Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-11
Mark Sharp and His Brother Luke

1t took the Sharp boys the best part OF a
week to recover from their warm reception
by the honey bees. Neither of them is like
ly to feel curious to see the beehives again.
and certainly neither of them will eyer
again rap on the hive to see if the bees
are at home.
When the boys were able to go out.
they left the garden by the gate that was
farthest away from the beehives. Aunt
Lizzie shouted after them to keep away
from the bees and the pasture and the
stream, and not to climb the trees
Mark was leading Luke by the hand
they wandered down the lane. At the
end of the lane was the pasture and be-
yond this a little strip of woods
through which flowed the stream.
Now there was at least one animal in the
pasture that was often savage, but the
cattle were just at this time grazing in a
distant corner so that the boys crossed
the pasture in safety, not even thinking of
their danger. Aunt Lizzie would have been
greatly worried had she known that her
warnings went in at one ear and out at
the other.
The Sharp boys headed for the woods.
They did not know that the forbidden
stream was there, though. of course. it
would have been just the same if they had
known. They were delighted with the tall
trees, the wild flowers. the moss the ferns.
and many other things that are strange to
city boys. So they played along. going
deeper into the woods. never thinking thar
they might not find their way home again.
After awhile they stumbled upon the
stream. They soon had their shoes and
stockings wet, wading along the shore.
Yes, they were wet nearly to their waists,
for who ever told them about wading bare
footed and with trousers rolled away up?
Then they threw twigs and pieces of bark
out into the current. to see them noat
hoy
across the stream. and larger ones into 1t
to see the splash. The splashing was great
fun, and the boys became wetter every
minute.
They came to where a tree had blown
down so that its top reached far out over
the water.
.Oh Iuker' cried Mark, Tets play ship
wreck The limbs will be the ship and we
will make believe we have struck a rock.
.'Goody, goody." replied Luke. Are you
the captain. Mark"
Sharp and told Luke to be passengers.
| They climbed far out over the stream to
where the branches were SO small that the
boys could make them dip clear down into
the water. That was the best fun yet and
Ii was really exciting. The stream there
| was not more than three feet deep. but 1t
was very swift. and seemed angry as IL
| frothed and foamed over boulders on the
bottom.
Suddenly Mark happened to remember a
story about the lifesavers that his mother
had read him.
ed. .:Tn be the Efesavers and you be the
| drowning sailors.
Luke didn't seem sure at first about be-
| ing drowning sailors, but ne was sure
Mark knew, so he said he would play it.
Mark explained, Now you stay here
like ON the ship, while l go to that big
| stump which is the lifesavng station
When I get there you must shake the top
| "a hard as YOU can and cry Help! help!
| help! I'm a-drOwning! Then you must ran
| out of the ship into the water
"Will get wet Mark! asked luz
"You can't play lifesayers without get
| TING vet Luke" answered Mark. with an
air of wisdom That's the fun of playing
| it" ..r-,, 10
Half timidly Luke asked: "WiI be
| drowned, Mark? lin
Maybe said Mark, pue may NC WIN
| come and save you.
like thought that would be fun. So when
Mark reached the stump and shouted
..readv;" Luke made the tree top snake
hard as re could and er!ed: Help! heip
lust as he said help the second tune ne
tine and suffering and dreadfully scared
he staggered to his feet. The water was
nearly LII to his neck, and the current SO
swift he could barely stand. Mark. he
shouted in dead earnest, Just as ne STUN,
hled over a boulder and fell down second
time.
Mark lad rushed into the stream as far
as he dared. but the swift current fright
ened him too
Luke" he cried, as the poor fellow
struggled to his feet again; and Luke an.
swered with all his might shouting, Mark!
Mark"
And so Cousin Leonard found them. For
luckily he had been fishing not far up the
stream little thinking that the two Sharp
boys we're playing lifesavers nearby.