Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1892-08-05

HE LOST HIS BALANCE; ToPPLED OVER.
with complete success, though its re-
suit was not exactly what he had antici-
pated.
To be sure, as Arthur flung himself
upon one end Of the long pole, the old
man astride the bit Of plank fastened to
Its other end was lifted into the air. 1t
was, however, so suddenly and unex-
pectedly that he lost his balance, top
pied over and again disappeared, head
foremost, beneath the water. At the
same time the boy, at the inner end of
the see-saw, was bumped down on the
cabin roof. Then Uncle Phin's end
again descended into the water, Just in
time for the old man to grasp 1t as he
came to the surface.
With great difficulty he struggled into
his former position, and, turning q re-
proachful gaze on Arthur, said:
"Don't you do 1t agin, honey. Use no
doubt you means all right, but anodder
fling like dat ar would drown de ole
man, shuah."
81 didn't mean TO, Uncle Phin! In
deed 1 didn't~ cried poor Arthur, in
great distress. 'I only meant to try
and help you and lift you from the
water"
''Well, you done it, honey, shuah
nuff, but wouldn't try no more sich
experiments. II you'll frow me de end
OBJ de rope what's lynn ies inside de do,
and tie de 6dder end to dat ar pos, I
reckin I can pull mysef up outen de
water"
Arthur quickly did as directed, and
in few minutes more had the satisfac-
tion Of seeing his dear old friend res
oued from his pertlous position, and
seated safely on the deck. AS the
water-soaked man sat there, recovering
from his exhaustion, and grateful for
the warmth Of the hot morning sun, he
shook his head and said:
81 allus heerd tell dat sailorin' was a
resky bizness, an dat dem what goes
down into dc sea In ships sees wonder
ful tings; but I never spected ole
Phin Dale ebber sperience it all fer his
own sef."
After his strength was somewhat
restored, Uncle Phin instructed
Arthur to keep sharp lookout for
any more bridges, and went into the
cabin to light a fire and prepare break
fast a good supply of dry wood and a
boz Of matches having been provided,
he quickly had cheerful blaze crack
ling in his rude hearth. While it was
burning down to bed of red Goals he
mixed the meal, salt and water that he
intended should be transformed into q
corn pone, set the coffee water on to
boil and cut two slices Of bacon. The
smoke Of the fire found its way out Of
the cabin through square hatch that
Brace Barlow had cut in the roof direct
ly above 1t.
In less than an hour the bed of Goals
had done its duty. The corn pone had
been baked on fat stone previously
rubbed with bacon rind, and set up at
sharp angle In the hottest corner of
the fireplace. Tho slices Of bacon were
done to turn and four fresh eggs had
been fried with them. The coffee was
hot and strong, and there was maple
1t was breakfast that would have
pleased much more fastidious person
than hungry little Arthur Dale Dustin,
and he enjoyed it as, 1t seemed to him,
he never had enjoyed meal before.
Uncle Phin's delight at seeing his
'.lil marse" eat so heartily was un-
bounded, and they both found SO much
pleasure in their novel housekeeping
that the mishap of an hour before was
forgotten and they would willingly
have agreed to drift along in this happy
way for the rest of their lives.
After every scrap OF food had been
eaten and only grounds remained In the
coffee-pot, Uncle Phin began to clear
the table, which was an empty packing
box, shake the table-cloth, which was
0 newspaper, and wash the dishes,