Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1906-02-14
.WeeMacgreegor
on the Pier

By J. J. BELL

the youngster whose hand he held hur-
ried along the Rothesay Esplanade in
the early afternoon sunshine.
i could go quicker, granpaw"
"'Deed, ay! Ye're young an supple!
But the boat II not be in for more
than half an hour. So well just take
q seat for wee. I'm gettin old, Mac
greegor, I'm gettin' old"
"Ay. we're very old" said Mac
gregor, agreeably.
But I'm not that Old sid Mr.. Pur-
die, hastily.
They took seat facing the bay.
Macgregor 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
its case well-seasoned meerschaum.
Il see boat comm" exclaimed
Macgregor ere they had been seated for
i've minutes.
Where? Oh, ay. But that's not
the right boat Wait till We see q boat
wi two yellow tunnels"
Il like red tunnels better than yel-
low ones. Why is nav comm in .
boat wi yellow funnels?"
Eyer NAV disna like the water, an
the boats WI yellow tunnels don't
come so far as the boats with red fun
nels. Here! Put this in your mouth"
Il like peppermint lozengers," OBJ
served Macgregor, drawing In his
breath to get the full effect. II like
lemonade also" he added, presently.
Are ye dry?"
SAY"
swell, ye'll maybe get bottle be-
fore we go to the pier. What haze ye
been doin' to yer steamboat? It's all
emashed--see!"
"a laddie stepped on it." said Mac
gregor, holding up his toy. But the
string went round his leg an cut him
an he went away weepin'. Why Is
there not bandT' he inquired, look
ing round at the bandstand.
tits not the season yet"
"Why isn't 1t the season? like
band wi big drum. Will there De q
band in the morning, granpaw?"
mo, no. Not till the summer. II
my coughs no better I'll maybe blde
in Rothesay till the summer, and then
ye'll come back an stay with yer gran.
ny an me, an hear the band"
ais yer cough bad now?"
SAY; it's very bad at night, Mac
greegor."
II once had an awful bad cough"
said Macgregor, thoughtfully Il took
oil. If you was takin' oil We might
be better before the summer, gran
paw"
Mr. Purdie smiled. Would We like
my cough to be better before the sum
mer Macgreegor?"
cay. I'll would like to bide In
Rothesay, too" ,
"Tm thinkin' Ill try the oil, Mac
greegor:'
TITS. real nasty to take. But It
might make your cough better before
the summer. Rothesay's a
nice place. isn't it? I'm goin'
over to look at the water" Macgregor
slipped off the seat, and, dragging his
the ratings Of the esplanade.
"Ye're not to climb up" cried Mr..
Purdie, rising in alarm. IF We was
fellin' in there We would be drowned"
''Theres an awful lot OF water to-
day remarked the boy, as his grand
father put an arm around him.
"Ays We. see, the tides in"
'I'm going to sail my boat now"
ssYe cannot sail 1t there.
SAY, can /! Sect" Macgregor low
cred his toy with the string till it
touched the water yard beneath them.
After several partial swampings it was
induced to float on comparatively
even keel "It's swimming" he ex-
claimed in triumph, as he jerked 1t
about. And then the string slipped
from his fingers. He turned to his
grandfather in dire dismay
poor laddie," said MI. rurdie, look
ing about for help In the shape Of a
rowing craft.
my boat my boatls walled Mac
gregor, softly.
Old MIR. Purdie went down on his
knees, suppressing groan as be did
so, laid his pipe on the ground, and,
leaning over the edge, endeavored I'd
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.
Twas too true! Damaged, doubtless,
BY many stormy passage On dry
land, and also by being tramped upon,
the luckless vessel had gradually filled
and now 1t was being slowly but sure.
" submerged Mr.. Purdie. In great
distress. endeavored to save It with
his stick ~ getting hold Of the
metal rigging, but his sight was poor
and his hand shalKy, and he only sue.
ceeded IN giving It prod amidships.
which precipitated the disaster. Down
down. IL ten feet Of clear water II
quietly sank. while ito owner could al
naught but watch and wall; MY boat
my boatl'
Mr. Purdle rose, rubbing his knees
and coughing. nI,m real vexed, Mac
greegor be began.
Crunchl