The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-06-23
Ghilareu's Column.
ON GUARD.

berries for me?"
The little boy whose name was jamie
had been lying on the grass under the
maple-tree. His straw hat was pulled
down over his eyes, his arms were folded
under his head for a pillow, and he
looked just what he was that morning,
lazy boy, who was taking his ease
" You see, want to keep them fresh
and cool while I'm making the cake for
grandma, his mother went on. "You
haven't forgotten that it is grandmas
birthday, have you, jamie? And when
the cake is ready we'll take them both
down. to her, and some flowers too, out
of Annie's garden. You'll have to keep
your eyes open, little boy, mind. The
robins are very tame and saucy this
year, and there is nothing they are SO
fond of as Strawberries. Can 1 trust
you ?" ..g
80, yes, indeed, mamma; of course
you can a9o
And jamie sat up very straight,
pushed back his hat, and looked as vide
awake as possible. @r
Now, Jamie was very good boy in
deed, as boys go; he loved his father
and mother and brothers and sisters
very much he almost always minded
when he was spoken to, or a little while
afterwards; he was good-natured and
obliging, and he was capital boy to
make promises, but as for keeping them
%, dear me!
1t was very nice basket of straw
berries, the little boy thought, as he
looked at them; large and ripe, and very
red, they looked as if they might be very
delicious eating.
A robin who was sitting on the ma
ple-tree thought SO too, as he looked
down at them sideways out of his bright
eye, and he said to himself as he twit-
tered away, mean to have straw
berry out of that basket before very
long
jamie still sat up, but not very
straight; his arms were clasped around
his knees now, and his hat was pulled
over has eyes again; but he could watch
the basket from under the side of the
brim, and besides, what robin, no mat
ter how saucy, would ever think of steal
ing strawberry when he was sitting
right there, the little boy thought. But,
ali you see he did not know the robins
very well, or see the saucy old fellow
who was coming sideways down the
trunk, of the maple-tree, watching the
basket very sharply with his bright eyes.
An ant with crumb of sugar in his
claws was struggling through the long
grass toward his house in the garden
path, and he was having a very hard
time of it.
Over and under and through the grass
blades he toiled. Sometimes he had to
drop the sugar and rest awhile, and
always it was very hard work to get it
along
jamie was very much interested in
the ant, and never took his eyes off from
It's struggles. The robin hoped nearer
and nearer.
Jamiel jamie p called voice lust
then "come here to the fence-I'ye got
something to show you"
UP the little boy jumped, and away
he ran "Ahr' chuckled Mr.. Robin to
himself, what very careless boy
Come Mamma Robin; come, little robins
here's feast for you.
1t was half an hour afterward and
Jamie had wandered off to the other end
of the garden to play marbles, when his
mother came out to look for the little boy
and the strawberries, and what do you
think she saw?
Why, an upset basket and whole
family of robins picking and pecking
away at some very dirty strawberries
that were lying in the dirt
Of course, jamie was very sorry; he
cried, and promised never to forget
again; but what good did that do, when
all grandma'sO Birthday berries were
gone? v nofmoo fag src
Very little his mother thought, and
shook her head sadly over the little boy
and said Ta,s lLHs
Really and truly, Jamie, do you
know i think Bruno would make bet
ter and more trusty boy than you do?
Why, mamma what do you mean p
said jamie, very much astonished. (" Do
you really mean you would rather have
a dog for your little boy than me ?
L could trust him, said Jamie $
mother, and l cannot trust you"
This was dreadful state of things,
jamie thought, and his tears began toll
fall again. Bruno was very nice dog
there was no doubt about that-he was
the great Newfoundland who lived up
at grandPa's; but to think that his