The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1903-09-18
A CAREFUL MAN.

What in the world" gasped Mrs
rhompkins.
The Ihompkins were about TO start On
he annual Sunday school picnic given
oy their church. Mrs. ihompAIns had
finished putting dainty little sandwiches
into a large hamper bashet and was
tucking the cloth that covered them
nicely down when Mir. Thompnins en-
lered.
He had on winter suit OF clothes and
was carrying hall dozen lille preseryers
IN one arm. Behind him came boy
iarrying rain coats. blankets. a medicine
ihest, a hall dozen umbrellas and num-
cr0us mysterious looking PACKAGES.
Mrs 1hompkins. said the head Of
the house, lmpressiyely. this is one pic
mic al which there will be some one " no
had brains enough 10 prepare properly
for emergencies. Picnics are always
wretchedly disappointing affairs. That
is because The people who go to them con-
tent themselves with taking little slices
of bread stuck around microscopic
pieces of ham, angel food cake. 10 lem
ons. and a tan. instead Of taking along
things that are really essential
Il propose to-day to demonstrate how
one can 20 to picnic and enjoy oneself
and make others have a good time II
fuvarfaift rafuc of "a pfopfr Naf how
many think 10 provide themselves with
umbrellas and rain coats? 1t always
turns cold at picnic; yet people 20 out
wearing the thinnest clothes they hap
pen TO have. Children go boat riding
and fall into the water and are drowned
because no one had sense enough to
put life preservers on them.
Arrived at the picnic grounds Mr..
Thompkins called all the children
around him and informed them that no
one was to 90 boat riding without put
ting on a life preseryer and carry an
umbrella so there would be no danger
Of their either being sunstruck or
drowned There was a wailing protest.
but Mr. Thompkins stood firm. and so
the children put on the life preservers
and took their umbrellas The boys who
had To- row the boats pointed ont that
they could not row and hold umbrellas
over their heads at the same time. and go
another boy was appointed TO sit be-
/ hind the one who rOwed and hold the
umbrella. The boats had no sooner got
out into the stream than there was a col
lisOn between two OF them The oars
men could not see the other boats be-
cause Of the umbrellas held over their
heads and the colliding boats promptly
heelcd over. and with many whoops and
howls the occupants went into the wa
ter
"Hurrah hurrah," shouted Mr.
. Thompkns. jumping mp and down. All
my wonderful foresight They've all
got life preseryers on. Getout the medl-
cine chest at once"
Mr. Thompklns was throwing of his
coat and shoes, and as he did so shouted.
/ 81 will rescue them.
Then he dived madly into the river
His head and shoulders went out Of
sight. but his feet remained above water
kicking violently. Coz Of the hack driv-
ers and Mrs Thompkins grabbed the
heels and after a violent tug succeeded
I'm pulling Mr. Thompkins back on shore
with a piece Of wood they dug mud out o
his eyes and ears and then excavated &
place for his mouth so that he coulC
talk
Save the children" gasped Mr.
Thompkns. "T dived into the mud"
"Why. the children are splashing wa
ter on each other and having a pleasan
time" said Mrs. Thompklns "The wa
ter is only about two feet deep. | don
think you need mind rescuing them.
Mr.. Thompkins looked utterly crushe
and crawled down TO the river an
washed the mud off his face and then re
tired to his medicine chest, where he sa
waiting for the terrible accident that b
! knew was sure to come.
Suddenly there was a sharp report
and a small girl appeared crying vic
/ lently. Mr.. Thompkins with a boun
- threw open the medicine chest an
! grabbed out an array Of shining knives
f court plaster. and bandages. He threw
a book 10 Mrs. ThomplSlns and ordere
- her 10 find the chapter on What To d
! in Case of Gunshot Wounds
Don't cry. little girl commando
o Mr.. Thompbins. Keep perfectly COO
q We will take the bullet right out Nov
- where are you wounded?'
b Il hain't wounded said the sma
B., girl Tommy Hawkins is shooting o
frecrackers an he won't let me sho'
q any"
q Mr.. Thompkins looked as though
r. thought the small child had done hil
D a personal injury. He sat down ar
z sulked while he waited for the day
b. turn cold or for a heavy rain to con
- mence falling or somebody TO get kill'
mr. drowned He was terribly downcas
but on the way home. when he was e.
Meeting Mrs. Thompkins 10 make son
sly dig at him for carrying a lot Of us
p less traps to a picnic. he felt immense
relieved and delighted when she SAT-
IS and am so glad You took all the thinl
u YOU dld 10 the picnic"
"Ah." said Mr.. Thompkins. sitting
l- and smiling. Il was afraid "
D. woundnt think much Of my pruden
is and forethough."
< 20. indeed. dc" replied Mrs Thorn
Nns. You see, when you are prepar
BE- for emergencies and sit around looki
le for accidents to happen, why, nothil
N ever happens Mrs. Bright says s
ot wants you TO be sure TO come to Tho
ls picnic next week and to imagine all sol
of dreadful things, and Mrs. Jones war
,e Won TO come 20 their picnic, and. In fact