Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-02-12
WHAT HAPPENED TO TOMMY.

Tommy White was six years old, and a
fat, funny little fellow, with blue eyes
deep dimples, and the lightest yellow
curIs you ever saw.
Tommy lived in a white house that
stood on the top of hill, with his father
and mother, and halfa-dozen brothers and
sisters, who were all older than he, and
thought he was the most beautiful and
wonderful boy that ever was born.
But although Tommy was the darling
of the whole family, there was one who
was more devoted to him than all the
others.
This was his sister Annie; she was six
years older than Tommy, and from the
time he was baby she had taken almost
the whole care of him, and their mother
used to call Tommy "AnRie's baby"
Their house STOOD as | said before, on
the top of high HILL and in winter the
children used to have grand times coast
ing down; they could go clear across the
orchard and the road, and then down an
other little slope; it was the best coasting
place anywhere round, and the children
enjoyed it all winter long.
One summer morning when the hill
side was covered with green grass and
yellow dandeliOns, and the children were
playing around, Annie picked quantity
OF the dandeliOn blossoms and made
chains OF their stems, and harness for
herself, that Tommy might drive her for
horse, but after time they became
tired of this play and sat down on the
grass to rest.
Mamie" said Tommy, after he had sat
still about minute and quarter, "Tom-
my wants to play"
We'll" said Annie, blowing the downy
head off of dandelion, E'what doe
Tommy want to pIay?"
81 dunno; sumfin, yes; Tommy wants
to side down hill"
'Why, you little goosie," said Annie,
'you can't slide down hill in summer !;
there isn't any snow to slide on"
"S'ide on the grass"
''You can't, darling, the sled won't 90 :;
do you want to try it? Well, sit here a
minute, I'll get the sled and let you see :"
and away she ran to the barn.
In minute the sled was brought, end
Tommy proved to his satisfaction, or
rather dissatisfaction, that it would not
go on the grass.
AS Annie was putting away the sled in
the barn, she spied some empty barrels
in one corner. Suddenly a new idea
flashed through ner brain.
90, TOmmyi" she cried, II have
thought Of such splendid thing; I'll put
you into one of these empty barrels and
roll you down the hill. 1t will be better
than sliding"
Tommy was delighted with the plan.
SO one of the cleanest barrels was quickly
turned over on its side, and rolled into
good position at the top of the hill, and
Tommy crawled in
He was such a little fellow that there
was plenty of room for him, and Annie
gave the barrel push, and it began to
roll down the hill.
Faster and faster it went, and Annie
stood and gazed after it, but only for
moment, for she soon heard cries issuing
from it, and they were not screams Of de-
light, but of pain and terror
Poor Annie! Screaming herself, she
ran after the barrel as fast as she could,
hoping to stop it before it reached the
foot of the hill, but it rolled faster than
she could run; and away it went, through
the orchard, across the road and down
the bank on the other side before it
stopped; then Annie seized it and pulled
out Tommy, a forlorn-looking child
enough; his little plump cheeks, his fat
HduuS, anu arms, anu 1e6L were scratched
and bleeding, his dress was torn, and he
was screaming and crying with all his
might.
Annie took him in her arms and car
rled him home. Her mother, who had
heard the screams, was standing at the
top of the hill, and came to meet her.
She took Tommy herself, and asked Annie
how he got hurt. "
Annie told what she had done as well
she could for crying. Her mother did
not scOld her, for she knew she had not
meant to hurt her little brother, and she
thought the fright she had received would
teach her to be more careful in future.
She washed the blood from Tommy's
face and hands and found he was not
seriously hurt. When he had sobbod
himself to sleep, Annie went after the
barrel and rolled it home; on looking in
it she saw what she had not noticed be-
fore, a great many little nails, whose
points had done the mischief.
Tommy's scratches soon healed up,
and in few days he was quite well, but
his older brothers called him the ''infant
Regulus" for a long time Afterwards
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