The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-12-11
RALPH'S BIG BALLOON.
STORY or II VERY AMBITIOUS LIT
TIE BOY.
s.,.cted Heading which VIII Prove of
Interest to Father Times
Little Folks.

Ralph was a very ambitious little boy'
He always wanted something bigger and
higher and better than any one else had
And he never was willing to wait Tor IT,
When people told him: walt until you
are a bigger boy. Wait until you get on
trousers. Then you may have a bicycle.
Then you may go upon the roof to fly
n kite. Then you can travel on the steam
ears all by yourself. Wait Ralph!-Ralph
always answered: Il don't want 10 wait
want all those things now"
one morning he said to Marion, Marion.
want a kte-a big kite-a kite that Will
so up"
Marion was a very obliging sister. She
was old enough to know that little boys
sometimes have foolish little wishes that
II does no harm 10 crafty. She sat down
and made Ralph kite 1t was made OF a
stout piece of brown paper. 1t had good
tail. made Of pieces Of muslin tied to-
gether. and a long bit of cord to hold
IT by.
Ralph flew his kite In the house for a
while Then he took II out-of-doors, and
tried 10 fly it in the garden. He was not
very successful in getting II up. The truth
was. ne was too small to know how 10
manage a kite. But Ralph did not think
that was the reason He thought 1t
was because the kite was not the proper
kind.
II don't like this kite" he complained
70 Marion. Il want something better.
Something that will go up high"
Il am going down town presently"
answered Marion. land when l come
back l will bring you something-some-
!hing that will go up high"
Marion was a very kind sister indeed.
When she came home she brought Ralph
q big red balloon Now, Ralph" she
said, "here is something that will go up.
You will have no trouble about this"
She tied very long piece of string to
the balloon, and let Ralph take it. He
tried 1t in every room in the house, and
II went to the ceiling in each one.
Now l want to take II out Of doors"
he said.
"You had better not take It outside"
answered Marion. '1f the string broke
It would fly away"
ooh no. won't lose IT, declared
Ralph. Frank Burns has got a balloon
too, and | want TO see mine go up higher
than his goes up"
So Ralph took his balloon out, and pres
entity Marion heard the shouts Of the lit
tie boys and saw them running gayly
about the garden Each boy had his bal
loon high up in the air.
Mine will so higher than yours,
Frank" shouted Ralph.
mo, mine can go higher than yours,
Ralph" Frank opened his hands and
showed his ball of Irvine. "See, 1 have
got whole ball of Irvine. My mother
gave II to me-"
Ralph redeemed with anger YES" he
shouted. mime Shall go higher than
yours! l say 1t shall! 1 will make 1t go
higher than the tree"
He gave great jump In the air as he
spoke. to make the balloon go as high as
down he went on his face. The string
slipped from his hand, and the big bal
loon, rising slowly, went up far among
the tree-tops. Ralph stared at 1t with
round eyes. too much astonshed to cry
over his fall.
"There, Rail- h." exclaimed Marion from
the window. There, 1 told you you
would lose 1t. Now it's gone"
Ralph did not answer. He stood watch
ing the red balloon as it kept on rising.
still remaining near the spot where
Franks blue one sailed over the tree
Presently II passed beyond Franks, and
Btill kept going up, higher and higher, I'M
I'll 1t seemed Ike small dot against the
white clouds. Then puff of wind struck
1t and away II went over the tops Of the
trees and houses, and that was the last
Ralph yer saw OF II.
Then Ralph turned to Marion. and gave
long sigh of satisfaction. Anyway"
lie cried, ut went ever so much higher
than Franks did"