Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-09-18

little lake was across the street from
the A-B-C boys house.
When Rudolph came home from
school the next day at noon, he stopped
in the road and looked at the water for
some time. All at once he thought
right aloud 81 believe l will go a
voyage now and not wait till | am a
mani"
Then strange thing happened to
Rudolph. Almost before he had stop
ped saying the thought, his feet were
walking toward the water. Was not
that strange, as said?
For there, at the edge, was very
little craft; it seemed to have been
made for very little boy. A short
pole was near by, and in only minute
Rudolph was standing on the raft and
had pushed himself off with the pole
so that he was floating.
The "short voyage" had begun and
at once promised to be fine one.
About this time a lady telephoned to
Rudolph's mama, do you know, Mrs.
Gear, that your little son is out on the
pond on raft?'
Surprised and frightened, Mrs. Gear
hurried out Of doors to the side of the
water. There she saw her little son
floating farther and farther from the
shore.
Rudolph saw her. too, and waved his
hand and smiled. He was having a
good time with never thought of dan
ger. But his mama felt as if she must
speak to him, SO she called, "Stand
perfectly still, Rudolph; papa will come
md Ont G hn n0n,t
move! Be sure to not novel"
Someone had telephoned to Mr.. Gear
also, at his store.
Just at this time neighbor, Mr.
Shorts, came down the street and see
ing what was the matter waded into
the water to overtake Mrs. Gears little
son. but all of this time the raft was
floating a little farther and farther
away Mr.. Shorts kept getting in deep
er and deeper till the water came up
to his arms, and then he stepped into
deep holt and went out of sight. Ev-
eryone who was watching, mostly wo-
men, held their breath till Mr. Shorts
head came into sight again and he
started back for dry land And little
Rudolph voyaged farther and farther
all this while from his distracted moth
er.
During all Of this time the little boy
would have been enjoying himself very
much If so many ladies hadn't been
looking at him and if his mama hadn't
kept telling him to stand perfectly still
and not to move in such queer voice.
Then Charlie, Rudolph's twelve-year-
old cousin, arrived and saw the trou-
BILE. He tackled a few boards together
with some nails which he had in his
pocket, using stone for hammer,
found a pole, stepped on his raft and
started to overtake the first voyager.
The trip was quickly made, Rudolph
was transferred to Charles raft, and
both safely landed
The short voyage" was at an end.
Rudolph was puzzled by the way ev-
eryone acted, as nothing had been read
by the Fourth reader class of any ex-
element attendant upon voyage.
He felt sorry that Mr.. Shorts got so
wet, but it seemed queer that his
mother looked as if she were going to
cry. But when he reached dry land,
she at once took his hand tight and led
him home without saying a word.
That night at bedtime Mrs. Gear
said, Rudolph. what made you go out
on the water today?"
why, mama, wanted to make a
voyage" Rudolph said, "and 1 guess if
had gone one would have 'scovered
something, same as Columbus did +
wish Charlie hadn't come for me. Moth.
ing happened except to Mr.. Shorts"
Excepting that you stood perfectly
still on the raft, as called you to do
I was much pleased with your obedi-
ent conduct, Rudolph. Tomorrow,
will talk with you about voyages
Ruth V. Clark