The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1914-08-22
TIE CHILDREN'S HOUR.
GIT WAS THE Gait"

Uncle Nedll make you pair-said
he would. 'Twouldn't be much fun it
you didn't have some, too" Jimsie
Treslow's house and Mark Bolders
house stood side by side. The two
boys always played together.
I'm 'fraid mother won't let me-
| She says they're dangerous" Mark
spoke wistfully. Jimsie was mounted
on a pair of stills, and Mark did want
a pair ever so much.
Uncle Ned says boys must be
brave, and learn to take what comes. >
Jimsie was a polite little fellow, and
he didn't add that his Uncle Ned
thought Mrs Bolder would make Mark
a mollycoddle, if she didn't watch out
Ned was a college athlete, and scorned
a mollycoddle.
1--WE might go ask her." Jimsie said
After good deal of talk, and many
promises to be careful, Marks mother
consented. Remember she said,
''you are to go on floors, or fiat ground
Not try going upstairs or any such
stunts
YES, Mrs. Bolder," from Jimsie.
Yes, mother" from Mark.
So that afternoon, the other pair OF
stills were made, and given to Mark as
his very own. Two happy boys
marched about now. They wanted tC
measure heights with all the grown
people.
I'm just as tall as Uncle Ned" jim
sic called out proudly. HE said SO
himself" And as Uncle Ned was per
lection in Jimsie's eyes, he wouldn't
have had those stills one inch shorter
or one inch longer for the world.
"And I've got my growth, too" Ned
said.
A week went by with no mishap.
The mothers felt easier. Mrs. Bolder
didn't run to the window every five
minutes to see if Mark was safe. And
then-it was the cat!
Billy was quite big for his age, but
he hadn't lost his kittenish ways
What should he do, frisking round, but
run smack against one of Mark S
stills, and throw the boy down. No,
body was to blame. You couldn't
blame the cat!
When Mark fell, his left ankle twist
ed, and it hurt so he just had to cry
out No, it was not broken, but badly
sprained. 1t swelled so fast, turning
purple in the pail of hot water, where
Mrs. Bolder had it in no time, that
Jimsie was quite scared.
Then it was bound up in red flannel
and arnica, and Mark couldn't put his
foot to the floor to walk for many
days. Jimsie was coming in very oft
en-, and usually he came across on his
stills, leaving them on the piazza.
Marks chair was placed by the win
dow, where he could see Jimsie come
They played all the quiet games they
could think of-letters, jack straws,
and others. 1t was getting pretty near
the time when Mark could walk again.
"By next week." Jimsie said, you
can use your stills"
Mark tried hard not to, but he burst
out crying. Mother says l can't walk
that way any more" he sobbed. It's
too dangerous. They're split up for
kindling wood. She said then
wouldn't be tempted"
1t certainly was grave situation.
Jimsie went home silently. He car
ried his stills instead of mounting
them. He must think it out for him.
self. Then he sought his uncle.
Uncle Ned" he said, Mark can't
ever use his stills again. His mother
says they're too dangerous. They're
split up" There was catch in his
voice. "Will you please split mine up,
too? Mark would feel so bad to see me
walk around when he couldn't"
1t almost paid when Uncle Ned said,
"Jimsie, you're the Quickest little
chap ever saw"