The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1903-07-13
HOW 4 LITTLE coy SAVED A QUEEN


From "The Abbott" by Sir Walter Scott
1 give you a story today that has been
contributed, but 1t IS too long and must
be given in two parts
PART I.
Many years ago the princes and noble
men of Scotland had their homes In beau
tlful largo houses called castles In one
OF these. named the castle of Avenel,"
lived man and his wife, known as the
knight and Lady of Avenel. In front Of
this castle was a large lake, where many
lovely pond lilies bloomed Just across
the Lake was a small village whore the
people stayed who tended the sheep and
planted the fields that belonged to the
knight The little children from there
often came to the lake and rowed out IN
a tiny boat to gather the lilies.
The Lady of Avenel had no little girls
and boys of her own. and she liked to
walk by the lake and watch the children
from the village they rowed gmong the
sweet pond lilies. Her husband had a
large dog. named Wolf. that always went
with her.
One afternoon when they were walking
up and down on the shore OF the lake they
saw a boat full OF little boys rowing over
the water pulling the pretty white flow
ers One little fellow saw a very large
and beautiful one and reached his arm
out TO get 1t. He leaned out too far and
over he went into the water. There was
no one to pull him out and the Lady of
Avenel who saw it ALL thought that the
poor child was going to drown. She
screamed for help, but there was no one
near enough to hear her.
Wolf was alarmed at hearing his mis-
tress scream so. He lifted his head up
high and pointed his ears straight out
over his eyes. He soon saw the yellow
curls OF the little boy floating on the
water and knew in a minute what was
the matter He jumped into the lake with
a loud splash and swan as fast as he
could to the drowning boy. He caught
his dress in his mouth and swan TO the
land with him. The Lady or Avenel was
delighted to see the child safe but still
she was afraid that he might be too near
ly dead to live.
She carried him to the castle, wrapped
him in warm blankets and gave him hot
tea TO drink. All the time Wolf was
standing by, with the water dripping
from his shaggy hair, and licking his mis-
tress hand. / think he wanted her TO pat
linn on the head and tell him that he was
a brave dog.
BY and by the little boy opened his
eyes, and as he did so he said. Mamma"
This made the Lady of Avenel wish very
much that this beautiful child was her
own, and that she wa. hts real true NAM
ma. She kissed him very lovingly and
said:
'Ill be your mother. dear child"
JEst then a servant came in and said
that the little boys grandmother had
come
Tell her to come IN" said Lady
Avenel.
And then she asked her to tell her all
about the child.
Il Will" said the old woman, but It is
sad story. His father was a brave
knight like your husband, but wa. killed
IN the battle OF SouthrOn When his wife
heard that he was dead she took her baby
and went to the battle field and laid down
by the side of her dead husband and died
And It was on this field of death that I
found my infant grandchid. Since then
we have wandered from village to vii
1age"
This Is indeed a sad story" said good
Lady Avenel. And SO sorry was she for
thine poor little boy that she asked his
grandmother to give him to her
He is the only relative that I have IN
the world answered the old woman.
but m very poor and he would have a
hard life with me. With YOU he would
have lovely home and every good thing
Yes. kind lady. l will give him to you"
Then she kissed him over and over
again and went away