Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1905-10-15
Berries Red Cap

BERTHE had a new cap--a beautiful
cap of the very brightest red. He
was 80 very proud Of II that he almost
| forgot his manners and left u on In
the house but Il helped him 10 remem-
Der them when he met mamma and
Aunt Nellie on the street. for then he
lifted IL rs politely as a grown-up gen
tieman.
but there came a day when mamma
and papa were more proud OF that
little red cap than BERTHE himself.
That Is why there is a story about
BERTHE and his cap
Right past the back yard ran a
railroad track. Berthe had been for
hidden 10 climb the fence and he had
never disobeyed. One afternoon he
was playing near the fence with the
new red cap on the side OF his head,
just as he had seen big cousin Char
lie. who was a high school boy. wear
his lie was building a play track on
his side Of the fence. Every once In
a while he climbed to the top OF the
fence 20 look at the real track and
see just how II was built Then down
he would climb and lay a few more
ties and rails
The last time he climbed up his
eye caught sight OF something big and
black lying In the middle OF the track
some distance away. All his little life
he had been watching the trains run.
ming up and down He knew al just
what time every train should pass and
he knew now that the three O'Clock
"fier' might go By at any minute,
lie was quite sure OF another thing.
II that big black something" down
there on the middle OF the track did
not move on the fier might jump the
track and many people be hurt or
killed
He watched anxiously. bat II did not
move. Perhaps some one had placed
q there purposely TO wreck the
"nier Some one must attend 10 Il
and Bertie knew that be was the only
one % DO a. Mamma had forbidden
him ever 10 cross the fence. and he
was always careful to mind her. but
he knew hat Just now a moment had
come when he could not stop 10 ask
mamma. for one minutes delay might
mean the wreck OF the fast train
Quickly he climbed the fence and
sped down the track. The black
frfra d
he drew nearer and then he saw that
Is was a big draft horse which had
died upon the track Stretched across
the track Il lay resting on both rails.
BERTHE pulled at the big animal but
be could not move IL an inch There
was no one to call upon for help and
already he could hear the rumble OF
a train In the distance Then like a
fash he remembered the DANCER sig.
nal The only bit o. red he hal bout
him was the little new cap. but that
was such gay red. and the sun
shining upon II made Il fash so bright
~ that he took hope.
Climbing upon the body OF the
dead horse 10 make himself taller he
waved the cap high above his head
the moment he caught sight OF the !
train far away Nearer and nearer
IL came. He kept his place though |
he was right in the track OF the en-.
CINE Still IL did not slow up and In |
a moment more Il would be upon him.
lie wondered II when mamma found |
his crushed little body she would !
think he had wilfully disobeyed her |
md gone upon the track lie was |
ure the signal had not been noticed, !
and closing his eyes very tight he |
waved harder than ever while he |
thought Of mamma and papa and dear
baby. -.
But Just then the big engine gave /
snort and a grind and then all was /
still except the voices Of a great many /
people. as they poured out OF the /
train 10 see what the trouble vas.
And this Is what they saw Right
across the middle of the track. mount
ed upon the dead body Of the big /
horse. stood a very little boy with
white. white face and black damp
curls clinging to his forehead, and
with his right hand he still waved
with all his might a Tiny red cap high
In the air
The conductor lifted him up like a
baby and kissed the little fellow. Der.
tie received a reward which seemed ;
very big indeed from the passengers.
hut best OF all was the happiness Of
and papa over their boys
bravery. Mamma took the little red
cap from him very gently and said:
Il shall get you another. dear. but
mamma wants 20 keep this one al
ways because OF the good work her
little boy has done with a."
Katherine Herrick.