Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1908-01-18
The LITTLE WATER BOY
By JULIA HEMPsTEAD BULL.

~-'---u---'--l--'-'uuu'-lu-''u
do you think" inquired the little
boy wistfulIy, that you'll have time
to come down to the Stump Hole and
see me swim some day, pretty soon?"
l said thought / should.
Tomorrow, maybe?" with grow
Ing animation.
Perhaps"
Then the flood gate u his elo-
quence were unloosed.
I'm getting so / can swim pretty
good now. oh, not really, truly
swim much, you know but can
keep OFF the bottom .y,is = ro,alle.
a., sd s yet 7 i,EaT,
he g s. F26f ww RRi,i can. I'm get
ting so now l amt a 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 fellows, they 60 to the Sand
Pit. ! wouldn't want to go to the
Sand Pit-not till 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 on from that didn't ever
jump OFF from 1t yet. I'm going to
land right on my stomach"
won't 1t knock your breath out?"
/ asked.
mo! 'Tain't that far up. Dean,
he jumps of. He lands on his stom-
ach. He said Gee, that feels funnyH
Dean, he jumps off sometimes and
turns fiphop right in the air. Turns
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 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 real big fish.
But 1t 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 / tell
you what step-off is?" was a
little doubtful about it.
"Well, you see, a step-off-oh,
that's where 1t 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?"
asked with interest.
Don't know. Sand washed into
it, maybe"
81 don't s'pose do swim very good
yet" he went on with regretful hon
esty.
"Someway, don't seem to know
quite how to make my arms go back.
/ Just paddle, dog-fashion. / don't
have to hold my nose with my hand
any more, though, whenI go under
water" he added, Frightening. II
can just put my hand under, and
not choke a bit. oh, sometimes /
choke. Sometimes / kind of forget,
and breathe before l get clear up!
But can hear under water. Why
to-day had my head under water,
and one of the boys yelled, and !
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 ne
bottom some. But that don't hurt
/ dived once. My head went right
into the gravel. 1t didn't hurt
though--just felt kind of Nasty, and
then all slipped away"
The little boy yawned. He was 6
very little boy. Presently he came
and stood by my side rubbing his
eyes.
"1'm afraid it will be rainy day
tomorrow" said.
His face fell for an instant. Their
he said optimistically, ooh, well, tha
won't make any difference. car
go swimming anyhow. Ill take tn,
umbrella along to keep my clothes
dry, and I don't care IL 1t does rain
on my skin" He put his ARM
around my neck and gave me al
affectionate hug.
81 guess I'll go to bed now" h,
said.
/ watched him march sturdily OF
upstairs, whistling.
And tomorrow / am surely goinl
down to the Stump Hole to see tn,
little boy swim. Woman's Homo
Companion.