The Penn's Grove record., 1889-11-02
ON THE ISLAND

--- to- hTH1. I ArE1l
In the middle of the stream that ran
by the house where Ned and Maggy
lived, was an island. A very little
island 1t was-only a few feet across u;
but q big tree and q little tree grew
there, and there were rocks and bushes
and grass, and sometimes q few wild
flowers. 1t looked beautiful to Ned. as
he sat on Il g bank and wished he were
there. He used to tease his
mother to allow him TO vale across,
for the water at that point was not
very deep.
at isn't half as high as l am" Ned
would urge, by way Of argument; tit
wouldn't more'n come up to my
waist. I wish / could gol"
But tile wise mother would permit
no such proceeding, and so Ned con-
tinued to look longingIy across the
water, and to think that when be was
a man he would explore the wonder
full depths Of that forbidden island.
Ned was a daring boy, and lie often
led lis little sister into trouble, and
even danger, without really meaning
any harm. Maggy looked up to Ned
as a most superior being, and placed
implicit confidence In whatever he
said, going where he went, and doing
Just what he told her to do.
One day company was expected, and
the mother was usually busy in the
kitchen. Ned and Maggy, being left
to themselves, played until they were
tired, and then sat down on the bank
to rest. Ned gazed over at the island;
1t looked SO green and pretty in the
bright sunshine. There was a clump
of yellow flowers growing on the far
Their side, and Ned was fired with q
sudden impulse to 60 and get them.
'How pretty they would look In the
tall vase on the parlor tablet" be said
to himself. "Mother would be 50
pleased to have come flowers. for she
said only this morning she wished the
sweet peas were in blossom. If she
knew they were there, I most believe
she'd let me CO." he argued. "But l
can't go and ask her, because she Is so
busy she said she couldn't be hind
cred with Anything. Anyway, she
hasn't said to-day l mustn't 20; and
she won't care il don't get drowned;
and, of course, | sha'n't."
Thus the boy talked to himself, try
ing to think that lie should be doing
his mother a favor in getting the flow
ers, willie away down in his little heart
he knew that to 60, after it had Deen
expressly forbidden, would be q naughty
thing inded. Bnt he Kept his eyes on
the flowers. and they seemed to nod
and bec.on to him, till he suddenly
made up LIS mind that he would leave
Maggy on the bank, and run over and
back again, ''almost before you know
it." :he told his sister.
BIT Maggy didn't want to be left
alone; she wanted to go yer Ned
went.
swell" said Ned; s'come on thenl''
And, rolling up his trousers. and TAX
ing the little girl on his back, bidding
her to hold on very tight, he stepped
boldly into the stream.
The water was somewhat deeper
than he had supposed, and the stones
were very slippery. But there va not
much current, and he had almost
gained the island, when he made a mis-
step, and Maggy came near losing her
hold. This frightened her, and she be-
gan to CRY. Ned soothed her as well
as he was able, and finally landed her,
wet and sobbing, on the shors of the
island.
The day was warm, but Ned's
clothes were dripping, and he shivered
as the breeze struck him. The flowers
were not so pretty as they had looked
to be-"Not worth ~picking.n Ned
grumbled. The bushes were prickly,
and q little green snake wriggled out
from under a rock. TIE sun clouded
in, and the air seemed to grow chillier
every moment. Marcy refused to be
comforted. Everything seemed to be
disagreeable; and Ned wondered how
they would get home again. Daring as
he was, he realized too keenly The
danger Of a second trip across the
river on those treacherous stones.
What should he dop Before he had
come TO any conclusion, Maggy caught
sight of her mother in their little
garden, and she set up a piteous wall;
then she screamed, and Ned, in spite
of himself, added his voice to hers.
Mother would know what to do.
At first the mother did not seem to
hear. Then she ran down to the bank,
and stood there as if dazed.
"Stay where you arel Don't stir one
stepl" they heard her shout.
Then she ran swiftly away, and they
saw her speeding down the road.
Ned knew where she was going. She
was going for some Of the men at Dea-
con Green's, a quarter Of a mile away.
Deacon Green had a boat, and Ned felt
sure that he SHOULD presently see n of
the Green farm boys rowing up the