ON THE CANAL

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 27, 1 February 1936, Page 20

ON THE CANAL

Peter ran down the meadow to the canal to watch the barges pass.

He pushed his way through , the thick line of willows that fringed the water and came out at his private landing stage. This was a little holJow in the bank with a big stone placed just above the water for his feet to rest on. •' Peter stood stiffly to attention, saluted his fleet of imaginary ships, and sat down to wait. Soon he heard the clip-clop of a horse's hoofs on the opposite bank, and round the bend of the canal came the barge horse, pacing slowly. Than the barge came in sight, low down in the water, heavily loaded with. coal. It came on slowly, • scarcely rippling the water, and it was called the Saucy Ann. - The bargeman was leaning. peacefully on his tiller. How delightful! Peter thought. Just to lean on a tiller and give it a twist now and then, and go sailing through the country. . He made up his mind to be a bargeman when he grew up. The man nodded cheerily to Peter. Peter saluted stiffly and then waved excitedly. "What a beautiful boat!" he said. "Ay, she's a.tidy little craft," said the man, and then added, surprisingly, "Well,.Cap'n, are you taking a trip with me this morning?" ■ "What!" gasped Peter. "Do you mean it?" ■ '-'"' ; ■ "Surely," said the map. "Run : . on to the bridge and I'll help you on." How Peter- ran!' He ran' across "the meadow, over the bridge, and on to the opposite bank.' Here the canal deepened and the barge could come .close into the bank. Peter grasped the friendly hand held out and sprang aboard. ■■■■■- He watched the prow of the barge push through the water with scarcely a ripple. He watched the white wash splash, up behind him and the banks float slowly past. All too soon the whari was reached. "I'm unloading here," said the bargeman, "and then on to Liverpool." "Liverpooll" thought Peter. Well, one day he would sail in a barge all the way to Liverpool. He thanked the man politely and jumped ashore, remembering to salute just in time. The bargeman grinned and pulled his forelock. "Well, Cap'n," he said, "1 shall be coming back this way on Saturday. Shall I see. you again?" "E-ather!" cried Peler.