The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1872-01-19
Young Folks.
How Uncle Peter Saved the children.

How Uncle Peter Saved the children.
Walter should have known better
but he was always rash boy. will
tell you what he did last month, at the
seaside, where he was staying with his
mother. lie persuaded his two little
sisters, Emma and Eliza, to go with
him to a rock on the beach, near the
waters edge.
There they staid, playing in the sand,
till, all at once, they looked up, and
saw that the water of the ocean was all
about them. The tide had come up,
and crept round the rock, so that they
could not get to the dry land without
going through water and that they
were afraid to do.
Soon the little girls began to cry. The
sea-birds swept down near them and
now and then fish would come up by
the rock as If he did not fear them at
all. Walter told the little girls not to
make fuss; though he began to feel a
little anxious himself.
All at once he cried out, "There'5 a
boat with some men in it! But it isn't
coming this way. A man with spy
glass stands at the bow. He is spying
out something Why can't he look
this way? Halloo, halloo ~
Walter shouted as loud as he could (;
and then the three children shouted all
together; but nobody seemed to hear
them. On and on went the little boat
before good breeze; but not one OF
the five men in it seemed to take
| notice of the three children on the
| rock.
"What shall we do now? Shall we
| have to stay here all night ?" asked
Emma, the elder sister.
We couldn't stay here all night"
said Walter, "because you see, the rock
will be all covered with water at high
tide; and if we don't get off before high
tide, we shall have to be drowned"
Il don't want to be drowned" Sob
bed Emma.
"Neither do | want to be drowned"
said Walter; "but there is no use in cry
ing. Tears will only add more water
to the sea, and there's more water in it
already than we want"
The little girl stopped crying at tn csc
words, and took care that no more tears
should fall from her eyes. She looked
at Walter with surprise to see him so
brave.
But the little fellow was sly; he had
cause for his courage. The boat with the
men in it had sailed far away; but not
far off he saw Uncle Peter, waving his
arms at him. Then he saw Uncle Peter
take off his boots, and pull up his trous-
ers. Walter well knew that all would
be right the moment Uncle Peter got
sight of them on the rock.
Uncle Peter was a clever old fisher
man, who caught fish for the hotel
where the children were stopping. lie
was fond of children ; and having none
of his own, he made much of those of
other people. He had taken such a
liking to Walter and his sisters that he
was on the watch for them good part
of the time to see that they did not get
into mischief.
81 declare there's Uncle Peter COM
ing" shouted Emma, with delight.
"Uncle Peter? Nonsensew said
Waller. "Where's Uncle Peter ?"
Now Walter knew very we'll that
Uncle Peter was coming, and Walter
| ought not to have pretended that he
did not see him. But he wanted to seem
brave. Ah, Walter! you had better be
than seem.
Well, here's a scrape, you little
rogues!' said Uncle Peter, as he waded
up to the rock, and took one child, then
another, in his arms. "Here's scrape,
indeed! What would you have done
if / had not been on the lookout for
you?"
| Then, with his arms full of children,
Uncle Peter waded back through the
salt water to the beach, and put them
all down on the warm, dry sand, where
their mother and father were waiting
for them.
| The parents kissed them all around
and then little Emma said, " 1 think
Uncle Peter ought to be kissed, too"
$50 he ought, my DEAR" said her
mother, laughing: "and you shall give
kisses for ALL" So Emma gave Uncle
Peter five kisses; and Uncle Peter was
so pleased that his face shone like jolly
full moon.