the death of himself and everybody else. He is perfectly crazy
about fish, and I’ve pulled him out of that old lobster-pot on the
beach a dozen times,” groaned Molly, much afflicted by the
mishaps of her young charge.
There was a great breaking up next day, and the old omnibus went
off to the station with Bacon hanging on behind, the bicycle boy
and his iron whirligig atop, and heads popping out of all the
windows for last good-byes. Our party and the Hammonds were
going by boat, and were all ready to start for the pier when Boo
and little Harry were missing. Molly, the maid, and both boys ran
different ways to find them; and all sorts of dreadful suggestions
were being made when shouts of laughter were heard from the
beach, and the truants appeared, proudly dragging in Harry’s little
wagon a dead devil-fish, as the natives call that ugly thing which
looks like a magnified tadpole–all head and no body.
“We’ve dot him!” called the innocents, tugging up their prize with
such solemn satisfaction it was impossible to help laughing.
“I always wanted to tatch a whale, and this is a baby one, I fink. A
boy said, when they wanted to die they corned on the sand and did
it, and we saw this one go dead just now. Ain’t lie pretty?” asked
Boo, displaying the immense mouth with fond pride, while his
friend flapped the tail.
“What are you going to do with him?” said Mrs. Hammond,
regarding her infant as if she often asked herself the same question
about her boy.
“Wap him up in a paper and tate him home to pay wid,” answered
Harry, with such confidence in his big blue eyes that it was very
hard to disappoint his hopes and tell him the treasure must be left
behind.
Wails of despair burst from both children as the hard-hearted boys
tipped out the little whale, and hustled the indignant fishermen on
board the boat, which had been whistling for them impatiently.
Boo recovered his spirits first, and gulping down a sob that nearly
shook his hat off, consoled his companion in affliction and
convulsed his friends by taking from his pocket several little crabs,
the remains of a jelly-fish, and such a collection of pebbles that
Frank understood why he found the fat boy such a burden when he
shouldered him, kicking and howling, in the late run to the boat.
These delicate toys healed the wounds of Boo and Harry, and they
were soon happily walking the little “trabs” about inside a stone
wall of their own building, while the others rested after their
exertions, and laid plans for coming to the Willows another year,
as people usually did who had once tasted the wholesome delights
and cordial hospitality of this charming place.
Chapter 23 Cattle Show
The children were not the oniy ones who had learned something at
Pebbly Beach. Mrs. Minot bad talked a good deal with some very
superior persons, and received light upon various subjects which
had much interested or perplexed her. While the ladies worked or
walked together, they naturally spoke oftenest and most earnestly
about their children, and each contributed her experience. Mrs.
Hammond, who had been a physician for many years, was wise in
the care of healthy little bodies, and the cure of sick ones. Mrs.
Channing, who had read, travelled, and observed much in the
cause of education, had many useful hints about the training of
young minds and hearts. Several teachers reported their trials, and
all the mothers were eager to know how to bring up their boys and
girls to be healthy, happy, useful men and women.
As young people do not care for such discussions, we will not
describe them, but as the impression they made upon one of the
mammas affected our hero and heroine, we must mention the
changes which took place in their life when they all got home
again.
“School begins to-morrow. Oh, dear!” sighed Jack, as he looked up
his books in the Bird Room, a day or two after their return.
“Don’t you want to go? I long to, but don’t believe I shall. I saw our