The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1903-04-29


Ever since they had come to Perkins
vile De Peyster and his mother had
failed to adjust their respective stand
points to a mutual harmony.
To begin with, 1t was spring. With
the delicious odor of resinous smoke
from the boughs that had banked the
house assailing ones nostrils, who
could resist joining the dancing sill
houettes that circled the bonfire and
daring ones fate by leaping across 1t
In staggering competition as the
flames died down?
But she drew lurid pictures of his
certain fate il he should repeat the Of
Tense. Blind defiance rose insurgent
within hlm-he would go! And then
all Of sudden he remembered what
his father said and hung his head to
think how those grave, Kind eyes OF
his would look at him now.
Take good care of mamma" he had
said at the last You must be her big
brother and never let her worry about
you, she's so little and delicate" And
then he had whispered over two or
three times, "My pretty little wlfe-my
dear little girlr
And De Peyster had tried with all
his might to remember. But often 1t
did seem as If 1t would have been a
little easier if she could have under
stood that one was disgraced II one
did not keep neck and neck with 1.-The
other fellows" In every prank they
played.
There was long and weary period
Of dooryard discipline after this cpl
sode. There were a good many times
when De Peyster had to clinch his
fists as tight as he could and remem-
Der his father very hard.
BY and by June came. quiyering with
gold green sunlight perfumed with
universal blossoming and pungent with
the joy of living. At this time every
true boy thrills with the half realized
rapture of it all and finds the fullest
expression of his ecstasy in going
swimming.
Every bright morning in some part
of the town there was sure to be
group of boys toelng line, their necks
bobbing eagerly forward and their bod
les giving antlcipatory Jerks and
witches as they waited for the word.
When the leader said "Go" they dart
cd forth. and there was KALEIDOSCOPE
ic and dissolving view of legs racing
madly down q side street that led to
the river Then collars came off, coats
followed, as they ran with undimin-
ished speed, the fellow who was far
thest ahead sometimes slowing up with
magnificent daring to get off his shoes
and stockings while the others were
still hampered by shirts and trousers,
and by the time they tumbled In head
long competition over the bank the
nimblest carried their entire wardrobe
on their arms and flashed whitley into
the water while the laggers fumbled
Mt their shoe laclngs. The unfortunate
who popped into the river, flushed and
painting, after all the rest We're In was
greeted with haunting cries of: 'Lub-
Der lastl Lubber lastw
De Peyster had never been told not
to go In swimming. 1t had not occur
red TO his mother as among the list OF
his possible perils, as she was in bliss
full ignorance of the fact that "the 9th
er fellows" did It,
So 1t was with the thrilling exult-
ance OF the Greek runner that he set
his toe on the line with the rest and
hurled himself forward, head up and
elbows In.
The first few rods 1t felt like flying.
His feet scarcely seemed to touch the
ground. Then pair of legs flashed by
him, and another and another. lie
gathered his strength and shot for
ward again. but another pair of legs
went by, and another and another.
They We're tearing off their coats;
they We're stripping Off their shirts.
lie felt at his collar, wrenched 1t off
and flung 1t away, to have both hands
free for his coat and shirt. They were
almost Mt the bank now. He could see
Micky Days white skin dazzle In the
sun as he took splendid dive ahead
of the rest His own feet We're grow
ing heavy, and there was mist be-
fore his eyes. The knot in his shoe
lacing would not come united. A say
age rage filled him. If he could have
cut Off his foot to rid himself of the
hampering shoe. he would scarcely
have hesitated. You were ruled out if
You went into the water with anything
left on. AS he struggled and per-
spired and agonized the two or three
whom he had distanced leaped past
him, and as he shook the shoe off at
last and made his dive he heard the
air ringing with, "Lubber last! Lub-
Der LAST and slowly realized that 1t
was meant for him.
He tried manfully two or three other
days, but it was always the same way.
His muscles were flabby from the door
yard discipline, and he could not pick
up in few weeks what the others had
acquired through joyous years of sum-
mer vagabondage.
He took it quietly and good natured-
~, but 1t went deep.
His mother found out the custom
shortly and forbade him to go near the
water.
AS for De Peyster himself, the numb
ness of despair settled upon him. Now
he could never learn to redeem him
self, to have some day perhaps the In
effable Joy of being the first In, ahead
of Jimmy Spratt, ahead of Micky DAILY,
ahead of everybody. His career was
ended before it had begun.
but l got to not let her worry"
was the rueful conclusion he always
reached. And then he breathed hard
and winked fast.
Jimmy was his constant friend and
brought him alleviating messages from
time to time such as that the other
fellers all said he had lots of sand and
could do rs we'll as the next Teller IL he
had half a chance.
When even these encouraging re-
marks ceased to comfort, he gave him
his own horned toad as last desper-