Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1883-08-24
A BRAVE BOY.


"Ill just go down by the lake, mamma
and wait until you are ready"
"But, Rollo, remember you are
dressed in white, and it soils very easily;
do not 60 where you will get any stains. :"
II won't, mamma, Til be ever so care
full"
This was the talk they had as Rollo, in
his newest white suit, and brilliant red
stockings and fresh sailor hat, kissed
his hand to his mother and tripped out
Of the gate. Ten minutes more he ex-
pected to be off to the park to hear the
lovely music, and see the swans and
monkeys.
It was less than ten minutes when he
came back, one shoe off, one elastic
gone, his bright red stockings torn and
hanging, himself covered from head to
foot with mud. How could boy have
done so much mischief to himself in so
short a time! If only Rollo had had a
reputation for being careful, she would
have surely stopped to hear his story;
but, alas for him! A more needless boy
never lived than this same Rollo. Still,
this was worse than usual; so much
worse that the mother decided on the
instant that he must have severe les
son..
"Rollo," she said in her coolest tone,
"you may 60 at once to Hannah and
have her put your everyday suit on;
then you may 60 to my room and stay
until [ return"
''But, mamma" said Rolo, his face in
a culver, bis lips trembling SO that he
could hardly speak:
But she passed him on the stairs with
out word.
He called after her.
Mamma, oh, mamma! Won't you
listen to me?"
Then she said:
"Rollo, YOU may obey me imme-
diateIy, and I do not wish to hear a
word"
In few minutes after the carriage
rolled away, stopped at Mrs. Merrivale'
and took up Helen and her mother, then
on to the park.
You needn't suppose Rollo's mother
enjoyed it. She seemed to care moth.
ing for the park; she hardly glanced al
the swans, and did not 60 near the mon,
keys. All the time she missed happy
little face and eager voice that she had
expected to have with her. Miss Helen
Merrivale was another disappointed one
Had not she and Rollo planned
together this ride to the park!
Now, all she could learn from his
mother was that Rolio was detained al
the last minute. She did not intend tC
tell the Merrivales that her careless
littles boy seemed to grow more careless
every day; and how she felt that she
must shut her ears to his pitiful little
explanations, which would amount to
nothing more than he ''didn't mean tc
| at all, and was 80 sorry"
The mother believed that she haC
done right, nevertheless she was lonely
and sad. They came home earlier than
they had inte nded, AS they passed
Mrs. Sullivan's pretty cottage she was
standing at the gate with Mamie in he1
arms, and out she came to speak to
them.
"You haven't the dear little fellow
with you," she said eagerly, her lips
trembling. II wanted to kiss him, the
darling brave boy. O, Mrs. Gray, ]
hope and trust that he did not get hurt
in any way"
"Who:" said Mrs Gray, wondering.
ly. MY. Rollo! Oh, no, he isn't
hurt. Why? Did you hear of an acct
dent?"
Ibid he tell you? Didn't any body
tell you? Why, Mrs. Gray, if it hadn't
been for your brave little Rollo-1 shiv-
er and grow cold all over when T think
where my baby would be now! She
climbed into the boat; it was locked, but
she tried to sit down at the farther end
and lost her balance and pitched head
first into the lake. Rollo saw her, your
little Rollo, he was the only one around
and don't know how he did it, and he
such little bit of fellow. He climbed
over the side of the boat and reached
after her; he stepped right in that deep
mud and got stuck, and the little man
had sense enough to unbutton his shoe
and leave it sticking there and wade out
after baby. He saved her, I'm sure
don't know how, nobody seems to know
but he tugged her out and laid her or
the bank, all unconscious, you know
and we thought she was dead, but she
is as we'll as ever, and oh, Mrs. Gray
isn't there anything I can do for the
blessed boy"
John" said Mas. Gray, "driye home
as fast as possible"
Up the steps she ran, gave the bell {
furious pull, and dashed past the little
nurse girl to her own room like comes
"Where is Rollo?" she asked breath
"He is asleep now, ma'am. lie cried
as though his heart would break, end
was long time getting comforted, but
finally got him dressed and coaxed
him to take nap, and there's been half
the town here this afternoon to inquire
how he is"
She didn't believe in disturbing sleep
ing boys as rule, but she picked this
one right out of his bed and carried
him, half smothered with
kisses, to her rocking chair and
sat down to laugh and cry over him and
kiss him. Only half awake he was at
last, still grasping the big orange that
Hannah had given him, when mamma,
giving him more kisses, said:
''Dear little brave boy, will you for
give mamma for all the sorrow of this af-
ternoon?"
Then he rubbed his eyes and looked
at her wonderingy aud patted her
cheek, and said:
"You mean you will forgive me? You
will, won't you? I truly didn't mean te
get wet and dirty" .'s
How many kisses do you suppose he
had then? As for Mrs. Sullivan, she
hasn't found enough yet to do for Rollo
Though she keeps doing nice little things
all the time.-The Pansy.
The new oil region at Macksburg, O.