The Washington times., 1903-07-19
By MORRIS WADE.

DS NCINhSio N-NDt1-
MY BROTHER JOE and were
IVt hocing corn on our fathers
farm one hot June day, when
George Hare and Lewis Hyde care up
the dusty road and invited us to go for
a boat ride.
"Boat ride? G'way, There isn't a
boat between here and Pennington. ex-
cept one
We'll. that's the one we have" said
Lewis.
Your Uncle wilI's2'
Yes; he and my aunt came up with
st. They are going to stay until Mon
day. and he says we can have the boat
this afternoon
"All right said. 1--WE are on our
last row. Father said We could have
the rest of the day TO ourselves as soon
as we got this field done. Where's the
boat?''
Right over by the, ferry. Well wait
for you there.
In about fifteen minutes we hid our
hoes in the long grass by the fence
and hurried TO the RIVER. None of US
was accustomed to rowing. but there
was little rowing to be done. Our
course was down stream. with a steady
current The rowing would come in on
our way home.
Floating down the river that bright
June day was delightTui. A SOFT breeze
made little ripples OF the water. We
went along at fair speed, taking the
oars By turns or leaning over the edge
OF tie boat TO trail our fingers in the
clear, cool water We wnistIed and
-. =
then saw on the river bank, no matter
whether we knew them or not.
On we floated. pasr meadows and
orchards reaching down 10 the river S
edge, past bits of woodland and fields
of young corn that moved lightly in
the breeze and shone in the sun. At
the sight of an old mill on the bank
Lew said:
why, we are five miles from home.
That's the old Mccormick MILL and 1t
is just five miles from our ferry. We'd
better 20 back pretty soon. 1t will take
a great deal longer TO go back than II
took to come down the stream"
Il know that" said Joe, but it's
early yet, and there's no hurry about
our getting home. just so we get there
in time TO do up the chores. Let's go
down TO that bend in the river, any
how"
The bend in the river was about half
a mile ahead. We hurried down TO it
and rowed to a large rock almost in
the middle of the river. The water
seemed deep around the great boulder.
and George said:
What jolly place to go swimming"
He began unbuttoning his jacket as
he spoke. and added:
I'VE can undress right here in the
boat and tie the boat to that big snag
sticking up in the water on the other
side of the rock.
We were in a secluded spot and the
water looked inviting, so We yielded TO
Georges proposition. In few moments
George and Joe and plunged headlong
into the water. while Lew" rowed the
boat around the rock and fastened IL to
the snag with a bit Of rope. Then Lew
took header" and Joined us.
III tell you what we1l do" said
Law after We had been in the water
the river and float down on our backs
in this strong current. Come on"
He swan TO the shore and we fol-
lowed him. We ran along the sandy
bank for a long distance UP stream and
then rolled around for some time in
the warm sand of the river bank, half
burying ourselves in IL and enjoying its
agreeable warmth. Finally we plunged
into the river and foated down toward
the rock on our backs. Reaching the
rock. We climbed out upon 1t and Lew
said:
Now, boys, we really must go for
Great Caesari"
What is it?'' I asked.
nWhere's the boat2"
The boat2 Didn't you tie it TO that
snag?"
"Of course I did"
Where is II now, them"
That's Just what I'd like 70 know"