Year: 1871

You see he had forgotten all about his
snake, and as he saw nothing of il. he did
not think of it again at all. He dipped up
the pOllywogs in his palm leaf hat, and as
the water ran off he laughed to see them
wiggle about. He had no idea it was cruel
TO do this. He did lot think they would
die He sat down and thought moment,
and concluded to leave his hat there while
he went TO the lake to wash Zip. He set
it down in the grass, whistled for Zip, who
was barking at squirrel, and went on
toward the lake.


When he got there, he found Mrs.
Grey Goose, Mr.. Ole Gander, and Mr.
Big Goose, swimming around in the clear,
bright water. Pretty soon Mr.. Ole Gand
er and Mr.. Big Goose fell out-not ouf
of the water, but out of temper, and be-
gan to peck and fight each other. Their
wings made fearful tapping in the
water, and Zip thought he ought to have
part in the fight. The old ganders kept
saving


And Zip did wade in, as far as his feet
would touch the bottom, and then he
swan out to them, and snapped first at
one, and then at the other, which ever
came the handiest. The ganders had the
best of it, as they were used to the water.
Poor lips head was offer under the
waves, and Tim was in panic for fear
mis- "dod" would be "dwowned." He
spied wide board upon the bank, and he
jumped on it and pushed it out from the
shore. As it happened, the board fioated
straight to the dog and geese. MIR. Big
Goose and Mr.. Ole Gander swan of,
each his own way, and Zip crawled upon
the board with Tiny Tim, and away they
went both topether


Tim took offhis shoes and stockings so
as to let his feet hang over into the water.
Zip got up presently, to shake the drops
| off his shaggy coat, and shook Tins shoes
and stockings off the board. Tim made a
grab for them, missed them, and soused
in the lakel He scrambled back upon
the board, very wet, and his shoes and
stockings gonel


After while he grew tired and hungry
and thought he would go home,-but
when he looked toward home, he saw he
was great way from shore, and he could
never get back alone. He did what most
all little children do, who are in trouble
he cried as loud as he could. 1t was his
voiceless, inarticulate cry for help. 1t did
not fall unheeded, nor die away in mock
ing, empty echoes. Poor boy What if
no one had been near His crying was
heard by Mr.. Ben. Church and his son
Whitman, who were out in a sail-boat
fishing. They came to the rescue of
Tim. took him off his board and carried
him safely ashore. Then Mr. Church sent
his son. Whitman to take Tim safely home,
while he went back on the lake to take
up the nets.


Whitman had picked up a long-legged
bird which he found struggling in the
water, and he told Tiny Tim if he would
straighten out his face and not cry any
more, he would give it to him.


I think Tiny Tim had good reason to
cry. He had lost his shoes, stockings, and
his hat, and was wet as rat.


His poor mamma was too glad to see
him back alive to scold him. She had to
undress him and give him bath.
| While she was taking off his clothes
she felt a squirming somewhere, and
shook them, when out dropped the
snakei


She screamed, and sprang for the broom
to kill it, while Tiny Tim danced round
and round, crying:


"Dat's my snatel OATS my snate! I'm
doin' to pit 'em in tageI"


But he spoke too late, for his mamma
had killed the snake. And she folded the
little fellow in her loving arms, thinking
what great wonder it was that the snake
had not injured her little boy. She did
not know how near he had come to being
drowned, for Whitman did not terrify her
by telling her they had found Tim on q
board, out on the lake, long way from
the shore Young Folks Rural.