Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-04-30


a man. if he's so bad when he's only ten ??
Peter Collins diferen-t easier for him to be
which was wrong IN more ways than one, and sure to
The first time Peter saw Sann1e, he was on the top
branch of the maple the school yard 1t
day Peters mother ceased teaching him at home and
mic had his pockets stuffed with apples, and he
threw down that the boys and girls under the
drove up the gate, and the first thing he said
Where is Sammie Bumstalk?"
An, You young theft" roared Farmer Binns, and
he went into the school to find the master. In
school, but Sammie stayed up the tree And he stayed
there till at last Farmer Binns had give up and go
That was all Peter saw of sane that day because
as soon the master went into the school, Sanlnle
Now Peter, who had never climbed tree in his life,
for fear of tearing his stockings admired Salme for
high tree and the other because he not afraid
of the And Peter envous because all the
boys and girls talked about Sammie all that day.
Peter wished they would talk about him OF course
he would have liked to have Sarnrnie's strapping
at all Johnnie Jones told Peter that was because he
had put rosin his hands. He said that of the
didn't hurt Samniie did nearly everything bad
boy in school that day, And Peter at last made
such fun, and everybody admired you much. But he
thought it would be better begin at home first So
the dark passage from the kitchen the dining
room, trip up Anne when she came in to set the
called him to come and wash his hands, and running
in in great hurry, he forgot about the string, and
that he reared with the pain for hall hour. OF
course, when found out how the string came
but sent him to bed with dry bread for tea So you
that it really hard work for Peter to be
After that Peter gave up trying be bad at home,
and became great friends with Sammie Bumstalk who
of naughty things do in school, but the boys and girls
noticed Peter, while they were always talking
most green with jealousy and he made up his mind that
he must do something really great, if he got
splendid idea I take all the pears from Mrs.
Dobsons pear tree! The beauty of the plan was this:
The pear tree was in full sight from the road along
which the boys and girls to school, and also the
pears were yet ripe, which would give him time to
The next day he began and if he had taken anything
like the pains to learn his lessons that he did to climb
bow bv this time He began to look very ragged and
his mother busy every day mending his stockings,
When papa wanted whip him, she said with smile
So5rse" This made Peter feel little ashamed but by
This time he could climb pretty we'll aud the pears
nearly ripe he had fixed the day after tomorrow
for the taking of the pears -.
kitchen and got Mrs Dobsons fence little be-
fore the children began to go to school He was soon
the ground 1t was very juicy and he was very glad
R Rf was wo sIGn n6 g21eeh hD to-day E ali right
He tied the pail round his waist and was looking up
black and white fox-terrier came out of Mrs. Dob
sons gate and it saw Peter it began to
run at him. barking terribly, and evidently meaning to
tear him into small pieces. Peter was halfway up
that in time, with the pail getting IN his way,
too The terrier jumped higher every moment but
Peter was just of his reach. How glad he was to
scramble out on to a limb where he was quite safe!
But when he looked down, he saw Just beneath hlm
the terriers br5tng hair and bloodthrsty and
over on the road was Sammie Burnstak, with a crowd
of children They laughing at him!
90 Sanlrier' cried poor Peter almost frightened
out Of his wits. cant you save me?
"IIa. hal" laughed Sannie Amt the pears hne and
sweet" :.
And Sainmie and the others went laughing to
school, and every child running past made fun OF Peter
At last the school bell rang and nobody else came
past The dog grew tired of barking and lay down to
Sleep under the tree The getting hotter every
minute and Peter did dare to move from his
com Portable scat for fear of waking the dog. So for
and hours he there until at last the bell rang
for recess Now it was lucky for Peter that kind
little oirl named Amy Rogers had to- home
cess For when she him stuck up in the tree she
did laugh, but called out.
ooh YOU poor little boy! Didn't any one take the
dog away yet? I'll and tell Mrs. Dobson
So very soon Mrs. Dobson, who terrble-look-
ing old lady and very tall and thin came out to her
pear tree and she held the terrier while poor stiff Peter
crawicd down from his hard perch and sneaked away