The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1908-01-22
THE LITTLE Water BOY
By JULIA HEMPSTEAD BULL.

do you think" inquired the little
boy wistfully. that you'll have time
to come down to the Stump Hole and
see me swim some day. pretty soon?"
I said 1 thought I should.
Tomorrow, maybe?" with grow
ing animation.
Perhaps"
Then the food gates of his elo-
quence were unloosed.
I'm getting so can swim pretty
good now. Oh, not really, truly
swim much, you know. but 1 can
keep off the bottom when I paddle
hard. For a while I can. I'm get
ting so now I amt bit afraid to
go out where it's pretty deep-up
clear to my stomach. Yes! You
know, there's the Mud Hole; that's
deeper. Lots of boys go there, cause
they think it's more fun. That's
farther, though; clear down to the
other road And then there's the
Horse Hole; that's deeper than the
Mud Hole. That's an awful long
ways-w;.y out to the stone quarry.
Gee, but it's deep out there! Most
as deep as the Sand Pit. Course, the
Sand Pit, that's the deepest. Men
and big fellows, they go to the Sand
Pit. I wouldn't want to go to the
Sand Pit-not till I learn better.
Gee, I'd be scared! You see. the
edges slope down awful sudden.
I'D rather go to the Stump Hole.
That's where swim. Les he comes
to the Stump Hole, too, but it's most
ly to watch us, kids. When he wants
to swim he goes to the Sand Pit.
You know that stump right at the
edge Of the Stump Hole? I'm going
to jump of from that didn't ever
jump off from it yet. I'm going to
land right on my stomach"
Wont it knock your breath out?"
L asked.
mo! 'Taint that far up. Dean,
he jumps off, He lands on his stom-
,ach. He said Gee, that feels funny!'
Dean, he jumps off sometimes and
turns flipfop right in the air. Turns
a flipfop right in the air, and comes
down on his back"
Reminiscent silence by the little
boy. Then:
II tell you, you want to keep NOV
ing around when ysiSre down there
In the Stump Hole;Y you don't the
minnies bite you! Gee! You're sit
ting there quiet. and first thing you
know you feel something nibble!
And you think it's a real big fish.
But it amt; it's Just the minnies.
They aren't bit afraid; keep still
just minute, and they come right
at you" He paused, then he said:
There amt any step-down at the
Stump Hole any more. Did I tell
you what step-off is?" I was a
little doubtful about it.
"Well, you see, step-off oh.
chats where it gets deep all of sud-
den. You'll be walking along real
careful, and all at once your foot
goes way down deep, and you're
way down in the water before you
know it. Gee!"
What became of the step-off?" 1
asked with interest.
Don't know. Ssid washed into
1t, maybe"
Il don't s'pose do swim very good
vet" he went on with regretful hon.
esty.
"Someway, I don't seem to know
quite how to make my arms go back.
just paddle, dog-fashion. l don't
have to hold my nose with my hand
any more, though. when I go under
water. he added, Frightening. II
can just put my hand under, and
not choke bit. On, sometimes I
choke- Sometimes l kind Of forget,
and breathe before I get clear up!
But I can hear under water. Why
to-day I had my head under water,
and one OF the boys yelled, and 1
heard him."
The little boy gave himself up to
an ecstasy of recollection. ITS fun
to play alligator" he said presently.
"Do you know how?" 1 had to con-
fess my ignorance.
well, you see, one fellow dives,
and he has to stay under water and
catch another fellow, and he has to
stay under water, too-so you see,
they both have to dive at once-and
one fellow, he tries to keep out of
the way, It's deep enough to play
alligator down at the Stump Hole.
Only you scrape your knees on the
bottom some. But that don't hurt
I dived once. My head went right
into the gravel. 1t didn't hurt.
though-just felt kind of mashy, and
then all slipped away"
The little boy yawned. He was a
very little boy. Presently he came
and stood by my side rubbing his
eyes.
I'm afraid it will be a rainy day
Tomorrow" I said.
His face fell for an instant. Then
he said optimistically, "Oh, well, that
won't make any difference. can
go swimming anyhow. I'll take the
umbrella along to keep my clothes
dry, and 1 don't care if it does rain
ON my skin" He put his arms
around my neck and gave me an
affectionate mug.
II guess I'll go to bed now" he
said.
watched him march sturdily off
upstairs, whistling.
And tomorrow l am surely going