The Weiser semi-weekly signal. (Weiser, Washington Co., Idaho) 1904-1911, 1904-12-28

MANU- reSt lODtliy On tne Di6ck ctlrlSr 10
during those long months they ha
! passed together IN the tumbledowl
shanty old Sabbano had come to ador
this little disturber of his loneliness
Out Of BIT OF board he fashioned tn
boat rigging 1t with a queer sail sucl
as the Napon fshermen use and fasten
Ing to it long string.
There. Pietro, that Is so thy shil
shall not sail too far away. Bee, b,
this you can pull It back and thus keel
the little feet from the water. 1t Is bat
to wet the little feet Now must go.
Then old Sabbano, throwing burIat
sack over his shoulder, went forth Il
gather from the back yards the bones
the bottles and the bits of metal which
he sold to the junk dealer.
So little Pietro was left alone with
his boat and his little lake. 1t was moi
raining now The mild April sky was
clear and blue. The sunshine had be-
gun to warm the soaked and steaming
earth. Out from the doorstep Jared the
little ship, out past the old stump that
rose black and menacing from the smil-
ing water, out to the farthest limit of
the string Then back 1t came inglori-
ously, sternforemost Next it was lad
en- with bits Of stone and sent on an
other voyage.
Pfetro-the small. brown eyed Pietro
smiled Joyously at the little lake, and
right joyously the little lake smiled
back at him. for Pietro was five, which
is the age OF enchantInent.
Far odt from the doorstep-oh, very
far out-was an island In the little
lake. 1t was big island, twice as big
as the floor OF the shanty itself. A bush
grew In the very middle Of the island,
tall bush, on which the buds were
swelling. Longingiy did little Pietro
lnnh at tha. island Itseemed to beck
on him. From IT, could it once be
reached, one might sail craft to any
point. How Pietro longed to be on it!
Then came the venture. II one walked
on the plank that stretched from the
doorstep one might jump to the fiat top
OF the stump. Prom the stump
Pietro besitated no longer. From
stump to Log. from log to stone, from
stone to barrel, and then a splash. The
barrel was not secure Into the smiling
water Pietro fell with gasp Of terror,
to emerge shrieking lpsdly. But his
fright passed. The sun was warm.
What cared he for the chill OF the wa
teri Grandpa Sabbano might be angry
when be learned But why need be
Learnt
Braveiy now did Pietro wade out to
the enchanted island. All, 1t was worth
the venture. East and west and north
md south voyaged the little boat that
was rugged as they rig boats in the bay
Of Napol. What thought he of drip
ping clothing then? 1t was not until
the chill afternoon wind blew ON him
that little Pietro began to be sorry that
he had disobeyed.
1t was nightfall before Grandfather
Sabbano returned. He found a little
boy whose big brown eyes were very
big and bright indeed, whose cheeks
we're flaming red and whose teeth
,hattered. Also he found that the lit
lie boys clothing was soggy with
iampness.
IL was sailing the boat, and I fell
INTO the little Lake" confessed Pietro.
'obbing.
well, we'll. it is too bad,s said Sab.
)ano gently. ~But never mind. We
Will put thee In bed. and thee shall get
a
But warm little Piero did not get,
hough Sabbano piled on the little cot
I'll the ragged bedclothing In the shan
". though he made the small stove
oar. though he urged Pietro to drink
he steaming broth he had made. Stu
'ietro shivered under the covers. while
lis flaming cheeks were so hot az al
most to burn the hand. i
Now Pietro must go quietly to
leep," pleaded Grandfather Sabbano.
Sleep, however, was not for Pietro's
yes. He talked rapidly. continuously,
4 the little lake and the boat. Over
nd over agaia he made the voyage
rom the plank to the stump, from the
lump to the barrel that would not
tand still. Wildly he talked on and on
estessly waving his little hands and
eating them on the covers. And over
ID old Sabbano urge him to cease and
0 sleep.
Thus passed all the night and an tn
day that followed. 1t WINS
OF until in the heart of the second
light that the little Pietro. breaking a
REF silence, said weakly: Il think I
N going oing-to sleep-now, grand
a And tomorrow-you will take mn
us--out to my little island-won't you,
This Last very family.
Yes. little Pietro. Yes. it shall be a
on say"
Then there was silence. The oa1
abbano worn out by his long vigil,
ant forward In his chair. laid his bead
the htue cot and slept And wben
swoke Il was to End that the l,ttss
'nd In bis was eoid, tcy cold
All day he sat there starring nj rs
Ito face which lad famed 80 ses,Sst.
~ which WIS now 40 vlfla that fl.s