Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-11-27

mamma had coffee and a cold lunch
spread upon the green grass, and never
had rye bread and sweet milk tasted so
good; 1t was perfectly delightful. The
only provoking thing was that the mo-
squitOes also had an excellent appetite,
and regarded Walter as their bread and
butter. But he beat them off with u
branch, and fought like a brave hero, one
against a thousand. 1t was something to
be so brave and formidable!
When they had finished his papa took
his gun and started off to the woods.
while mamma and Lolita went to pick Der,
ries. Lena washed the dishes, and Jonas
was commissioned to take charge of the
boys. The sun shone warm, Fredrik fell
asleep, and Jonas, who had sat up the
night before in order to nave Lunkentus
done in time, fell asleep too. Then Wal
ter had a great desire to try his ship.
He went to he's shore, loaded Lunkentus
with white stones, put an ant for helms
man, and headed the vessel for Spain.
The wind blew gently from land, and
Lunkentus did it's master honor. 1t
seemed to Walter that he had never seen
a finer ship. How proudly it rocked on
he's swelling waves! How fast it went,
How magnificently it careened before the
breeze! Lunkentus sailed to Spain, but
Walter stood with the string on shore and
took good care not to let Spain lie too far
away.
Then came a gust of wind. Just as he
was enjoying it the most, the string slip
ped from Walters hand, and-fareWell to
Lunkentus! 1t now sailed by itself out
towards the broad lake.
Walter ran to he boat; but the boat
was large and heavy, he could not push
1t out. He ran like one wild along the
shore: "Lunkentus is lostl Lunkentus
is going to Spain in earnest" A fisher
man lived near by; his boat was gone,
but an old trough lay upset on the shore.
Walter did not reflect long. He pushed
out the trough into the water, jumped in
and propelled it with a stick.
The trough was rather tottlish, but in
the beginning it went firstrate. The land
breeze gradually drove it out into deep
water. Still Walter did not get any near
er the runaway, for Lunkentus sailed
much the faster. When Walter no longer
felt the bottom with his stick, he became
a little dismayed. The trough drifted
further and further; it began to tip with
the swell Of the waves and almost upset.
Walter now began 10 scream as loud as
he could. 1t would not nave taken much
more for this first adventure of Walters to
be his last.
Fortunately Jonas awoke, and had very
big eyes when he saw a little bobbing
trough and q screaming boy far out on
the lake. He was slow-footed, the good
natured old Jonas, but this time he made
good speed, ran to the shore, pushed out
the boat and rowed after Walter so that
the oars creaked. Walter saw it and got
40 40 - nm HnoI- NN~- -
that | am afraid" cried he, and rose bold.
ly in the trough. But this was more than
the trough could stand; it tipped over
directly, and Walter fell head-first into
the lake.
"Just see that silly boy!" exclaimed
Jonas, and rowed SO violently thai one of
the oars snapped. He was then quite
near, so he seized Walter by the hair and
dragged him into the boat. 1t was a
good pull. "Brr," sputtered Walter
when he came up from the kingdom of
fishes.
"Save Lunkentus! Save Lunkentus."
was the first thing he screamed, with his
mouth still full OF water. And how drip
ping he was, and how his boots went
clupp, clupp, when he moved his feet.
"What do | care for Lunkentus 81
laughed Jonas, half glad, half provoked;
and then he padded with his one oar and
a half back to the shore.
There was a great hubbub. Papa
scolded, wept, Lolita SMILED,
Fredrik screamed, Lena took on at a great
rate, and Jonas looked fiat. Walter him.
self was not at all frightened now that he
felt the ground under his feet, and de-
clared that it was not so dangerous, for
he could swim.
eyes, with your hands at the bottom ?"
laughed Jonas.
Il didn't feel any bottom" said Walter
loftily. you ought to have let me alone,
and then | would have swan ashore"
"But where can we get some dry
clothes?' asked his mamma. Lolita, run
to the fisherman's cabin, and see if YOU
can borrow some of the children's
clothes"
Lolita went and came back in a mo-
ment. "They have only a little boy and
a big girl" said she. Here are the girls
underclothes and striped holiday petit
coat and shoes and stockings"
Gam [ to go in girls clothes 2" asked
Walter.
THAT you are, my boy" said
with that decided tone which it was not
worth while to oppose. at shall be your
punishment, and you may be glad it is so
slight a one. You have been a very
naughty boy"
Here was no help for it. In a few min
utes Walter was dressed, and looked very
strange in his striped petticoat. Come
here and | will part your hair in the mid
de-" said Lolita. But Walter gave a Jerk
and went to the woods in a huff, while his
clothes were drying.
When he had gone a little distance he
met a hunter who said to him: Little
girl, can you show me the way to the fish
erman's cabin?"
Il am no giri," said Walter, and walked
proudly by.
He 500 came to an old woman who
was picking blueberries. Walter went to
her, put his hands on his hips and said:
81 am not a girl, | am a boy"
Are you?" said the old woman, and
continued to pick.
Further on some poor boys were busy
gathering leaves for the sheep. See,
there goes the fisherman's Brita," said
they to each other; "she will help us
carry our leaves to the boat. Come,
Brita, what are you playing there in the
woods forS"
Il am no Brita," said Walter, breaking
off a good stick for the sake of security.
"Just hear that" said the boys, and
then they began to throw pine-cones at
the supposed girl. Walter did the same,
and there was a wal in the woods. The
shots whizzed among the trees, but the
enemy was superior and Walter was
i !. L.