Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-07-11
Little Perry,s Big Troubles.
By Walter Ogden.

By Walter Ogden.
Little Perry Ellsworth had two big trou-
b,es One was that nearly everybody
thought, on first seeing him, that he was
girl. and the other was that his mother
wouldn't let him have little pig.
1t must be said that Perry, with his fair
complexion long golden curls and the
dresses he 50 much hated to wear. looked
more like girl than boy. Just lovely"
his mother said. but he did not want to
look just that lovely. and was sure he
could be "a dood deal dooder,' II she would
let him have his haix cut and wear trousers.
But he was hardly big enough for that. his
mother thought. and SO Perry had to make
the best Of 1t and to be as happy as q boy
can be in kits and eurls.
In the country where he was spending the
summer with his mother at his Uncle Johns
Perry found friend indeed in Tommy.
| Tommy was Pats boy. and Pat was Uncle
Johns hired man. They often discussed the
curl question together.
They don't look so bad IL you fix 'em
| this way" said Tommy. one day. tucking
| the long curls under Perry's hat. Pat, toe.
| sympathixed with Perry. and one afternoon
| dressed him up in Temmy's best suit It
| was much too big. for Tommy was q strap
| ping fellow. but Perry felt very proud and
| happy as he strutted up and down the barn
floor. with his hands deep doVn In his
pockets: and his curls entirely out Of sight
| under TomIny's big hat
Il doesn't look like dirl now. does II"
| he said proudly.
Mot bit. me bye" said Pat seriously.
| It's like man ye are. / wonder would
| the pggies know ye.''
The piggies were Perry's particular pets.
| There were four of them-cute. cunning.
clean. black and white little things, with
curly tails and sharp shouts Perry had
named them Piggy Wiggy, Pinky Winky.
| Curly Wurly and Squeaky Weakey They
! seemed to know their names: at any rate.
they came running up to him when he
called them. They lived in a little red house
near the barn. and had a fine back yard to
| play in. Tommy was trying to teach them
to do tricks like the pigs he had seen at
Barnum's They seemed willing to learn.
and Perry thought them very smart Indeed
| when they knew him at once in Tommy 8
| clothes.
Perry was very anxious to take one OF
them nome with him. He would have been
| glad to take them all of course but he
| knew better than to ask that. He could
not quite understand why his mother was
not willing to let him have at least one
Pinky Winky. She said 1t wouldn't do at
| all: there would be no place to keep him.
| Perry had thought Of that, and made haste
! to tell her that Tommy said in the old coun-
| try pigs lived in houses with the people like
| one of the family. Besides wasn't Pinky
| Winky just as clean and nice as a dog or a
| cat. and ever so much better for pet :?
| But Perrys mother said NO" and said
| 1t in a way that he knew meant he must
| give 1t up. So he had to bear this second
| trouble as bravely as he could until one
| day something happened that took them
| both away.
He had gone with Tommy out to the well
| by the barn to get some water for the pig
gies. Tommy had always before turned the
hr1nl OF hut hic
| time Perry thought he was strong enough
| to do it all by himself. He was getting on
very well. and the bucket was half way
up, when suddenly :hia hands Slipped on the
| iron handle and it whirled swiftly around
and struck him ON the head knocking him
senseiess. ,rErro
Tommy screamed and Pat came running
Go for the doctor, quick" he said to
Tommy. Then be Kicked up unconscious
Perry and carried, him to the house Mrs.
Ellsworth was much alarmed to see Perry
brought in that way, but Pat tried to re-
Hes only stqnnedl a bit. that's ALL" he
| SAID faith, maam, my Tommys had
| more stuns than YOU gould shake stick at.
| We don't think nothing of EN-"
When the doctor came he said he hoped 1t
would not be serieuss but 1t was too soon
| to say positively. ~ r. 800 !.
win he die. daddy?" asked Tommy, his
| freckled face ALI dptteh with tears.
How should l. know, when the doctor
don't?' Pat replied ggruff1y. go and feed
the pigs, and don't Se ever go foolin
round that we'll 1asain,n do "" understand
me now?" ss,l - . - -
| Perry did not de- but he was i'll for some
| days and had to stay, in the house long
| time after he thought he was perfectly
| well But he did not mind that so much
| when he thought how one of his big curis
| had left him. No one would take him for
| girl now. His long curls had gone where
many long curlS go to-into a mothers treas
| ure box. Tommy came in to play with him
every day, and sometimes brought a little
him the stories he liked best, and alto
| gether his shut-in days were very pleasant
| ones. But the best of all was the day when
| his other big trouble rolled away. 90.
He was sitting quietly ON his mothers
lap one Sunday afternoon. They had been
| talking of his accident and danger and Of
| Gods loving kindness and care. Perry had
/ been still so long that his mother thought
| he must be asleep. But pretty soon he
| raised his head. and looking wistfuly into
his mothers eyes, said, in his most coaxing
way:
Mamma. dear. may speak of it now"
| Why, yes. Perry" she replied, at once
| wondering what he meant. What is it?''
Please may take a pidde home"
| Mrs. Ellsworth laughed and Rugged and
kissed the little fellow Then, after think
| ing a moment, she said:
Yes you funny boy, you may have your
| piddie."
Perry clapped his hands and said. Joy
| fully
"Oh. doodle, doodle! I'm dad dot hurt"
Whu Jou1or Hic Trrob