The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1893-03-09
CHILDREN'S CORNER.
A Plasky Boy

horse ran away and came right up !
past our house,"
The speaker was Harry Bradford,
a bright boy of ten years lie was
the oldest of five children, and, with
his brother who was three years
Younger, he had come tn meet their
father at the train, and vas
now telling him what had happened
since they last saw him.
Mr.. Bradford had taken his fami-
ly to the seaside for the summer va
cation, and they were enjoying 1T to
the utmost; for they had taken their
pony, and with riding, boating. and
swimming, the boys were having a
ROYAL holiday. The father remained
at his business in the city through
the week, but came to them every
Friday night; and Saturdays and
SUNDAYS, when the children had
him to join them in their sport and
rest, they considered the best days OF
all.
The place chosen by the Bradford
family was mile or two outside one
of the fashionable cities by the sea.
Between two rocky headlands, a
mile and half apart, a beautiful
beach of white sand stretched in a
graceful curve, and upon 1t rolled
The surf in dark-green waves break
ing continually into white foam:
Here the children played in the sand
bathed in the clear water, or rode IN
their pony-cart along the hard,
smooth beach.
The farm house where they board
ed was about quarter of mile back
from the beach, on an avenue much
frequented by riders and driving par
ties from the gay city near by.
The coming of summer visitors
had occasioned quite transforma-
ton in the old house. A piazza had
been added to the front, and on it
hung a hammock, while another
hammock could be seen under the
apple-trees in the orchard which lay
on the ocean side of the mansion.
The grass had been trimmed to make
smooth lawn, the house had been
painted, red tubs with flowers in them
were placed at various points, and a
semicircular graveled driveway led
from a gate below the house, at the
edge of the orchard, past the front
of the low piazza, and out to another
gate as far above the house as the
first was below-the two gates beng
perhaps one hundred and fifty feet
apart.
Everything about the premises had
very attractive appearance, especial
ly to Mr.. Bradford, as he came from
his hot city Office, driving up the
pleasant,road about sunset, his bright
eager boys recounting the tale OF
their weeks doings to his willing
ears.
When Harry spoke of the runaway
horse, Mr.. Bradford was at once in.
terested, for he imagined the feelings
of the frantic father ON seeing hi:
little children in such imminent
danger. So he said:
"Did the children get hurt
Harry"
go, no, Papa; the horse was stop
ped"
"Who stopped him, my boy?"
"Mr. Marsh did, Papa;-but
helped, too"
Finding that no serious consequen
ces had come from the adventure
Mr.. Bradford paid little attention t,
Harry's modest avowal of a part il
it, and as the boy said no more abou
the runaway, conversation turned in
to other channels, and the fathe
thought no more of it until afte
supper.
Mr.. Marsh, whom Harry ha
mentioned, was a New York gentle
man, who, with his wife and baby
was stopping at the same house wit
! the Bradfords.
After the evening meal, Mr.. Brad
, ford came out upon the piazza to en-
Joy the fresh breeze from the ocear
and there found Mr.. Marsh sittin
alone, and apparently in dee
thought.
. Mr.. Bradford greeted him with
hearty shake of the hand, and draw
ing chair to his side, seated hin
self, saying:
: "Well, Mr.. Marsh, Harry tel
g me you had quite an excitement bel
yesterday. How about the runaway:
"1t was the pluckiest act eve
saw! said Mr.. Marsh. half rising.
. Mr.. Bradford looked at him
n amazement. "Nhat do you mean:
! he asked.
f "Let me tell you about it." sal
n Mr.. Marsh. yesterday, after we a
had come up from bathing, 1 S;
: here on the piazza, reading, wit
% baby in my lap. Your children we
y playing on the grass IN the orchar'
a near that lower gate, and Mrs. Mars
is sat near me on the piazza.
l. Suddenly we heard the clatter {
/ horses feet, and a shout in man
> voice: Stop that horse! stop tn,
3 horsev Looking up, 1 saw a carriag
! containing two little children, abol
Y two and three years old, drawn
/. a horse that was madly rushin
IS straight up the road. 1t was a te
Y rible moment. | turned to give tt
70 baby to Mrs. Marsh, and ran for Il
= upper gate, as knew the horse won
70 pass the lower gate before l cou
:. get there. But Harry had seen hi
J. too, and as the horse came past, Il
boy shot out from the gate like
flash of light, and without a wol