Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1902-01-09
THIS was the nickname the other


| boys had given young Arnold,
because he could not see any creature
in distress without going to it's as
%sistance. If a fly fell into the milk he
held out a blade of grass for it 10 es-
cape upon, and when he one day saw
a snake about to swallow a poor lit
tie frog he killed the cruel reptile just
in time to save poor froggy's life,
though the little creature could
hardly believe itself to be safe, and
could only sit there staring at its
rescuer with its great big eyes, whilst
it's poor little heart still went pit-a-
pat, pit-a-pat!
Another time as Arnold was pass
ing a pond he saw three boys busily
engaged in trying to drown a little
dog. They had tied a rope with a
stone fastened to it round its neck,
and threw the poor animal right into
the middle of the pond before Arnold
could come up to them. Quick as
thought he flung off his clothes,
plunged into the water, and wan
straight for the spot where the bub-
bles rising to the surface showed the
death-struggle going on below. He
dived and brought the poor little dog
up in his arms, quite limp and mo-
tionless, but yet alive.
You wicked boys!" he said, painting
for breath, and drying the little ami
NAL carefully with his handkerchief;
you wicked boys! I will have moth
ing more to do with you. I will never
play with you again."
"We did not want to do it," began
the youngest boy, and then the sec
ond one took heart and said: "We
really did not want to do tive all
cried, for we are very fond of Fluff,
but my father said"-and here he
stopped and hesitated, not sure
whether to go on.
my father says we are too poor
to keep a dog" the eldest boy broke
in %defiantly, 'and so we would rather
drown him ourselves than let anyone
else have him!"
III Nou niiu hSNp Doui uoS, pht
in future will feed him. 1t is little
l have, but / will give it you that you
may get him something to eat at
once. I have only these three pen
MES, but that will be enough to keep
off hunger for the moment"
But what was the surprise of all,
when Arnold pulled his pence out of
his pocket, to see three gold pieces
three bright, new gold pieces, that
rang as only gold can ring! The
brothers stared at Arnold, who looked
just as puzzled himself, and stam-
mered out: "What does it mean? I
never had a piece of gold in all my
life!"
The others, who at first could hard
ly believe their eyes, now began to
feel somewhat in awe of him, and
said: Feel again in your pockets;
perhaps you have turned into a
goldman!"
But the pockets were both empty,
and the children separated. The pup
Ply, however, stoutly refused to go
with the little wretches who had tried
to drown it, and kept coming back to
Arnold and taking refuge between his
legs. "Well, then" he said at last,
"the dog must stay with me, and you
must keep the money in payment. l
shall take care of him, and bring him
up. And as for the gold, you need
not be afraid; it was not come by
dishonesty. 1t must be fairy-money,
and il l find any more, you shall share
in it,"
Not long afterward, one of the
three brothers fell into the pond him
self. Arnold heard the screams a long
way off, and saw a group of children
standing shoulder to shoulder round
the edge OF the pond, on which 1oated
a big empty washtub.
"He has fallen in there! he is I'M
der the tub! he will be drowned"
they all shouted at the same time,
while Arnold did the only sensible
thing-threw off his clothes and swan
out toward the tub. Giving it a lit
tie push, he Owed, and reappeared
holding by the hair the already uncon-
scious lad, with whom he swan to
shore. The children, who had looked
on breathlessly, now crowded round
them.
rs he dead?" they asked.
mo; his heart still beats feebly."
They rubbed him, turned him over
an his face that he might bring up
the water he had swallowed, and at
length he opened his eyes. His
brothers had stood by rather crest
fallen, and dreading the beating which
they might expect for their valiant
conduct.
But Arnold with a sudden resolve
held out his cap. "Who will give a
little help to the shipwrecked sailor?
A small contribution, I beg, for the
gallant seaman!"
The children thrust their hands in
their pockets and wonderful to re-
late! each copper-piece was instantly
changed into gold: even a button,
which one boy had dropped in as
being all he possessed, was turned in
to a gold button. They all stared,
open-mouthed, then perceiving that
another Of their number, who had
pretended to have nothing to give,
not even a button, kept looking dis
c%onsolately into the palm of his hand,
they rushed round him and burst into
ringing laughter, for his hand was full
of sand and splintered glass.
you were not quite SO poor, then,
as you made out" asked Arnold, who
had suddenly gone up in his comrades
good opinion on account Of this new
wonder, for until then few had cred
tied the story Of the transformation,
al 1919. saal;aal - Lalia.a IL Lal