The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1882-10-05

not come III
BERTHE, BERTHE, Ber-te' Susie" was calling
half an hour later, and looking into every
place she could think of. 80, mamma, can
not find him anywhere; neither can Dinah!"
Vaguely alarmed. the Commodores wife sent
all the servants in the house to look for the boy
while the Commodore instantly went TO ques-
ton the sentinels. They were sure he had not
left the Navy-yard; he could not have passed
any of the gates without being seen by them.
Quickly the alarm spread; officers, sailors,
marines and visitors were all searching for the
lost boy-sOme, alas on the water, which
danced and glistened so gaily in the sunlight;
for one of the watchmen had seen boy on the
sea-wall an hour before. He thought he was
going aboard the receiving-ship, but could not
say and did not know if he We're BERTHE or not,
but thought he was about Bertie's size.
Noon came, and still the search went on.
Susie sobbed in her mothers arms The din
ner-hour came and passed; the afternoon was
waning; still the search went On. All hearts
were filled with pity Mothers clasped their
children in theirarlns thankful for their safety,
for there was now 4 settled conviction that lit
tie BERTHE had fallen over the sea-wau.
When BERTHE ran out with his gun, he prac-
ticed awhile in the garden, swapping caps and
shooting darts. The delight of his heart was
gun. He had always admired the great can
non with their pyramids of balls stacked on
the Nayy-yard Common. With the spirit of
independence full upon him, he entered the
enclosure to compare his new gun with the
cannon. He looked around; not soul was in
sight. Neither of the sentinels nor any of the
watchmen could see him where he stood beside
the largest cannon in the Square. Il mean to
look into it, he said to himself, and pried out
the compton which filed the mouth. 1t yield
ed so suddenly that he went over backwards.
He was quickly on his feet, however, and
kneeling down, peered into the great gun.
Il wonder how many men you have killed."
he said gravely, addressing the monster; hun
drcds, dare say; and now you cannot hurt
little boy like me. Do you ever long, old gun,
for war time? l do believe could crawl into
you," he added. "What capital hiding place"
Just then he heard some one call. It was
Dinah, looking for him.
"Tll hide!" he exclaimed; "what fun!"
And suiting the action to the word, he squirm-
ed into the gun.
1t did seem great fun for awhile to lie in
hiding in so snug place, though his limbs
were cramped and lie was nearly stifed.
Dinah did not come as he expected, but went
of in another direction; and by and by BERTHE
thought he would 90 home and get ready for
the balloon ascension and the sightseeing in
Boston. Then it was that he found to his hOr-
TOR and dismay that he could not get out. He
had very broad shoulders and they acted as a
wedge In vain he writhed and struggled and
kicked.
Bitterly he repented his naughtiness in get
ting into such a trap. Then he grew fright
ened, thinking he must die there, and burst
into tears, poor little lad! though he was Oh
"Gub'ment groun'."
con-" he cried, Il cannot stay here and die
such a miserable death. l must get out! 1
want to be good brave man like my father.
l want to do some good in the world, az mamma
has always taught me. Can it be that | am to
starve to death here, just for little thought
Ies5nessI Mamma says 'thoughtlessness is the
beginning of sin' Oh, if / can only get out
1 will be thoughtful an" "areful!"
He writhed and struggled, but in vain; he
could not move any further out.
Presently as he grew still with despair, his
Sunday verse came to his mind:
II wN cry unto God Nth my roiee, erea unto
God uW cry nth my r0ice, and he shall hearken
into me-"
So poor little BERTHE, thinking that his prison
might be his living grave sobbed forth prayer.
He felt comforted directly. Hope whispered
that he would be found and soon he remem-
bered a queer little fable about weasel who
crawled into a grain-chest through a tiny hole
and filled himself with grain, but found to his
sorrow that he could not get out again until he
was thinner. 1t was story Dennis the watch
man had told him he had often laughed over
it with kind old Dennis. BERTHE was glad now
he had eaten no breakfast, and thought before
q great while he would be thin enough to
squirm out from the cannon. He wondered
how many days it would take to make him
thin enough, and bravely made up his mind to
bear his imprisonment like man. Soon
weary and worn with his struggles, he fell
asleep Thus sleeping at times, struggling no
more but waiting with brave patience the
little fellow lay in his hot, close, prison hour
after hour.
The afternoon was drawing to a close still
the search was carried ON in the Yard and
around it. Over and over again the same
places were visited. The Commodore looked
as though twenty years had been added to his
life. He was sadly beginning to fear that fur
Their search was useless. Suddenly old Dinah
saw something glittering on the ground in the
gun-square With loud cry she pointed over
the enclosure. Dennis sprang over the railing,
and running to the big cannon picked up Ber-
ties little gun which he brandished high in
the air
A crowd rushed to the spot Dennis kneel-
ing down, pointed to a little foot prOtruding
from the lannon's mouth.
Found" was the eager cry; but there was
little Joy. for all feared that the child might
be sutiocated.
Dennis managed to grasp the other foot, then
pulled and tugged. The happy boy contracted
his shoulders as best he could. and was finally
drawn out. though both his shoulders and ell
bows were sorely scraped and in another mo-
mcnt ne was in the COmmOdOre's arms, with
mamma sobbing over him, while little Susie
turned the tragedy to comedy, exclaiming:
80. BERTHE, You look like the Horribles We
didn't see!" and truly BERTHE was a spectacle:
face hands, and clothes covered with powder
black and tears.
Admiral Daley asked if patriotism was his
motive for spending the Fourth of July in
cannon?" but when he and the other officers