THE FAIRY BARREL. PETER'S HISTORY

Otago Witness, Issue 2471, 24 July 1901, Page 80

THE FAIRY BARREL.

PETER'S HISTORY

By K. S. M.

ALEXANDER'S STORY.

We tAvo men were responsible for the whole affair. I know Peter says he did it, but Peter is only six yeais old. Wnat could a kiddy do at that age? Besides, Peter Avas in girl's dresses just a little Awhile ago, and Peter wears his hair long, like little Jeannie Jones. What could anyone except such a youngster do? Wor.it of it, some people believe it Avas Peter. Father does, and gave him a penny, and mother smiles- — just little wee smiles, when Peter says he did it. He is very cheeky. I think Aye shall have to make some move against him. We shall think it out, me and George. My name is Alexander, and George is tAvo years younger than me. I'm nearly ten years old. Of course you can see that I am the man who thought it all out, but as 1 am much older than George, I Avas magnianimous ; and let Georgie be more in view, 'cause a big fellow like me has done so many good (.feeds in my life that I can afford to let a littler man have some credit. But Aye must draw the line — a big line, too. at Peter coming along and taking all the praise, specially when he makes so much money by it. You see. it Avas this* Avay: A big new woman had come to my house, where mc and father and the others live. She must lurve come in the middle of the night, and Avhen me and George and little Peter went denvn stairs to kiss mother in the morning, Aye could not get in. I kicked at the door, and George, he said through the keyhole he Avanted his mamma (big baby to call mother by that name). Peter cried and cried, and then the big woman came out in a rage, and we, that is, George and I, aa ent down the passage — not too quick, you know, 'cause she Avas only a female, though she was big and red. But Peter could not get "aAvay, and petticoats took him up, and I Avas just going to save my little brother from a fatal death (that's what the papers say) when mother &aid A 7 ery low : "Bring him in. nurse." As if she could be a nurse with her greatbig face not like our own nurse — at least Georgie and Peter's — at all. Marginal note. — "HaA'en't got no nurse. I'm .a man, just as nearly as big as Alick." — George. Peter came out soon and sanl that motn'er was going to rest a bit, and that we fellows Avere to go out and play. We had our breakfast then, nnd no wp was there to see us, and s>o it is not good for very little boys to have syiup Avith Uieir pr a ridge. George took ali Peter's from him, and said he would suffer instead. What could a man like me ido then? Of course I eat Peter's share myself. George was very angry, and I wanted to eat his, too, 'cause he is not very old either, — nurse says he is bilyus. But George is a temperous boy, and he would not let his big stiong brother saA*e him from being very ill. Well, he Avas properly punished for his greed, very soon, when he fell into the creek, same time as I did. Then just 'cause Aye said a few little things to each other, that big fat woman came in with a bang and said : "Go away out children, go out and play yourselves. ' So I said to George and Peter, "Djon't you hear that? Go aAvay," and then she took hold of me and shoved me outside ; me, the only man in the house! Fine she kneAv that I wouldn't lift my pinkie finger to a woman. However, out avc all went, and of course made straight for the creek that runs through our garden, and here 1 made the big discovery. I found it, and mother and the others put it doAvn to Peter. I saAv a great big barrel coming slowly doAvn the Avater Hullo, there is mothei calling me. 'Xpect it's about that poor wee kitten that got its tail tied to an old kettle. 'Spose she thinks I knoAV about it. Think I'll go now. GEORGE'S STORY. I have read all Avhat Alick has wrote, 'cause I found the papers lying here, and some of it is true, but not that about me. He thinks hisself a man ; he thinks he found it ; but I know Avho it Avas. It Avas a young fellow called George, and he is such a fine chap. I think he is the best of the lot who live in this house. Alick thinks he's better and more strong than me, but he is not. 1 made him cry Avell about stealing poor Peter's syrup, and Avhen Aye Avent outside, what should Ido but say : "Go to the cieek," and when Aye Avent down, I saAv the barrel. Alick saAv it first, but then he said : "Oh, it's just an old thing, let it alone." But I said, "Perhaps there's somebody inside." So I Avent down and jumped right in to f-ave it. I did not mean exactly to go in, I think I must have fallen in, 'cause I felt so funny. Alick Avas a stupid, he fell leally right into the water, when the bank gave way, and I do not know hoAV many of us atouM have been droAvned, only the barrel came doAvn the creek and Aye got hold of it. I — that is, George — got it first, so I Avas the felloAV Avhat found it, wasn't I? Alick Avas nearly choked Avith the Avater, but I only had some in my mouth, what I drank. I think I drank a great deal of the

water, which was mostly mud ; but I wasn't nearly drowned. AhckVas frightened, and cried and cried, but I only made some loud sounds so that people would see us and le.s-cue us.

Father : Peter has ju^t found both the^e tales by his biotheis, and desires tLat I .should Avnte to In* dictation, his veision of the occurrence. Geoige has just runncd ay, ay from a bubbly jock, so he is not very biave, aad lett his papers, which are mostly all fibs. 1 found It in the burel. George and Alitk aie move strong than me, but 1 thinks a lot — father says. — and when the bairel came down near me, I made it stop, and then these poor little boys came out oil wet and dripping, and s,. lid I was a cruel laddie to laugh ; but I -.rasn't laughing — I was just thinking of laughing, and then the laughs came by themselves. These boys went off to father's house, and I rolled the barrel along, 'cause I thought there was a fairy in it ; 'cause it went swibh, &wish inside, and when I hit it it went more swishes, about six or three times, land I tried a long time to get the fairy out, but I could not. Then George and Alexander came back, and they had their Sunday clothes all on, and I did not have nothing, only my old dress. But I did not cry, for i' knew there was a good fairy in the barrel what would give me more newer clothes than these bid boys. And then they stole my bariel and rolled it away, and I ran and ran, and said my fairy would whip them for being naughty. And they took it into the house, w here it made an awful big noise. Then the big woman lan out of mamma's room and was very angry, and looked just; like the bubbly jock, and she said, "Bad children, frightening little sister,'' and chased them away. 1 said it was not little sister, it was a little wee fairy, and so they took the barrel to father, and he asked me all about it, and gave me a penny for sw eetiep . When I came back wLat do you think? Why, father took me to mamma, and there, lying with her, was the nicest little baby girl iairy you ever did see! And they all said she was my fairy baby, 'cause I found It in the barrel.