The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1876-07-06
Ghe Goltda Gronitlt.
"Ohr' said Walt, softly, "just look

at that great fellow he's going to bite.
There now, this is something like" as
he pulled in a good-sizsd Gunner. A
long time the boys sat and fished, COW
ering those caught with piece of an
old sail found in the boat. Meanwhile.
the tide which had risen had turned
again, and, the wharf being at the
mouth of the river the current set out
strongly. The dory drifted out from
under the wharf the length of the
painter. There she chafed and fretted
mpatiently. At last she wore herself
free. and all unnOticed by the boys be-
gan to float down the little bay, slowly
at first, then faster as she got into
swifter water. Suddenly Fred, reused
by the new motion of the boat, looked
up and around.
Walter Seabury, where on earth
are we going top he exclaimed; "give
me the oars But there was only
one
80 Walt, didn't Mr.. Grant teach
you how to scull? Take the oar and
try it," Walt struggled manfully, but
the current was too strong, and ho
found himself powerless.
"Give your whoop, Fred; maybe
somebody II hear" But if anybody
heard, he thought it only merry
shout. and gave it no reply. Then the
boys looked each other blankly in the
face and thought fast.
Its my fault" said Fred, after a
time, Though that don't help us out
any now. But if we ever get back
again, I'll bear all the blame"
NO, you DON'T said Walt, gener-
ously; who spoke of boat first, I'd
! like to know
Then they We're silent again. Time
passed and the sun hastened down the
western sky. The boys knew that
night would soon be upon them, but
what could they do!'
80 Walter, look" Fred pointed to
the southeast a huge bank of fog
was trailing along the surface of the
NdltI- Ntttltl dllti liC6tItl IL tllt
the horizon, Boone Island Lighthouse,
and at last the shore, were blotted out.
| The loneliness of the situation became
awful. Fred caught up his breath
with a sort of dry sob.
Don't, Fred" said Walt, with a
culver in his voice. "COme, let's do
something"
"What - asked Fred, in a hopeless
tone.
Lets hoUer. Take turns; you first,
| then me, 50 as not to waste breath. 1t
seems as though somebody might
hear. At any rate, maybe it would
keep us from being run into
Its no use," exclaimed Fred after
time, during which he had grown
hoarse.
"Well, l don't know as it is, but
let's give one more, together this
time"
Walt thought he heard a faint an
swering, "hollo"' but his throat was
so dry and his voice so nearly spent
that he couldn't get much beyond a
whisper.
"Harkr' said Fred, lifting his head
from his arms. 81 certainly heard
something"
Cant we give one more shout?"
asked Walt.
This time an answer came across the
water: Boat ahoy"'
"IIollo" shouted Walt.
"Who are you?" sounded a voice
near at hand.
a dory lost from York. Help
cay, ay."
Then they heard the stroke of oars,
and presently a boat gathered form
from out the fog. A few moments
more and they were on board the yacht
Zephyr, with the dory in tow.
80 father, it's my fault, cried
Fred, throwing himself on his knees,
and hiding his head in his mothers lap.
"NO, it isn't" said Walt stOutly,
and then he told the story; "and now.
father, we'll give up the ride to Bald
Head, if that will make up for-for
our disobedience. y
Il think you've paid the penalty al
ready" said his father, looking into
his pale face, and glancing at Fred's
penitent position, "but I'm very
thankful and the words sounded
like a prayer" that the kind Father
sent us here just at this time. just
think, my boys, if you had drifted on
into the night and had struck ledge,
or had capsized, Or
Uncle Frank stopped there, and sat
down with his arm close about Walter.
while Aunt Amy strOked more tender
" Fred's brown curls, and felt a warm
drop plash on the hand he had locked
in hers.
Shall we leave them there? Or
would you like to know that they did
90 to old Bald Head, and that they
didn't forget that afternoon spent in
the dory, nor their fathers kind for
giveness. l think, too, you would like
to know that they learned wisdom by
that experience, and that disobedience
even i'll thought is not numbered
among their faults.-Hele'a c. I'hor71e
in N. Y. Observer.