The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1906-02-16
WeeMacgreegor
on the Pier

By J. J. BELL

quick luF me, EdSptu MT. IuIulc' rs
the youngster whose hand he held hur.
ried along the Rothcsay Esplanade in
the early afternoon sunshine.
II could go quicker, granpaw"
Deed, ayl Ye're young an supple!
But the boat II not be in for more
than half an hour. So we'll just take
seat for a wee, I'm gettin' old, Mac.
greegor I'm gettin old
"Ay. ye're very old said Mac
grcGor, agreeably.
But I'm not that old. said Mr. Pur.
jic, hastily.
They took n seat facing the bay
Macgrcgor proceeded to haul in a tin
steamboat which he had been dragging
after him since they started on their
walk. while his grandfather drew from
e. case a wcl.sca soncd mcerschaum.
II see a boat comm, exclaimed
Macgrcror ere they had been seated for
five minutes.
Where? Oh ay But that's not
the RIGHT boat Wait TIL ye see a boat
ai two yellow tunnels"
81 like red tunnels better than vel
Vow ones. Why is NAV comm in a
BOAT VT yellow iuuu",s''
Yer nav disna like the water, an
the boats wi yellow tunnels don't
come so far as the boats with red iun'
uc,s. Here! Put this your mouth"
81 like peppermint lo2enrcrs,' OBJ
,oryod Macgrcgor. drawing in his
breath to get the full effect u Ike
lemonade also" he added presently.
care ye dry?"
"Ay."
"Wcll, ven maybe got a bottle be
Tore we go to the pier What haze ye
occn doin to yer steamboat? It's all
smashcd-scc!"
"A laddic stepped on It" said Mac.
rregor, holding up his toy. But the
string went round his leg an cut him
an he went away wcopin, Why Is
there not 4 band?" he inquired, look
ing round at the bandstand.
Its not the season yet"
"Why isn't It the season? like n
band wi big drum. Will there be
band in the morning, granpaw?'
NO. no. Not tin the summer. II
my coughs no better III maybe bide
in Rothcsay til the summer, and then
yen come back an stay with yer gran
ny an me, an hear the band
rs yer cough bad now?'
"Ay; it's very bad at night, Mac
greegor"
Il once had an awful bad cough"
said Macgregor, thoughtfully. Il took
oil. If you was takin oil ye might
be better before the summer, gran.
paw
Mr. Purdie smiled, Would We like
my cough to be better before the sum
mer Macgrecgor?"
"Ay. II would like to bide In
Rothesay, too"
I'm thinkin' I'll try the oil Mac.
greegor'
ITS real nasty to take. But It
might make your cough better before
the summer. Rothcsays n
over to look at the water" Macgregor
slipped of the seat. and, dragging his
steamboat behind him, went over to
the ratings OF the esplanade
"Yc'rc not 10 climb up" cried Mr.
Purdc. rising in alarm. IF We was
lrlIin In there Sc would be drowned. "
There's an awful lot Of water 10
day" remarked the boy. as his grand
father put an arm around him.
"Ay, ye see, the tides in"
Tin going to sail my boat now"
aye cannot sail it there
"Ay, can |! See" MaCgrcgor low
cred his toy with the string till 1t
touched the water yard beneath them.
After several partial swampings 1t was
induced to iloat on a comparatively
even keel Its swimming" he ex-
claimed in triumph. as he ierked It
about And then the string slipped
from his fingers. lie turned to his
grandfather in dire dismay.
Poor laddie," said Mr. rurdic, look
ing about for help in the shape Of a
rowing craft
My boat my boat" walled Mac
gregor, softly.
Old Mr.. purdie went down on his
knees, suppressing a groan as he did
so. laid his pipe on the ground, and,
leaning over the edge. cndeavored to
secure the string with his walking
stick For several minutes he wrought.
but all in vain, and then Macgregor
cried out that his boat was sinking.
1t was too true! Damaged, doubtless.
by many a stormy passage on dry
land, and also by being tramped upon.
the lucklcss vessel had gradually filled
and now it was being slowly but sure
ly submerged, Mr. PurdIe, in great
distress. endeavored 10 save it with
his stick by getting n hold of the
metal rigging but his sight was poor
aud his hand shaky and he only sue
ccodcd in giving it prod amidshps.
Which prccipitated the disaster Down.
down. In ten feet of clear water It
quietly sank, while It's owner could DO
naught but watch and wall: my boat,
NY boat"
AIR purdip rose rubhInp i;a knoae