wasps and
bees forgot to sting him; and old hens
which, when setting, were savage and
cross enough to everybody else, would let
him take them up to see II their eggs were
Matched, and never make single peck at
him
After while he got older, and, as he
still lived in the country, he was about as
lively little boy as you might see In q
days walk.
One day, when he was about nine years
old, he came running into the house cry
ing:
Mother! o mothers whale in the
riverw
Everybody laughed at him. but he was
right. A small whale--the first ever seen
in the Delaware River-was rushing up
and down in front Of the small town near
which little Paul lived. 1t had come up
from the ocean, and was now trying to get
back, without knowing the way. II ran
its head into sand bank, houndered into
deep water, rushed Gown the river. then
back again, and was, / have no doubt,
frightened nearly to death. All the fisher
men for miles along the river put out in
boats after this poor whale, which was not
much longer than common dining room,
but was big fish, although rather little
whale
Little Paul did not stay long in the
house He seized q pitchfork and a
clothes line in less than no time, and ran
at the top Of his speed to the river. Some
men were just showing OIL in boat, and
without asking any questions, little Paul
| jumped in. One Of them ordered him out,
but II was too late now, the boat was off,
aud the men rewed after the whale as
udIu ~ tuCy Coulu pun. HhcSHy shCy
saw it, not more than quarter of mile
away They shouted and pulled with all
their strength The man la the bow had
some sort Of harpoon, and he stood up
ready to throw it. They were not regular
whalers by any means, and they were very
much excited
There she ISL several Of them cried,
az the whale showed its back, about a
stones throw from the boat
Fire away, Bill! Hit her! Drive into
her"
Little Paul was wild with excitement.
He stood up and shouted and screamed.
Sire away!' And 30 the harpOoner
hurled his weapon, little Paul threw his
pitchfork with all his might, and drove 1t
into the leg of one Of the men In the bow
of the boat! The man howled l can tell
yen, and the whale disappeared.
The mans leg was not well for q week
or two, and little Paul's father had to pay
the doctors bill, and pay also for the poor
fellows lost time. So his little boys
whaling expedition was not very profita.
BILE
The whale was caught that afternoon,
some ten miles down the river and was