Evening star., 1939-08-20
Maryland Boys Oldest H. Conduct Volunteer Fire Department
| Just
Between

BY PHILIP H. LOVE,
Junior Star Editor.

~N"- ~N@N~~'
what have you got?" Sissy asked
as Sonny stepped out on the back
porch and eased the door shut be-
hind him.
"Sh-h-h," he responded, holding
out his hand for his younger sister
to see its thrilling contents.
"Matches!" she exclaimed, wide
eyed. What are you going to do
with them?"
Build a fire behind the garage
and make believe I'm camping out" :"
Sissy looked doubtful. Mother
has always told us not to play with
matches" she reminded him. Sup
pose she finds out?"
How can she find out?" Sonny
countered. It'll just be a little
teeny fire, and she can't see 1t be-
hind the garage. And besides, she's
up in the front room, sewing on your
dress Come on"
1T would be fun," Sissy wavered.
1--WE never made fire before, and
I've never played camping out,
either. How do you play?"
Come on, and I'll show you"
Sonny started toward the garage.
His sister hesitated a moment, then
followed.
Have you ever made a fire be-
fore?" she inquired.
mo, but it's easy. I've seen 1t
done in the movies many a time.
You just take little paper and some
wood-why, there's nothing to it,!
And then" he added, you can get
your doll pots and pans, and we can
pretend we're cooking supper in
camp"
In few minutes Sonny's little
teeny fire" was bigger than he had
intended it to be. Don't stand too
close to it." he cautioned his sister.
Well just sit here and watch it
burn out. It's fun to watch camp
fire die down and 60 out"
But I'm cooking soup for supper"
Sissy argued. IF I stop now, it'll
be ruined" The little saucepan she
held over the fire contained a mix
ture of water and sand I'm max
ing it from that buffalo you shot"
Watch out!" Sonnv cried. Your
dress Is catching on f1re!"
Sissy screamed. Sonny leaped to
his feet, pushed her away from the
fire, snatched the saucepan from
her hand and dashed the soup"
over her smouldering dress.
! "There-it's out" he announced
"A few seconds longer and"
There was another scream, this
time from the house.
Sissy and Sonny found their
mother sprawled on the floor at the
foot of the stairs.
Il heard one of you scream and
ran to see what happened" Mother
explained. I tripped and fell down
the steps"
Big tears appeared in Sissy's eyes
and rolled slowly down her cheeks
Sonny's eyes moistened, too, but he
fought hack the tears.
Gosh, Mommy, are you hurt?'
he said.
Mother climbed slowly to her feet
Just bruised and shaken" she an
swered. But I might have broken
an arm or leg-or even killed my
self. But what happened-what
was that scream I heard?"
Sissy and Sonny looked at each
other. "Aw, shucks, Mommy," Son.
ny said at last, I'VE were playing
camping out, and Sissy's dress
caught af1re, and"
You were playing with matches?"
"Yes'm,' Sonny answered. I'VE
thought 1t would be fun to cook sup
per over campfire, but-well, gee
whiz, Mommy, We didn't know it
would make you fall down the
steps" Tears trickled down his
cheeks, too, now.
|
"You know" said Sonny when he
and Sissy returned to the yard after
their mother had given them the
scolding they deserved You know
I think We were awfully lucky. Just
think-you could have been burned
to death, and Mommy could have
been killed. and all just because we
played with matches"
"Ob, 1t could have been terrible" +"
Sissy agreed. Then, after a mo-
ment's reflection, she added: Lets
play we're camping out, but the
weather's real hot, and we don't
need any fire, and we can eat sand
wiches and cold things like people
do on picnics."
"Swell!'