The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1902-01-04
A LITTLE niARiNER.
How Clarence Took II Boat Ride and
Got Ducking.

How Clarence Took II Boat Ride and
Got Ducking.
Clarence thought it was the very
incest shower he ever saw in all his
life. The raindrops fell so softly, al
most as though they We're afraid Of
hurting something, and once in awhile
a few of them would scamper down
the window pane just outside of Clar-
ehce's nose, which was pressed almost
fiat against the inside of the glass.
Dear me! l do want to go out
dreadfulr he said.
You see, Santa Claus had brought
Clarence Il present of a little rubber
coat and a pair of Overshoes, and he
hadn't chance to wear them once. 1t
did seem too bad. Today it was so
warm. Just like SPRING" he heard
mamma say. Clarence thought he real
ly ought to go out.
lie peeped into the kitchen. Mamma
was busy making cake; Baby Alice
was asleep in the cradle; Mary, the
girl, had gone to the store.
81 blieve I'll have to get myself
ready" said Clarence. SO he went out
in the hail. First he put on his over
shoes. 1t was pretty hard work and
made his face pretty red, but they
We're on at last and all buckled up.
Then he put out both feet and looked
at them proudly.
"Oh myr' he said. 81 dess I've dot
the left one on the right foot and the
right one on the wrong foot"
And so he had, but he couldn't stop
to change them.
He put or his rubber coat and little
sailor cap without any trouble.
"Now + must have an umbrella" he
said, SO he took the biggest one in the
umbrella rack 1t had broken rib and
Topped down on one side, but he didn't
mind that, and he stuck it under his
arm and went out, closing the door
very softly.
He raised his umbrella as soon as he
could and marched up and down the
yard Il few times. Then he spied n
nice little puddle of water down by the
gate.
"Oh, what a teenry little pond!' he
cried. bow | wish | had a boat!
P'haps could find one" And he start
ed for the woodshed as fast as his fat
little legs would carry him.
In few minutes he came out, drag
glng an old soapbox behind him. 1t
was about as much as he could do to
hold the umbrella and drag the box,
and he was all out of breath when he
got back to the pond. But lie was !.
brave boy, and he wouldn't stop to rest
till he had pushed the box into the wa
ter and put n little piece of board across
the top for n seat. Then he got into
the boat and held the umbrella over his
head with both hands.
My, wasn't it fun? Water over him,
water under him, water all around him,
and he was as dry as crust of bread.
Mamma couldn't help laughing when
she came looking for the little runaway,
he looked so drOll.
ooh, mamma" he cried I'm going to
Coney Island! Won't you come in my
little boat with me?"
Il can't stop today" said mamma.
allie has just walked up and is crying
for brother"
Then spects I'd better come in
said Clarence. I'm bout tired Of rid
ing in my boat alone" SO he began to
climb out. But, dear me. | don't know
how it happened; one end of the boat
went up. and the little sailor went
down headforcmost into the pond OF
course the water wasn't deep, and
mamma picked him up in a minute.
"Oh. OH" cried Clarence, spluttering
and wiplng his mouth. Il dess | swal-
lowed bout all that pond, and my
hands feel Eteadful slippery"
But after mamma had washed his
face and hands and changed his
muddy clothes for clean ones Clarence
felt happy again.
Il wonder why my little boy didn't
ask if he could go out" said mamma
as she was brushing his wet. curly
hair.
81 didn't like to 'sturb you" said
Clarence. "An' Sides thought p'raps
you wouldn't say yes"
Then mamma told him he must
never go out in the rain again without
asking her.
And Clarence promised. Il never
will, mamma, honest"
Small Mercies.