UNCLE SOL was going to take a party of boys out in his boat. All had
scrambled in but one little fellow, the smallest of the party.
"Tumble in, Frankie," said Uncle Sol. But still Frankie hesitated.
"Don't you want to go?" asked the old sailor.
"Yes, sir," answered Frankie, slowly, "but mamma doesn't like to have me
go on the water."
"Why?"
"She's afraid since papa was drowned."
"Don't go, then, my boy. Don't worry your mother. She's had trouble
enough already;" and Uncle Sol began to push the boat out into the
water.
"Pooh! Come on!" shouted Horace, the tallest boy in the boat. "Your
mother'll never know. We'll keep dark."
"Don't you go to learnin' Frankie any bad ways," said Uncle Sol,
sternly. "Boys never come to much in the world unless they mind their
mother. I've always noticed that."
Horace sat down rather ashamed of his bold words. And little Frankie
looked at Uncle Sol gratefully, saying, "I know mama'll be glad to have
me come home:" and with a happy laugh he ran away from the boat.
[Illustration: FRANKIE MINDS MAMMA.]