The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-04-26
A LITTLE KNTGHT-ERRANT.
A STORY FOR CHILDREN.

suppose every ScnOlaf IN District NO.
was standing on the bridge that after
noon. Not that there were many of
them after all-not more than dozen
perhaps, but they were all on the bridge;
and this was the way it happened: Agnes
Lowe looked so down-heasted as she left
the school-room that Frank Morrison,
who never could bear to see anything
unhappy from a girl to kitten, had
proposed a run down to the bridge to
see the ice .soo OUT for the river was
breaking up for the spring. Now it
happened Frank was the hero of the
school, not SO much, dare say, because
he was much the best scholar in it as be-
cause he was the best skater, the best
swimmer and, to tell you the truth, the
best boy not only in the school but in the
village. So Isabella Stillman said she
would like to go too, and after that ev-
erybody wanted to 60, down to poor
Jamie West who was an idiot, but who
was always treated kindly by the chill
| dren, because Frank said it would be a
shame and disgrace not to be kind to
him.
l really must tell you why Agnes
Lowe looked so down hearted before we
go any farther. The scholars had had
a spelling and defining match that af-
ternoon. When the teachers ruler
came down on the desk with such
thump, and she said in such terrible
voice, Scholars, attention! books aside!
rise! choose sidesr' Agnes always was
frightened, and by the time the sides
were chosen she had almost forgotten
her lesson, though she had studied it
diligently.
':knight-errant,' demanded the teach
er of her in a sharp, cross voice.
Agnes thought the teacher was always
cross, but know all about it, and the
truth is she was only nervous and tired.
.'K-n-i-g-h-t knight, e-r er, knight-er,
rant rant = knight-errant," spelled
Agnes very slowly in a low voice, and
then paused and began to blush.
Isabella Stillman on the opposite side,
| looking very trim and composed with
her long light braids and clean starched
apron, had already opened her lips ca
gerry to give the definition when Agnes
went. on painfully: ''One-who-is-
brave and generous
.'K-n-i-g-h-t knight, e-r er, knight-er,
| Rant -knight-errant,n spelled Isa-
bella, quickly interrupting in clear, dis
tinct voiee-'.A knight who travelled in
search of adventures for the purpose of
exhibiting military skill, proves and
generosity She spoke SO rapidly that
everybody admired her very much.
'sRiohtr' said the teacher YEARLY, and
not paying much attention. for her head
aehed. Choose one for your side"
Agnes looked as if she was going to
cry.
Il would rather not choose if you
| don't mind" said Frank Morrison, who
stood at the head of Isabella's side. II
| think Agnes would have given the deli
milton if she had had time
.'Let me see," said the teacher. Yes,
her idea was right as far as Invent You
may choose or not, as you like
Isabella frowned, but Frank did not
| choose, and the result was his side was
| beaten, and Agnes was mortified to hear
| Isabella say that it was all her fault.
And SO it happened that they were all
on the bridge, and Agnes was shyly
keeping close by Frank and remember
| ing definition she had once read,
though she had forgotten the definition
| in the lesson. 1t was this: "a man al
ways wants to win games gentleman
always wants to win it fairly"
The view from the bridge was fine
| one. The ice came plunging over the
| dam in great masses and sent all the
water in the little river bubbling and
boiling and leaping ON every side, and
| there was such rush and roar in the
ears of the boys and girls that they
! could hardly hear each other speak.
Hello, childrenr' cried the cheerful
voice of a passing WAGNER; t.you' d bet
ter get off that bridge; it doesn't look
very stiddy.'' And his horses trotted on
round crook in the road and he disap-
peared.
Il wonder if there is any danger"
said Frank, leading the way off the
bridge.
Now this bridge was an odd one; it
had three parts, perhaps because there
were SO many rocks in the river there.
There was short span on one side sup
ported on q little stone pier, then there
was long space which seemed more
like bank of earth than anything, and
then a little wooden bridge beyond. The
scholars had been standing on the wood
EN- bridge and they stepped on the bank
of earth, all but Jamie, who was lean
| ing on the railing, his sad and usually
wandering eyes fixed intently on the
/ dashing spray below the dam.
/ Come, jamie cried Frank, you'd
| better come with US!
But before he finished the sentence
| cry of horror broke from all the chill
dren. Without one minutes warming
| the frail wooden bridge gave way all at
| once and in second more it was swal-
lowed up In the hurrying water, as il
| there never had been such thing.
| Agnes, who was looking straight at
Frank, saw that he turned perfectly
| white, but without an instant's hesita-
ton he flung off his jacket and dived
| into the water Isabella shut her eyes
and screamed; SO did some of the 9TH
ers. Agnes stared with a face as white
as Franks. Yes, there was jamie 8
head, and there was Frank close behind
| him. Oh. have they gone under again?
No, there they are. The waters have
dashed over them again Oh, oh. oh,
how thankful we ought to be! They
have come up again, and Frank has a
i firm hold of Jamie. But twas not very
easy swimming in that furious wster.
and Frank caught desperately at pro-
jectipg rock.
ssHelp!'s he cried. Il can't hold on
long, and can't swim with him. =
The children were too frightened to
know what 20. do. There was no house
in sight. Agnes looked round in de-