The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1889-10-25
DICKY AND BILLY.
The Latter Innocently Led the For.
mer Into Danger.

All that summer Dicky and Billy had
been inseparable friends ever since
the day when, bereft of mother, broth
ers and sisters at one cruel stroke by
the falling of giant tree, little Billy
had been brought to the house a badly
frightened and very noisy little ball OF
yellow down. looking more like wad
of wet and tangled cotton than a lineal
descendant Of champion Pekin duck.
what pity" said Mrs. ellison,
Dicky's mother, as she placed the
lonely orphan in snug nest before the
fire. where the genial glow would grad
ually dry and enliven his bedraggled
feathers. 'There were nine of them
this morning-such pretty little flock
and the old duck was such pet!
Well, we'll, don't reckon the little
thing will live. but still, we can let
him take his chances"
Watch Dicky. or he'll kill him
afore night" remarked Mr.. ellison,
laughingly; "thinks there never was
sech purity thing, Dicky does; keep
him away from him, mother, or you'll
have no duck"
Whats the difference?" growled old
man McCrory, the hunter and trapper
who made his home with the GilsOn's,
the boy might as well kill him as the
varmints. Why! sech sign of coon as
there is along the edge of the bottom!
an mink tracks till you can't rest! no
danger that the bird will ever have ter
die of old age"
But if Billy merely loved his young
friend for the sake of the dainty It'd
bits that they shared together. the
same charge could not apply to Dicky.
Billy was his only playmate in the long
hours McCrory's big, good-natured
hound. Track, was absent with his
master in the woods. When Track
was at home. Billy was often neglected
for never was there such a good,
playful. giant of dog before
when the hound was absent, then
UuO OdOy anu UQO uUChl1uS WCIO
as inseparable as brothers. Dicky's
home was at the verge of one
of the many great swamps of
the Southwest. Years before his father
had cleared a farm and built a house
on a low mound near the confluence of
Il river and smaller creek. In the
dry season of the year this cultivated
mound was little sunshiny paradise
in a wilderness of canebrake and cy-
press. but with the heavy rainfall that
might come at any time, the swollen
streams overhowed the neighboring
low-grOunds, and Gilson's hill as it
was called became an island and sepa-
rated from the narrow highlands by a
leep strip of water, which was many
rOds wide at the narrowest point.
A few yards from the rear of the
house was the boat landing, where
rom one years end to another, the
half-dozen skiffs and dugouts owned by
Mr.. ellison and his friend McCrory Law
floating in the submerged grass and
weeds. or high and dry on the bare
ground, just as the stage of water
CHANGED to be. And here, one MORN
ing in August. the aquatic instincts of
he restless Billy led him to wander,
nd close in the rear followed the
straw hat, and long. linsey skirt of his
riend.
Billy" called the child. with i'm.
)ressive severity, ''tum bat here to me.
)o'll dit d'ownded if 90 do in dar!"
But Billy knew better than that; he
walked with grave elaboration to the
vater's edge. wet his throat with few
lrops, then lay one side of his head
md neck in the black ooze, as though
rying mud application for the ear
sche; and. as if satisfied with the re-
ult. shook himself gaily, waded fur
her out and 6oated like an autumn
eaf on the bosom of the waters.
'Oh. ducky, ducky! Doc tum bat, :"
;ried the anxious baby; but his appeal
vas unnoticed and in vain. Never be-
ore. in Billy's recollection, had he en-
:oyed himself so well as at the present
moment The choicest morsel of cake
II pie could not have enticed him to
he shore.
Dicky stood with his little bare toes
the water and rubbing his eyes say
'gely with his fat, dimpled fists. His
silly was gone-yes, he was! he knew
led never come back any more! If he
'ould only catch him once.
If Dicky could get in the boat, per-
laps he could regain possession of his
pet. Losing his hat in his haste he
scrambled about. and made his way
Jack to the stern, and the added weigh
n the boat swung the bow clear of the
bank and around into deep Or water.
With mischievous flirt and ,
;huckle the runaway Billy darted far
her out. and as Dicky reached out t.
letain it he caught at hanging bush
md unconsciously exerting his baby
,sh strength. saw with delight that thu
boat was moving, actually following
lis escaping property.
''Dess I'll dit him d'wec'ly," muir
nured Dicky. and indeed. it began i,
look as though there was some chanc
OF 1t, for the water of the river, risin
rapidly had left the channel and wa
cutting across back of the hill with
current quite strong enough to swift IL
watt the young voyager beyond sigh
and hearing of his home.
| Fortunately. however all voyage
must come to an end. and. half-mil
from the land. the pilotless craft
caught by cross current swung up t
huge floating cypress tree, caught i