The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-08-23
THE FISH THAT KNOCKED ON
THE WINDOW
sy FRANK B. MOORE

IT EENEY PEARL was the daughter
Of fisherman. Her father lived
in boathouse on the shores OF
the great Missouri River, where It
flowed swiftly by the earth-waIled foun-
dations OF a populous Western town.
Behind Teeney's small frame house
rose the high clay banks, with only here
and there sloping path rising to the
top To the front. and facing the great
level plains which stretched away into
the West, rolled the river. Piles held
the boathouse several feet in the air
above the level OF the waters.
Teeney's little playground beneath the
boat. and in its shadow on the beach
during the afternoon when the sun had
melted the snow and warmed the earth.
was stocked with the simple treasures
that the moving tide had cast upon the
shore.
Teeney's father was Industrious.
Every night he rowed far out into the
river and cast his weighted lines into
the water. Early IN the morning Teeney
stood On the bank and watched him
draw them in and remove the cruel
hooks from the fishes before they were
taken to the market IN the city. IdIing
along the shores and standing by the
side OF the deep places the little girl
gradually came 10 know the playground
OF the f1nny creatures that had their
home in the waters.
Around a little bend not far from her
boathouse home Teeney one day discov-
cred a great catfish IN the bottom OF a
deep pool. II was a cool. shady spot.
and the big fish lay on the bottom when
the day was hot, and Teeney could see
IL move its fms and roll It's long tail
about
At first she was greatly pleased at her
discovery. She thought she would run
and tell her father about the fish. 1t
was much bigger and longer than any
she had ever seen him draw from the
river. But the big fish looked so peace
full and innocent that she resolved to let
IL alone. This determination became
fixed when one day she saw several lit
tie fish swim and circle around the big
fish.
Teeney concluded that they were its
children and that the pool was their
home. She said TO herself:
II Will let the poor fishes live IN their
home down deep In the water"
Every day she carried bread to the
pool and dropped II into the water, and
she laughed with glee as she watched
the big fish bite II and all the little
ones swim around after the crumbs. By
and by the big fish began to watch for
the little girl, and IL would rise TO the
surface 10 take its dinner OF bread from
her hand. Many hours were spent by
lonely Teeney with her strange compan-
ion OF the deep
One morning Teeney's father said he
would take his lines and fish in the pools
along the shore Her heart filled with
dread for the fate of her friend. While
her father was preparing for bis ex-
cursion she ran 10 the pool and hurled
stones into it. The big fish rose TO the
surface and looked az the little girl Its
eyes seemed to wear an expression OF
grief. Teeney shouted:
go away from here. you big nsh. Ny
father is coming 10 catch you on his
hook"
The fish sank from sight and Teeney
went back to her home and watched IN
trembling while her father cast the al
Turing bait into the water. After time
the fisherman gave up and went on TO
another pool. saying as he went that
he did not believe there were any fish
IN that part OF the river.
After that followed many rainy days