KENNIBOY’S WATERING-POT.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume X, Issue 9, 4 March 1893, Page 215

KENNIBOY’S WATERING-POT.

When Kenniboy was about three years old he received two presents that he liked very much. One of them was a little brother, and the other was a watering-pot. For a time Kenniboy couldn’t tell which he liked the better, the water-ing-pot or the baby, but at last he decided in favour of the watering-pot, because it wasn’t so easily hurt as the baby was, and even when it was hurt, it didn't cry ; and besides, the watering-pot helped him with his flowers, which the baby did not. The watering-pot made the flowers grow, but, as far as Kenniboy could find out when the summer was over, all the baby had done was to pluck the flowers and tear them to pieces. Once or twice when his little brother had torn a pretty rose or a verbena or a pink to pieces, Kenniboy felt badly about it, and was quite willing that his mamma should spank little Russ for doing it ; but his mamma had said no, she couldn’t do that, because little Russ was too little to know any better, and, of course, if he didn’t mean to do wrong, she couldn’t punish him. * Well, he ought to grow big and learn better,’ said Kenniboy ; and then be went out into the garden, and raked the bed, and watered the flowers again. For some time he thought about the trouble he was having with his flowers, and the more he thought about it, the more he made up his mind that something ought to be done to keep little Russ from tearing them up. Finally he decided what he should do, and tried the plan. One morning he was left alone in the nursery with his brother for a few minutes. Little Russ was sleeping very peacefully in his crib when Master Kenniboy crept to the bath-room, and filled his wateiing-pot with water. He then tiptoed back into the nursery, and was just about to empty the water over his little brother when his mamma came in. ■ Why, Kenniboy !’ she cried. * What are you doing ?’ ‘ I’m waterwin’ Wussell,’ he said, with a bright little smile. ‘ But you mustn’t do that,' cried mamma, grasping the watering-pot from Kenniboy’s hands. ‘You’ll get him all wet.’ * But I want him to grow, mamma,’ said Kenniboy. * I want him to grow big enough not to spoil my flowers, so I’m water win’ him.' But mamma wouldn’t let him water the baby any more, and Kenniboy wanted to cry very much, but he didn’t ; and when his papa came home that night, both mamma and Kenniboy told him all about it; and papa said he’d write to Father Time right away, and have him hurry up and make little Russ big enough to understand that he mustn’t spoil Kenniboy’s flowers. He must have kept his word, too, for little Russ soon began to lengthen out, and is now almost big enough to have a little garden of his own, which makes Kenniboy very happy, for he likes other little boys to have toys and nice tliiggs of their own.