Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1906-02-21
WeeMacgreegor
on the Pier
Copyright, 1905, by Joseph B. Bowles.)
By J. J. BELL

copyright, 1905, by Joseph B. Bowles.)
Hech! Macgreegor, ye're goin' too
quick fur me-" gasped Mr.. Purdie, as
the youngster whose hand he held hur-
ried along the Rothesay Esplanade in
the early afternoon sunshine.
~ could go quicker. granpaw."
"'Deed, ay! Ye're young an supple!
But the boat III not be in for more
than half an hour. So We'll just take
seat for wee. I'm gettin' old, Mac
greegor, I'm gettin' old.''
"Ay ye're very DID," said Mac
gregor, agreeably. =
But I'm not that DID," said Mr.. Pur-
die, hastily.
They took seat facing the bay.
Macgregor proceeded to haul in tin
steamboat which he had been dragging
after him since they started on their
walk, while his grandfather drew from
it's case well-seasoned meerschaum.
II see boat COMM" exclaimed
Macgregor ere they had been seated for
five minutes.
where? Oh, ay. But that's not
the right boat. Wait till ye see boat
wi two yellow tunnels"
II like red tunnels better than yell
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.
care We dry?''
"Ay.'
"Well, yell maybe get a bottle be.
fore we go to the pier. What haze We
been dom to yer steamboat? It's all
smashed-see!"
"A ]addie 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 a band?' he inquired, look
ing round at the bandstand.
cts not the season yet"
"Why isn't it the season? l like a
band VII big drum. Will there be a
band in the morning, granpaw?"
mo, no. Not till the summer. If
my coughs no better I'll maybe blde
in Rothesay till the summer, and then
yell come back an stay with yer gran
ny an me, an hear the band"
els yer cough bad now?"
"Ay; it's very bad at night, Mac
greegor."
II once had an awful bad cough
said Macgregor, thoughtfully. II 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?"
''Ay. IL would like to bide in
Rothesay, too"
greegor."
It's 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
steamboat behind him, went over to
the ratings of the esplanade.
"Ye're not to climb up," cried Mr..
Purdie, rising in alarm. IF We was
fallin' in there We would be drowned ~
There's an awful lot of water to-
day." remarked the boy, as his grand
father put an arm around him.
"Ay, We see, the tides in"
'1'm going to sail my boat now
"Ye cannot sal: it there
cay, can I! See!" 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 a comparatively
even keel. Its swimming!" he ex-
claimed in triumph, as he jerked it
about. And then the string Slipped
from his fingers. He turned to his
grandfather in dire dismay.
Poor laddie," said Mr.. Purdie, look.
ing about for help in the shape of q
rowing craft.
MY boat, my boat" walled Mac.
gregor, softly.
Old Mr. Purdie went down on his
IAASSo.
so, laid his pipe on the ground, and
leaning over the edge, endeavored tc
secure the string with his WALKING
stick. For several minutes he wrought
but all in vain, and then Macgrego1
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 luckless vessel had gradually filleC
and now it was being slowly but sure.
ly submerged. Mr.. Purdie, in great
distress, endeavored to save it with
his stick by getting hold of thu
metal rigging, but his sight was poo>
and his hand shaky, and he only sue
ceeded in giving it prod amidships
which precipitated the disaster. Down
down, in ten feet of clear water Il
quietly sank, while it's owner could de
naught but watch and vail: my boat
my boat"
Mr.. Purdie rose, rubbing his knee.
and coughing. I'm real vexed, Mac
greegor," he began.
Crunch!
MY pipe, my pipe!"
Alas! troubles never come singly
Macgregor had lost his beloved boat
Mr.. Purdie had trod upon and reduced
his dear old pipe to atoms.
my boat, my boat"
MY pipe, my pipe!"
Tho how erazod 1ocno irino1u ;r+o ~.