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The Baldwin Library S /-University m go ida A BIT OF FUN. |t' F-'-A -, *i -- e 1 - 1 --' y* -., - A '- BTO-- FU A B1T OF FU:N A BIT OF FUN. -,- H, mother," cried Ned Anderson, the stationer's son, rushing into the little parlour behind the shop--"oh, mother, here's such jolly news! Cousin Edmond's come home, and Uncle James has written to ask me to go to the farm for a fortnight when the grammar-school holidays begin, and that's next Monday, you know. Oh, can I go, mother? Do you think father will let me?" "Ask and see, Teddy," said his mother, with a smile, looking at his excited face. I have no objection to your going; indeed, I shall be very glad for you to get a little change." "Where is father?" cried the boy. "He's not in the shop." No, he has gone up to the station to book a parcel for London. Suppose you go and meet him, as you seem in such a hurry." "Oh, yes; and we can see about the trains; hurrah !" and the happy boy rushed out through the shop, nearly upsetting an old gentleman who was coming in at the door. Why, Anderson, what's the matter?" cried the gentle- man, who was the head master of Bishton grammar-school. " Is it a cricket-match that you are off to, eh ?" Oh, I beg your pardon, sir !" cried Ned, making his best bow; "I didn't see you, I'm sure." "No, no, I know that," answered the master, good- hum ouredly. I wont keep you, my boy-I suppose you're after some fun : so run along." Off darted Edward, and was fortunate enough to find his 4 A Bit of Fun. father still at the station. He soon told his story, and obtained the permission he desired. All the way home he was chattering to his father, asking questions about the farm ; for though Uncle James, Mr. Anderson's brother, had often been to Bishton, Ned had never yet been to stay with him at Cowdale farm. Then he tried to remember what his cousin Edmond was like, and wondered whether he should know him again when he saw him. Edmond was fifteen, four years older than Ned, so that, altogether, his little cousin was inclined to consider him as quite a great personage. I daresay Edmond finds it rather dull, without any big boy," he said to his father. Little James is such a baby, you know, only seven years old: I am afraid he will be rather in our way." "Why?" asked Mr. Anderson, quietly. "Oh, those little boys, you know, are so troublesome, father," answered Ned, colouring, for he saw his father was smiling at his reckoning himself a big boy." "'They always want something done for them, or they meddle with one's things, or cry if one speaks to them, or tries to have any fun, Little children are such a plague !" I hope Edmond wont think so," answered his father, quietly. "But now, Ned, I want to say one word to you. Don't you be playing any of your tricks upon little James, or any one else either. Do try whilst you are away not to let your love of 'a bit of fun,' as you call it, lead you into any mischief, or unkindness." I'll try, father," said Ned. But do you know, it seems as if I couldn't help it. When any plan comes into my head, of playing a trick, I mean, or anything like that, I never think about its being mischievous, or naughty. I'm often sorry afterwards, father, but then it's too late." "Never too late to mend," answered Mr. Anderson. "You must try again and again. There is no harm in your high spirits if you check them at proper times, but I am sure you feel they often lead you to tease your little sisters and brothers, and vex your mother and myself. You don't mean to do so, but, as you say, you can't help it, unless you keep a watch over yourself, and think of other people's feelings as well as your own." A Bit of Fun. 5 "I'll try, indeed, father," said Ned: and he did at the moment intend to try. Before seven o'clock on the Monday he was comfortably seated in his uncle's large old-fashioned kitchen, with a meat pie before him, to which, I need not say, he did full justice. He had plenty to do that night in answering all his uncle's questions and describing his journey. Indeed, his little tongue went so fast that his uncle laughingly said he thought it would do instead of a rattle to frighten away the crows, if only Ned would be so obliging as to stand in the corn-field all day. Ted was awakened next morning by the merry shouts of little James, beneath his bedroom window. "Get up," shouted the little fellow. "Come, Edmond, the haymakers have all been at work ever so long !" The boys were soon dressed, and out of doors. Everything at the farm was quite new to Ted, and he soon shook off the shy feeling which had crept over him on waking in a strange place, and was full of eager inquiries about everything he saw. The boys got on very well together, so that when in the afternoon Mr. Anderson called Edmond to walk down to the post, and whilst giving him a letter to be stamped, asked, "How do you like Teddy?" the answer was, "Oh, very much, father : he seems a jolly little fellow, and full of fun." Edmond was not pleased, however, when on coming into the orchard half-an-hour later, he heard little James's voice in piteous tones, imploring, "Oh, don't, Ted don't please let me come down. I'm so frightened !" And following the sound he discovered the poor little fellow perched up in an apple-tree sitting on a large forked branch, and Ted standing below, in fits of laughter. Doesn't he look absurd, Edmond," he began, but he was interrupted by his cousin's angry question-" How can you tease so, Ted I am quite ashamed of you bullying the poor little fellow. Sit still, James, and I'll get you down." And Edmond raised the ladder which was lying at the foot of the tree, leaned it against the branch, and soon his little brother reached the ground in safety, and scampered off, evidently thinking that the further he was from Ted the better. I never thought you were a bully," said Edmond, reproach- fully, to his cousin. 6 A Bit of Fun. "A bully," repeated Ted, getting very red; "I'm not a bully, and you've no right to say so. I didn't put him up there, the ladder was leaning against the bough, and he climbed up, and I thought it would be a good bit of fun to see what he would say if I knocked the ladder down. He looked so absurd with his short little legs dangling down, I really couldn't help it." "Well, I don't see any fun in teasing a little child," replied Edmond, and you'd better not try it on again, I can tell you. You wouldn't like tricks of that kind played on you, I know." I'm sure I shouldn't mind," returned Ted. "There was no danger." "'He might have fallen down, and broken his leg." No, he mightn't, if he held on to the bough." But suppose he didn't?" Well," answered Ted, angrily, he would have deserved to break his leg if he had been such a little donkey as to let go. I never knew such a fellow as you are, Edmond," he went on. It didn't hurt him, I tell you!" Edmond shrugged his shoulders, turned on his heel, and went away, leaving Ted very discontented and angry, not only with his cousins but himself. Of course he had not been in earnest when he tried to defend his teasing tricks, but he was one of those boys who do not like to confess when they are in the wrong. So he stayed in the orchard by him- self for some time, and then went into the garden hoping that Edmond would be there, and would talk to him as if nothing had happened. But he could not find him anywhere, nor did he see him all the afternoon, till just before tea-time the two brothers came in together, and James began telling his father what "a jolly swing Edmond had given him." "And have you been swinging too, Teddy?" asked Uncle James. No, uncle," answered Ted. "You don't take care enough of your cousin, Edmond," said Mr. Anderson. "Take him out after tea, and give him a swing too, if he likes it. You shouldn't leave him to him- self." 'Ted wondered whether Edmond would refuse, and was very much relieved when, after tea, he called out, Now, A Bit of Fun. 7 Ted, if you want a swing, come on." And the two boys rushed off together. It was a capital swing, certainly. It was fixed between two elm trees at the back of the house, and a rope was fastened to it by which it was pulled backwards and forwards. Ted enjoyed it very much, though he certainly did feel a little nervous when he went up high, for he was not accustomed to the motion of a swing. Edmond was in very high spirits, and laughed so much that he could hardly pull the rope; and there was a mischievous twinkle in his eye which would have puzzled Teddy, could he have seen it. SWhat is the joke, Edmond ?" he asked at last. "Oh, only something funny I was thinking of," answered his cousin. But please, I think-not quite so high, please. Let me get out now, and swing you. I don't care to swing any more," cried Ted, who was, to tell the truth, feeling a little frightened at the great height to which he rose in the air. But Edmond, instead of stopping, pulled the rope back- wards and forwards two or three times more, and then running back with it in his hands as far as he could, so that the swing was pulled high up in the air, he fastened the end round a young tree. "Oh, do let it go," cried Ted, "I shall be quite giddy;- I say, Edmond, don't !" "Oh, but it's such a bit of fun," cried his cousin, mis- chievously. "You can't think how absurd you look, with your little legs dangling in the air. And, you know, there's no danger!" "Oh, Edmond, don't, please. I really shall fall, and it's such a dreadful height! Do let me down." "Oh, you can't fall you know, if you hold on. And if you're such a little donkey as to let go, why, you deserve to break your leg." And Edmond burst into a fit of laughter. Poor Ted was in despair. Surely his cousin didn't mean to leave him there. He began to feel quite sick, and hardly dared to look down at the ground, for fear he should let go the rope and fall. I'll never tease James again," he said. "Only do let me down, please." And Edmond, who was a kind-hearted boy, unwound the rope, and down came the swing again. 8 A Bit of Fun. "There, old fellow, what is your opinion of beingstuck up in the air, and unable to get down, eh A 'fine bit of fun,' isn't it !" cried Edmond. "It wasn't to me, though I dare say it was to you," answered Ted, good-humouredly, and feeling thoroughly sorry for the fright he had given littleJames. "Then next time you're going to play a trick on any one, just think whether you should like to have it played on your- self, and if you feel that you wouldn't, give it up. And now let's have a game in the hay-field." Perhaps you think that Ted was cured of his tricks by the lesson which his cousin gave him, but I am sorry to say that such was not the case. He did check himself, certainly, once or twice, when he was just going to play one of his mad pranks on little James, but in two or three days he had forgotten all his resolutions, and was as wild as ever. One day when he was walking through the corn-fields with Edmond, he met Tom Edwards, the milkman's son, looking very smart and spruce in a new suit of clothes. Hallo, Tom," cried Edmond, "how is it you're so spicy, eh?" "Mother's just got the money out of the clothing-club," answered the boy, with a broad grin on his face, as he surveyed his new suit. "She bought the jacket and waistcoat, and father, he gave me the trowsers : and I bought the cap myself," he added, displaying a new cloth cap. It's rather a change from the old one, ain't it, Master Edmond ?" "Well, it is an improvement, certainly," broke in Ned, who remembered the tattered straw hat in which he had seen Tom the week before. "And what have you done with the old one? Pitched it into the river, or made a bonfire of it, or what?" "I put it on the old scarecrow," answered the boy, hardly liking the disrespectful way in which Ted spoke of his old hat. "On the scarecrow in the big corn-field? and a capital place for it, too I shall certainly go and see how he looks in it!" laughed Edmond. "But where are you off to, Tom ?" I'm going to see if the Menagerie has come. Don't you know there's some wild beastes coming to Clayton Down? A Bit of Fun. 9 A Bengal tiger, and some monkeys, and lions, and an elephant. Surely you'll be for going to see it, too?" "Oh yes, yes," shouted Ted. "Oh, Edmond, let's ask Uncle James about it. Oh, I never saw any wild beasts. I do so want to see a real tiger." Well, we'll tell my father about it," answered Edmond. "And you'll let us know when you come up with the milk to-night, Tom, whether they're come, and what one has to pay, and all about it." "All right, Master Edmond." Ted was in a great state of excitement all the way home, S and as his uncle was out, he could not find any way of amusing himself but roaming about in the hay-fields with Caesar, the great sheep-dog, and telling James all about the wonderful things he expected to see at the wild beast show. Presently he heard a cry, and looking round, he saw a little girl, about five years old, running away from Caesar, who was chasing her in play. Oh it'll eat me," she cried. "You'd better take care," said Ted, gravely. "You know those black bears are very dangerous animals Run, run, as quick as you can." And, under pretence of trying to drive the animal away, he shouted and ran after it, till Cesar was quite wild. "Oh, don't frighten her so," cried little James. "She really is frightened. Look how white her face is !" "Oh, bother," cried Ted, as he recollected himself, "have I been bullying again. What a brute I am, to be sure !" I should think you were," cried a rough-headed big boy, who jumped over the stile at that moment. "I wish I could pay you out, my fine fellow for frightening my little sister in that way. Shame on you, I say !" And he came up to Ted, with his fist clenched, and very probably would have knocked him down, if his little sister had not called out in fresh terror, as Casar again ran up to her, "Oh, Johnnie, do take me home, do take me home !" It was curious to see the change in the rough boy's manner as he stooped down, and took the little girl in his arms. Poor little Annie," he said, don'tee be afraid. It's only a dog, see!" And the child, reassured, looked up into his io A Bit of Fun. face, saying, "Good Johnnie kind Johnnie !" and stroked his face with her little soft hands. "But as for you, sir," added Johnnie, "I'll pay you out yet, if I get a chance, you coward !" And he stepped over the stile, still carrying little Annie, and was soon out of sight. Ted's cheek burnt. "Coward," he repeated to himself. " No one ever called me a coward before. Dear me what troubles I do get into, just from loving a bit of fun. But of course it is cowardly to frighten little babies like that. Only I didn't mean it. There I go again. Didn't mean it? I never do mean it, and yet I am always doing it." And he walked home thoroughly dissatisfied with himself. But all his grave thoughts vanished when he saw Tom Edwards standing talking to his uncle at the kitchen door. "Oh, uncle," he cried, darting forward, "what about the wild beasts-may we go? oh, do say we may. "If you like, my boy," answered his uncle, kindly. I am glad the show should have come just while you are with us. You shall go to-morrow, if you like." "Oh, how jolly, Edmond, do you hear? We can go to- morrow. "'Yes, you can go in the cart I am going to send for coals, and then James wont be tired, and will be able to manage the walk back." Ted danced about with glee. "Are you going, Tom ?" he asked the milkboy. "Yes, father has promised to spare me for awhile," he answered. "Oh, that's why you bought your new clothes so soon, I suppose, to show yourself off to the nobility and gentry at Clayton Down But don't go yet, Tom, I want you to tell me all you know about the wild beasts." I can't wait," said the boy. I've got to go to the Rectory with milk, and up to Springwood." "Then you'll pass your friend the scarecrow," said Ted, who was in a teasing humour. "I declare I'll go with you, and see how he looks." I say, he thought to himself with a chuckle, what a rare bit of fun it would be if I could make Tom and the scarecrow change hats! How astonished Tom would be if to-morrow morning he found his new cap on the pole. But how shall I get it? Well, I'll see if I can't manage it, somehow. A Bit of Fun. 1 Full of his new plan, Ted accompanied Tom Edwards across the fields to the Rectory, talking all the way about the wild beasts. His companion, however, was not able to tell him much. He had only seen the bill up in the streets which advertised the show, and the caravans drawn up near the market-place. They passed the scarecrow, and stood laugh- ing for some time at its absurd appearance. An old coat of one of the farm labourers, stuck on a pole, formed the body, and the empty sleeves, stretched out over a cross stick, looked really like arms. On the top of the pole was Tom's despised hat, which certainly was more fit for the scarecrow than for any human being. At the end of the next field the two boys parted. Tom went onwith his milk, and Ted stood watching him, leaning against the stile, and wondering how he could manage the trick his mind 3as set on. Poor Tom soon gave him an opportunity. Trudging along with his cans, he saw at the top of the hedge by which he was walking a magnificent bunch of nuts. He could not reach them from where he was, so putting down his cans and his beloved new cap, he tried to get through the hedge to the other side. But it was too thick. I must get those nuts," thought Tom; "it wont take a minute to run down to the gate at the corner, and get over." And he ran off, quite unconscious of the eyes that were watching him and twinkling with delight. He got his nuts, but when he came back to his cans, his cap was gone I "Whatever has become of it?" thought the poor boy. "There was no one in the field, and I am almost sure I laid it down just on this bit of moss. It must have fallen into the hedge ;" and poor Tom spent aweary ten minutes in hunting for it, till hearing the church clock strike six, he remembered what a scolding he should get from the cook at the Rectory for being late with the milk, and was obliged to give up the hunt. I must e'en go and get the horrid old thing that I put on the scarecrow, and come back and look for this by and by," he said to himself. "What a vexatious thing it is !" Ted, who was crouching down in the large corn-field hidden from sight by a tree, could hardly help shouting with laughter, when he saw his victim, with hasty steps, rush up to the scarecrow, and after looking at his battered old straw hat with contempt and disgust, take it from the top of the pole i2 A Bit of Fun. and place it on his own head. As soon as Tom Edwards was again out of sight, the mischievous boy came from his hiding-place and fixed the new cloth cap firmly above the old ragged coat. Now you look more like a gentleman," he said, and then scampered back to the farm, full of glee at having been able to carry out his joke. The next morning, Tom Edwards, coming up to the farm through the corn-fields and thinking of his lost treasure, could hardly believe his eyes when he came to the scarecrow. There had been a heavy shower in the night, and the old coat was dripping wet ; but, was it possible Was that his new cap ? He quickly pulled it down to see. Yes, there was the mark Hewitt, Maker," inside. Tom would have been the first to laugh at the trick if it had done no harm to his precious cap, but alas all the gloss of the new cloth was gone. It was battered out of shape from the violence of the rain, and no more looked new,'or even neat. "I see it all," cried Tom, at last. "It's that young nephew of Mr. Anderson's who's done it What a shame ! I declare lhe shall pay me, that he shall !" and with an angry face, he hastened on to the farm. He was much vexed to hear that Ted had already started to go to Clayton Down, and expressed his annoyance so loudly that Mr. Anderson, who was standing by, came up and asked what was the matter. Tom soon told his tale, and his master, who at first did not see why Ted should be accused, looked grave, though he was inwardly rather amused by the part the old scarecrow played in the story. '' I will see about it, Tom," he said; of course, if my nephew has had anything to do with it, he must take the consequences, and buy you a new cap." And with that Tom was forced to be content for the present, though he thought to himself that if he chanced to meet Master Ted at Clayton Down that afternoon, he would give him a piece of his mind. Edmond, James, and Ted had a very pleasant day at Clayton Down. They spent the morning in seeing the wild beasts, and then went to have dinner with an old aunt, who was very pleased to see Ted, who had been quite a little baby the last time she had visited his parents. "And now my dears," she said, you must stay with me all the afternoon; is there anything you would like to do particularly?" A Bit of Fun. 13 "Oh, I should so like to see the animals fed," cried Ted, "they're to be fed at six, and any one can go in then for threepence." But," said Edmond, "father said I mustn't keep James out late. We ought to be home by six, and it's a good mile and a half." "Well," said the kind aunt, "if you must go, Edmond, Ted might wait to see them, and come later. Your father wouldn't mind that, would he?" I don't know," answered Edmond ; he only spoke about James, but I should think Ted had better come home with me. But Ted-begged so hard that it was settled he should stop to see the animals fed, and then go home by himself. He was sure he knew the way, and was quite indignant at Edmond's doubting it. So after amusing themselves with their aunt's little dog Fido, and her old white cat, and making a very good early tea, Edmond and James set off home, and Ted, when he had talked a little longer, and told everything he could about his father and mother, and brothers and sisters, and his home, and how he got on at school, went to the menagerie, with his threepence in one pocket, and a bright new shilling which his aunt had given him also, in the other. He was very much interested in seeing his favourite the Bengal tiger fed, and in hearing the keeper tell how once a tiger of the same sort, belonging to another caravan, had got loose, and rushed into a quiet village, terrifying all the in- habitants, and nearly killing a boy who came in its way. "He must have been killed," said the keeper, "if a farmer had not come by with a loaded gun, and shot the animal through the head." Ted looked at the fierce creature behind the bars, and trembled as he thought, "What a dreadful thing it would be if this tiger was to get out !" He was so much occupied with this thought, that he did not notice two boys standing near him, nor hear them whispering together, but I will tell you what they were saying. I say," whispered the biggest, who was no other than John Jones. "I say, Tom, do you see that boy there?" And he pointed to Ted. "See him? yes and I know him too. Rather too well, I 14 A Bit of Fun. can tell you. The mischievous young scamp! A nice trick he played me yesterday." And Tom told the story of his spoilt cap. Well, it is a shame," cried John, "that it is; he ought to be well punished, if it was only for that. But I have a score to pay off too. He frightened my poor little sister Annie so, with that great dog of Mr. Anderson's, telling her that it was a bear, that she kept waking up crying all through the night. I should like to frighten him, and see how he would like it !" "He looks frightened now," said Tom. I suppose he's afraid of the tiger's getting out at him. Oh, I have it I say." And he began whispering to John. Poor Ted you little thought what a fright was in store for you! It took a long time to feed the wild beasts, and there was such a crowd that Ted could not get away directly afterwards, so that it was getting dusk when he left Clayton Down, and turned off the turnpike road into the field path leading to Cowdale. It was rather a lonely path, and he hurried along as fast as he could, hoping to be home before dark. As he was getting over the first stile, something knocked his cap off his head. He was stooping to look for it, when suddenly, a little way off, he heard a low long roar. He stood for a moment as if rooted to the ground, every limb trembling, then as he heard it repeated, he fled across the field as fast as his legs would carry him. "It's the Bengal tiger !" he thought. "And there's no house near; no chance of meeting any one Oh, I must be killed, I must be killed I shall never see my mother again!" And in that moment of terror, the question flashed across his mind. If I am killed, what then am I ready to die?" On he fled, not daring to look behind him, tumbling over the stiles and gates, rushing through the fields, till his breath came short and thick, and his knees began to give way. And still, every now and then he heard the fierce roar behind, and the sound of feet coming after him. The poor boy was almost exhausted, but still he hastened on, as if he had wings. "I can't keepup much longer," he felt; "I can hardly see my way now. If my foot slips, I fall." The thought was too horrible. A Bit of Fun. 1. But just at that moment, as he was clambering over a fence, his foot did slip, and down he went. He heard the roar close at hand, he could hear a heavy breathing behind him, and he gave himself up for lost. When, oh joy he heard a loud, cheerful voice crying, "Ted Ted !" and he saw a figure coming towards him with a lanthorn. It was Uncle James coming to meet him, but oh what could he do ! How could he save him! He pulled himself up, and fell into his uncle's arms. Uncle, uncle," he gasped, "the tiger !" "What," cried his uncle, horrified-" what is it ?" And listening he heard, sure enough, the same low roar that had terrified his little nephew. But this time it was followed by a loud rough burst of laughter. "Oh! my," cried a voice, which Ted recognised-" oh, wasn't it a good run? Well, I can't run no more, I'm dead beat, I declare. Didn't he go at a splitting pace? Oh, my, what a joke !" But Johni's mirth was soon stopped. Uncle James sprang over the stile, and grasping him by the arm, demanded, in no gentle tone, what he had been about, accompanying the question with a shake which showed he was not in a mood to be trifled with. "We did it to pay him out," answered John, surlily. It was no worse than what he did to my little sister. He wont be up to those tricks again, I expect." "What do you mean ?" demanded Mr. Anderson. When he had heard John's tale, he gave him, as you may suppose, a severe lecture, though, I am sorry to say, the only answer the boy made, as he turned sulkily away, was, Well, I did no worse than your own nephew, I'm sure." Uncle James then turned to Ted, but seeing that he was in no state to walk, he lifted the trembling child in his arms, and carried him home, where he was soon put to bed. He did not recover from the fright for some days ; indeed the doctor who came to see him said it was fortunate the shock had had no worse effect. But it had one good effect, which lasted all Ted's life. It completely cured him of his old habit of playing tricks regardless of other people's feelings. Edmond was very angry indeed with John Jones and Tom j6 A Bit of Fun. Edwards, and declared he would give them both a sound thrashing, but Ted begged that they might not be punished. "It was very wrong and cruel of them," said his uncle; "but they have not been taught as you have, and though they meant, as they said to pay you out,' they had no idea what agony they were really causing." "No, I am sure of that," said Ted; "they did not know how dreadful it was, any more than I did when I teased little Annie." Exactly so, my boy, and this will, I am sure, be a useful lesson to you. If you keep in mind the love which our Blessed Saviour tries to teach to us all by his example; if you guide your conduct by his words, 'Whatsoever you would that men should do to you, do ye so to them ;" if you strive really to love your neighbour as yourself, you will never again be in danger of acting unkindly to others through your love of 'A BIT OF FUN.' " \5fo |