The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-03-01
WENT TO SEA IN THE SHOE

Andrew used to work for a grocer who allowed
him TO carry baskets to his customers and paid him
ten cents per day, and thus Andrew supported his
mother and seven little sisters. One morning he
woke to find that the river had risen and that the
bridge had been washed away so that he couldn't
get over to- the store unless he swan the swollen
stream. He thought of doing that but concluded
not to take the risk but to walk up the river to a
bridge five miles above and cross there. He walked
and walked for several miles, but saw no bridge,
and then he sat down on a log by the riverside to
rest. The forest came quite to the waters edge
here and there were no evidences of human habita-
ton that he could see, but across the river there
were men at work in the fields. lie was watching
them when something coming down the river
caught his eye
lie thought at first that it was boat of some
strange form, but another glance showed him that
1t was Il sh0cl a shoe as large as a large rowboat
sailing along the food, a giants shoe evidently,
for of course no man could have worn it, 1t Aoated
along, coming nearer and nearer to shore, so he
followed it down stream until at last to his delight
its toe touched the grassy Lank and 1t swung
around on the shore. He seized Its edge and held
It securely while he examined it, but there was
nothing to show where the wonder came from.
"Some giant" thought Andrew, "has lost it
away up there in the mountains where the river
begins
There was something tempting and seductive
about this floating shoe, and before many minutes
Andrew was wondering whether he could not man
age TO paddle it across the river. He we'll able to
sail or row boats. as much of his spare time was
spent on the quiet river, and there seemed nothing
very difficult about managing an old shoe. lie did
not deliberate very long, but finding a piece of
board TO use as O paddle on the shore, he sprang
lightly into the strange craft and pushed it out
from shore.
In spite Of his skin in rowing he soon found
that it was q very difficult matter to make this
vessel go where he desired. He had not taken into
account the fact that the river was very much
swifter in time of freshet like this and he found
the shoe-bOat WhiTling around as he attempted TO
paddle like q chip on the flood. No matter how
he srove to direct his course the obstinate craft
seemed 90 dart its way as if alive, and pretty
soon he found he had passed his home and
also that he was too tired 20 struggle any more.
He sat there staring at the swiftly passing shores
and little by little the river hroadeued until at
last he saw that be was nearing the sea.
This filed him with terror, as he had never
been So far from home before, but he did not give
mp to his alarm. Instead he strove again to make
way against the strong current yet his puny efforts
were useless u needed the strong arm Of grown
man 10 make head IN such a tide and now the waves
rocked the shoe mp and down as the ocean swell
began 20 make itself felt. The sun went down over
the distant shore and night came.
The waves grew larger every minute and the
shoe rose 20 the top of a mountain of water and
sunk into a deep valley again, but it hoated as
buoyantly us q cork and not a drop of water came
over Its leather bulwarks nor even through the lace
holes. Finally, when even tn far-away lights on
shore had grown dim and uncertain Andrew, ex-
hausted crept up into the toe or bow of his ship
end stretched himself on the bottom. He could
hear the waves tapping against the toe and soon
the rhythmic sound lullcd him to sleep.