Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-08-31
: Just Peter :

It was most every day occurrence
"a red automobile tearing by, a
brown puppy uncertain of direction,
and the inevitable result. The red
thing never even stopped, but left be-
hind it a cloud of suffocating dust,
and a patch of something brown on
the road.
Geoff, after the first shock of sur
prise, went forward, wondering why
Peter didn't return to him when he
called.
His sturdy legs carried him to the
spot, where the brown heap lay, and
he said softly, Pete, get up, you lazy
dog. I'd be ashamed to play you was
q deader!" But Pete gave no signs of
getting up, and somehow Geoff's little
legs began to shake. Was 1t possible,
no, it couldn't be, Peter did play like
that sometimes, and Geoff began to
worry.
Could he be hurt so bad, that he
couldn't get up? He would see. Stoop-
ing over the silky brown body yet
warm, Godfrey slowly lifted one little
leg, then another. No, there'd seem
ed no reason why Pete couldn't get up,
his legs were all right Then with a
quickly beating heart Geoff raised
Pete's .listless head. The soft ears
hung Imply over his hand, and the
loving brown eyes never opened once.
Geoff put down the head, and with a
very frightened, white face, sat down
on the dusty road by the side of Pete.
A great lump seemed growing in
side of him, as slowly the feeling
came over him that little Pete, his
own puppy, had gone dead! He had
heard Of such things before. vaguely
wondering what it meant; and II they
all went to heaven, what time God
must have answering the door bell,
and If he had an elevator, like the big
store in town!
Geoff sat very still, pathetic little
figure, with the sun beating down on
his straw hat, and the immovable
puppy stretched beside him.
Geoff never had any mother that he
could remember, and he had become
used to thinking out things for him.
self because Dad never had any time
in the evenings, besides he didn't al
ways understand.
This was the picture which met the
eyes of the Reverend Malcolm Brown
as he rode down the road on his bay
horse. Geoff and he were already &C.
quainted, and 1t was with sundry mis-
givings the young minister slipped
from his horse and touched the straw
hat.
What's the matter, my boy7 Peter
hurt himself?"
n, Coo<po uo}oo o<por oo1v
quiet, the young man thought. II
guess he's" and the other words
died away.
The bay horse waited; he never
quite knew what his master would do,
but there was trouble here, 80 he stood
at attention.
There was minute when the min
lister, wished he we're woman, then
he put his arm round the dusty figure.
Sonny, you're in danger here, right
in the middle of the road, and I'm 60
ing to carry you away"
Don't" said the little boy passion.
ately, don't you see Pete's hurted
himself so he can't walk, an dye
'spose I'm going to leave him!"
But Pete might get hurt again."
said the minister. "Se here, I'll carry
Pete, and you take the bay over to the
grass
The strain of the last hour was be-
ginning to tell on Geoff, and as the
minister tenderly raised the little
brown pup, Geoff struggled to his feet,
and reaching up for the bride follow
ed the minister to the grassy stretch,
safe from red cars.
The boys straw hat had been thrown
down, and his agonized heart throbbed
against the minister's vest, while scald-
ing tears ran down his cheeks. The
strong clasp, waiting till the first par
oxysm was over. 1t was no use sham
ming, Geoff knew, although the brown
pup lay as if asleep. The car had
been merciful, the little back had been
snapped like twig, and Pete lay at
their feet In his last sleep.
Geoff never had been. like other
children, and the minister began to
wonder what would happen when the
boy found his voice.
ut was that red car, called to Pete,
an first he began to come, and then
he started to run and-1 called him,
an he wouldn't get up-and come, and
I went over to him."
The minister just stroked the curly
hair back, as he said, II know, sonny,
but you wouldn't have had Pete live,
if he was hurt badly, and would suf-
fer all the time. would you? You love
him too much for that"
Geoffs eyes looked up quickly, his
mind was travelling faster than that of
the minister.
"If God takes care Of things when
they die, has the pain stopped hurtin'
Pete now" he demanded.
Surely" said the young man, seeing
theological discussions Of difficult
character ahead.
Don't you 'spose God had enough
pups without taking mine from me?"
again demanded Geoff, and ooh! do
want him back" and the child gave
way to uncontrolled sobs.
There were rocks coming, the minis
ter was sure, and still holding the sob,
bling child he began telling him Of the
Indians, and how they believed in q
God who would give them good hunt
linp-erounds when they died and how