The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-05-25

he haQ thrown on Jne HOOT, anu put
them away on the shelf.
Then he took the empty bucket
and brought fresh water for their
supper, and Mrs Perry smiled happi-
ly to see her boys old cheerfulness
returned.
The next morning it was Saturday,
and after breakfast Mrs. Perry said:
Joe, want you to carry this sew
ing over to Mrs. Conner. Then you
may go out to Mr.. Jarvis garden, and
help him the rest of the day, if he.
needs you."
As Joe was hurrying toward Mrs.
Connor's with the bundle, he met
party of girls and boys of his own
age. They carried baskets on their
arms, and were going in the direction
of the wood that fringed a stream
about a mile from the town. ice re-
membered the little picnic which he
had heard talked over for that day,
SO the object of his gay young school
mates was not unknown to him. Joe
had not been invited to join them.
Maud Willet had got the picnic up,
and of cour-e only those who stood
high in her favor had been asked to
go.
AS he passed the party, Maud Will
let ignored him with naughty con-
tempt, which her followers were not
| slow to initiate. Joe, whose nature
was both friendly and sensitive, felt
this treatment keenly, and his face
flushed painfully.
Now Maud Willet was not SO bad
at heart. The only child of wealthy
parents, she had been petted and in
dulged more than was good for her.
She was unwisely allowed to have
things all her own way at home, and
she claimed the same privilege as her
natural right at school and abroad.
She had from the first taken an un-
reasonable prejudice against the
stranger boy, Joe, possibly because
he had excelled her in their classes.
And seeing that she had the power to
annoy him with her remarks, she had
attacked him on all occasions, with
out once thinking that she was prac-
ticing unkindness. Encouraged by
the quickness with which the others
had taken it up, she kept on irritat-
ing Joe, until he had at last lost his
temper and told her what he thought
of her. This had wounded the young
girls pride, and she felt greatly of
Tended.
Delivering the bundle to Mrs. Con
nor, Joe went out to Mr.. Jarvis farm.
Mr.. Jarvis raised vegetables for the
market, and almost every Saturday
the boy pulled weeds or hoed in the
garden, receiving fair wages for his
work.
But Mr.. Jarvis had only an hours
hceing for him to-day, SO when he
had finished he started home at
once.
The nearest way back to town led
through the wood where the young
folks were holding their picnic. AS
he hurried along the pretty woodland
path, he could hear the merry shouts
and laughter of the gay party. Not
wishing to meet them again he
turned out of the path, and started
down the bank Ct the stream that
murmured along in its wild, rocky
bed.
To reach crossing he was obliged
to go down the stream to drift of
brush and fallen trees.
Before he could gain this rude
bridge, there was succession of
shrill, girlish screams behind him.
CHANGING back to learn the cause,
Joe saw Maud Willet out on the
stream in an old canoe, which joggled
about in crazy fashion at.the mercy
o. the strong current. Some of the
boys and girls were running excitedly
along the bank, screaming to Maud
to come back to the shore. But she
enjoyed the fright of her friends and
laughing carelessly she pushed the
canoe farther out on the stream.
But Maude Willet's glee was soon
changed to terror, for the old craft
careened wildly and turned over.
Before she could fairly realize her
peril, she was struggling for life in
the deep water,
Not one of her companions offered
to go to her rescue. 1t seemed as if
their terror had rendered them in
capable of stirring.
"Helpl helpl" called Maud. as the
waters tried to draw her under In
desperation she seized hold of side
of the half submerged old canoe,
which aeemed IN trv IN elude her and