The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1908-02-22
THE LITTLE WATER BOY.
BY JULIA HEMPsrEAD BULL.

BY JULIA HEMPsTEAD BULL.
"Do you think" inquired the lit
tie 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 should.
Tomorrow, maybe ?" with grow
ing animation.
perhaps"
Then the flood gates of his elo-
quence were unloosened.
"I'm getting so I can swim pretty
good now. Oh, not really, truly
swim much, you know, but I can
keep off the bottom when l paddle
hard. For while I can. I'm get
ting so now I ain t 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-way 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 fell
lows, they go to the Sand Pit. I
wouldn't want to go to the Sand Pit
mot till l 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 60
ing to jump off from that didn't
ever jump off from it yet. I'm going
to land right on my stomach"
"Won't it knock your breath out 7"
/ asked.
"No! 'Tain't that far up. Dean,
he jumps off. He lands on his stom-
ach. He said "Gee, that feels funny 7
Dean, he jumps off sometimes and
turns fipAop right in the air. Turns
a fipAop right in the air, and comes
down on his back"
Reminiscent silence by the little
boy. Then F.:
II tell you, you want to keep NOV
ing around when you're down there
in the Stump Hole; if 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 a minute, and they come right
at you" He paused, then he said:
"There amt any step-down at the
Stump Hole any more. Did 1 tell
YOU what~a step-off- lis 2,,-I--was- o.
little doubtful about It.
well, you see, step-of-oh,
that's 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?" I
asked with interest.
Don't know. Sand washed into
it, maybe"
81 don't s'pose 1 do swim very
good yet," he went on with regret
full honesty.
"Someway, I don't seem to know
quite how to make my arms go back.
l just paddle, og-fashion. I don't
have to hold my nose with my hand
any more, though, when go under
water" he added, Frightening. II
can just put my head under, and not
choke bit. Oh, sometimes Ichoke.
Sometimes I kind of forget, and
breathe before l get clear up But I
can hear under water. Why today l
had my head under water, and one of
the boys yelled, and heard him p
The little boy gave himself up to
an ecstasy of recollection. cts fun
to play alligator" he said presently.
"Do you know how?" I had to con-
fess my ignorance.
"Well, you see, one fellow dives,
and he has to stay under water and
catch another fellow, aud 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 alli-
gator down at she Stump Hole. Only
you scrape your knees on the bottom
some. But that don't hurt. l dived
once. My head went right into the
gravel. 1t didn't hurt, though-just
felt kind Of mashy, and then all slip
ped 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 rainy day
tomorrow" 1 said.
His face fell for an instant. Then
he said optimistically, "Oh, we'll, that
won't make any difference. can go
swimming anyhow. I'll take the
umbrella along to keep my clothes
dry, and I don't care if it does rain
on my skin" He put his arms around
my neck and gave me an affectionate
hug.
81 guess I'll 80 to bed now," he
said.
l watched him march sturdily of
upstairs, whistling.
And tomorrow I am surely going
down to the Stump Hole to see the
little boy swim Woman'S Home
Combanion.