Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-18
A Friend IN Need.


story would never have been written; per-
haps the most important was the baby.
But then. you know babies are always i'm
portant, especially when YOU want very
much to run over to spend the afternoon
with Milly. and baby has to be- taken
care Of
This afternoon the sun shone brightly,
and. of course. just when Bess was about
to ask If she might run over to see Milly
for teenty little while, mother said:
Bessie, dear, don't you want to take the
baby out in the carriage for little while?
Hannah is. Ill this afternoon"
Yes. mother" answered Bess brightly,
swallowing a sigh, and then that dear
bunch of sweetness. Baby Benny. was fast
ened In the carriage and Bess walked slow
ly down the street, little more sober than
usual.
81 wish-I WISH" began Bess, ''that
you'd grow up. baby. ard take care of me.
instead Of my taking care of you. It's
very provoking to wheel you around when
Milly asked me specially to come over and
make dolls clothes-the girls will all be
there under the trees-lnd me on here on
the street wheeling this tiresome carriage.
| No, don't wish you would grow up. either,
baby" declared Bess a moment after. shak-
i ing her cur1s and leaning over the side OF
the carriage to kiss Benny's red lips. and
merrily at her. But I do wish you'd go
| to sleep in the afternoon once in while.
| Sir What did you say? Bowwow? Well.
| declare, there is a lovely bow-wow, isn't
| it? See him run for the ball, baby! and
| Bess stopped to turn around to watch
| beautiful st. Bernard dog playing ball with
| his master. The bali would be rolled down
/ the hill and the big dog capering after.
would stop its flight and bring 1t back IN
| his mouth 1t was an interesting game.
| and Bess had to clap her hands delightediy
| as the dog dashed after the ball. The street
sloped down-quite abruptly to- the waters
! edge, and thus the ball made quite a head
| way in its flight, each time taking the dog
nearer the water.
Bess was Fascinated with the game so
| that for a moment she forgot all about her
restraining hand, and its motion helped by
| the baby's bounces Of joy at the sight OF
| the big dog. started slowly down the hiii
| on its own. responsibility, gaining IN speed.
however with every revolution OF the
| wheels When Bess put her hand out 70
touch the carriage there was notnihg l1eie,
and to her amaZement she saw 1t and It's
precious small occupant Tar anead OF her
| fairly racing down the hill!
The baby was laughing and jumping up
and down, delighted at travelling without
any one tagging on behind, and the car
riage apparently dancing In delight al nav
ing run away.
her curls streaming out behind ana
frightened feeling about her heart Ihere
was the river straight ahead. The car
rage going faster and faster, and no one
within sight to call upon What shoulo
| she do?
| One of two things would happen-either
| the carriage would strike some uneven
| place in the pavement and her dear oapy
| brother be thrown forcibly from the car
rage against the hard stone or eise-tne
river.
Why was not some one near her to help
rescue the baby? The only person she mad
seen had been the owner of the dog. ana
| he was now out of sight over the brow
| of the hill. She did not dare to walt Tor
him to hear her screams, but sprinted her
best after the fast-hying carriage. But
Benny and the carriage had quite start.
and the incline increased their speed every
| minute.
her feet failed her though she was fast
| runner The carriage kept on In a straight
| course the baby delightedly clapping his
| hands and enjoying his ride.
No one in sight except at windows, and
those who saw the flying carriage and the
| little girl in chase ran swiftly out TO heip
but too late.
rage with her precious baby brother only
| q few yards in front of her. bound from
| the walk into the water. She was at the
still clapping his hands and Growing with
| delight, high and dry and unhurt! The
tide was strong and the wooden carriage
| was floating down the river with the pre-
| cious passenger still safe and enjoying the
| boat ride as much as he had his horse
less ride down the hill.
Bess breathed half sigh of relief 20
what shall l dor she cried to herself. Il
can swim a little" and without further
! hesitation she started in the water after
| the baby. heavy hand on her arm drew
her back.
stop, little one said a mans voice.
| you could do no good; the water Is deep
and the tide strong. Sect my good friend
| Bruno Is at the baby's side already, and
will bring the carriage safe to shore.
| Sure enough, the great dog that had been
| bounding down the hill after the ball, dis
| tracing at first the young nurses atten-
| ton, was swimming bravely beside the car
| riage; he caught the front with his teeth.
| but the carriage was heavy. so with Won
| derful instinct he changed his course and
| swan to the other end. then pushing
| against the carriage, brought 1t slowly and
| safely toward the bank. which was swarm
| ed now with excited people. boat had
| also been launched, and as brave Bruno
| tired with his burden, neared the shore,
| willing hands relieved him.
"You darlingv sobbed Bess, as she clasp
| ell the baby tight with one arm and patted
| Bruno with the other ITO think that I
| almost drowned you-and this brave doggie
saved you! deserve to be drowned my
| SELF
Bruno wagged his tail delightedly, but
the ungrateful baby put both fists In his
| eyes and cried to go back in his carriage
1 in tor