Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1908-11-11
Down BY
T he Brook
By Susan Perry Peckham

By susan Perry PeCknam s
s4,s>ssx4,xs,ssxssvs.s.xs,ss.se.ss
Bob said at the breakfast table,
Now, you know, daddy. 1 must
be almost five years old. for I've
been four and half such long
time; and Dorothy must be! nearly
seven. and1 want to ask you some
thing, daddy
We'll. why don't you ask?" said
his father, paying attention.
Its so important. i thought about
It in bed till ] was quite tired just
thinking"
For PHYS sake!" said his father.
you can get tired thinking" said
Bob. can't you?"
"Yes," said his father what was
Il all about?"
Il want to know. daddy, want to
know II you don't think you could
let Dorothy and me go down to play
by the brook. We're getting big. you
see. and RS Saturday morning; and
we wouldn't go near that deep place
below the little island. We wouldn't
go down as far as the island, would
we, Doffie?" And Dorothy said, mo.
daddy" So Bob asked,
do you think you could let US
begin playing by the brook, and see
II we would be careful?''
NO." said Mr.. Mason. But both.
children looked at him without maxi
ng any fuss. because they weren't
quite sure-there might be joke in
their fathers mind. They waited
some time; then Bob said =
Couldn't you try US once, even?p
mo" said his father. But.
Dorothy and Bob sat straight up and
opened their eyes wide ~ II tell you.
II your mother would go with us, ana
II she would give us some luncheon
for the picnic, 1 would come home
before lunch time today, and the
whole family would go down to that.
brook"
.'Whoo-oop!" shouted Bob. "IIi! 1
never thought you'd do that"
Can't always tell,s said HIS father.
q Its grand morning., said Mrs.
Mason. u think that will he love
~ And Dorothy bounced up and
down on her toes and grabbed her
father tight around his neck. He,
stood up and lifted her SO high from
the floor that she didn't dare to let
herself drop. Then he said that he
must be off, and kissed them good.
bye, but called back ...I'll be here
by twelve, sharp.
So when 1he came he found Doro-
thy and Bob waiting on the steps
4 and their mother ready, too, and
Peggie, too. Peggie was Mrs. Ma
sons Boston terrier. She was the
only one of the party that had no
lunch-basket to carry,-too little she
was. and too lively. Everybody in
the family loved Peggie, and she
loved Them.
MIR. Mason had two baskets. Bob
and Dorothy carried some of their
favorite things to dig with and play
with. u
Fall into line!" said Mr.. Mason.
SO they started. Peggie didn't fall
into line very we'll Round the house
they went and on past the stable,
then down hill through thick grass
with big cloyers and with hundreds
OF grasahoppers; then over fence
and through rough potato patch and
field where there wasn't much be-
sides pumpkins scattered around and
Two men putting them into cart.
BY the lowest part of that field ran
the brook, the jolliest brook! live
~, making good deal of noise
around stones, and bubbling and shin
ing-you might have thought it was
very glad to see the family.
Il never saw such good brook as
this one!' screamed Bob.
No more did /, Bob" said his
father. There were big stones and
little. and bushes with red berries;
and there was every kind Of pretty
ferns and things. 1t seemed, growing
along the banks and even in the
middle, and SO many stepping stones
that you could walk on them right
across the brook in some places. And
the sunshine was so bright!
The mother and father sat down
Tor awhile. Then they all four
spread out the luncheon; and Mr..
Mason and Bob made small camp
FIRE on a rock and heated things.
They took some time over the
luncheon; but Bob was planning d
bridge in his mind. bridge from
the shore to a large stone in tho
brook. He told Dorothy about 1t,
and she said she would help. And
she did. They had splendid fun work
ing hard on the bridge. And what do
you think! Just as they were going
to call their mother and father to
see At. Peggfe came tearing back from
chase after squirrel, and she
dashed into the water and right
against their bridge SO hard that she