The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1906-12-30
Master Peters Pride.

Peter were "a velvet suit with silver
buttons. and cuffs and collar OF real
lace and he st7OIled across the lawn
with a lordly air. He would be a lord.
real lord. some day. His nurse had
told him so this morning as she was
dressing him. and all this beautiful place
this lovely garden, which at present be-
longed to his grandfather, would By and
by be his.
Peter felt very grand, indeed. as he
strutted along-far too grand 70 talk 70
the shabby, suHburnt boy engaged IN
wedding one Of the gravel paths, who
touched his cap respectfully, and ven
tured to make remark upon the fine
ness Of the day. Peter frowned and tossed
his head. and looked at the boy scorn-
fully
Il don't talk TO common boys" he said.
Tn going to be lord " And he strut
ted on his way toward the sundiaI near
which a peacock was summing itself and
spreading its splendid tail.
Peter had a bit Of bread crumbling in
a pocket Of his velvet suit that he had
saved from dinner, and now. drawing it
out, he broke a piece off and threw il
toward the peacock. But the peacock.
intent on the display Of its taiI-feathers
took no notice. except 70 eye the biz Of
bread and Peter scOrnfuuy. Just as he
had eyed the shabby, sunburnt boy few
moments before.
POOH il seemed to say. who are
you? What is your velvet suit, with its
silver buttons and real lace compared
to my tail? I don't tain to little boys.
even If they are going to be lords. I'm
peacock"
Just beyond ths sUndial there was
fight OF stone steps leading down TO a
river that flowed through the garden,
along which a swan was sailing slowly
and majestically.
And when Peter found taht the pea
cock would have nothing 10 do with him,
he turned and descended these steps and
threw some bits of bread toward the
swan. But the swan seemed nearly as
proud as the peacock-and Peter-for it
did not bend its neck or turn toward the
little bits OF bread.
So Peter made a great effort to throw
a piece nearer TO it; and. as the effort
d
the bottom step, which was wet and
( green and slippery, the next moment there
was a splash and a little scream, and
Peter was in the river.
Pride Has "A Fall.
| The water was not very deep Just
| there; but Peter was so small and 50
/ very frightened that it was fortunate that
the garden boy heard his scream and
| came hurTying TO the rescue. Without a
moments hesitation he waded into the
water. where Peter was gasping and
fioundering, lifted him up in his arms
| and carried him up the steps.
! The swan, frightened by the splash
! and scream. was swimming away in a
very undignified manner, while the pea
| cock on the bank had just put down its
tail and walked off hurrledly.
As for Peter-Well he was dripping wet,
/ of course, his velvet suit was quite ruined
while he seemed TO have forgotten his
pride-the fact that he was going to be a
/ lord-for he was crying very hard, in
deed. with his face hidden against the
| garden boys shoulder, while the garden
] boy carried him quickly TO the house.
without laughing at his plight or even
!
/ and shabby. he had gentlemanly feel
ings. a fact which surprised Peter, and
caused him 10 think.
He thought about the matter all the
time he was having his tea, and when II
was over he went out again into the
garden over the lawn toward the sun
dial His velvet suit had been changed,
he l.ow wore sailor one Of serge, like
ordinary weekday little boys. and he did
not strut or toss his head; and when he
came 10 the path where the shabby little
garden boy was still wedding he stopped,
| and held out his hand.
y want TO thank you" he said. in
very friendly voice, Just as he would
have spoken TO q boy Ike himself-One
who was going TO be q lOrd-''tO thank
you ever so much for getting me out Of
the river, and not laughing, aRd-and TO
ask you to forgive me for-for being so
rude and stuck-up this afternoon. VIII
you, please2'
And the garden boy smiled, and took
Peters little white hand in his big,
rough, brown one; and Peter felt strange
" happy, far happier than before mis-
pride had had a fall. the pride that he
| had left behind him in the river