THE WALK TO THE CREEK.
The next day there was a heavy thunder shower, in the morning, which
compelled the boys to stay in the house; and in the afternoon the
teacher of the academy paid Mr. Harvey a visit. During the time that he
staid, Thomas, with his brother and cousin, were told to remain in the
house. But the next day was cool and pleasant, and they started early on
a ramble through the fields. As they passed close to a farm house,
Samuel saw a large dog chained to a tree, in the yard. It looked very
fierce at them as they passed, and then began to growl and bark. Thomas
told his cousin, that this dog had bitten several persons in the
neighborhood, and that some of the school boys had tried to poison it;
but that the farmer was careful always to keep it chained, so that no
body might get a chance to catch it in the road.
About half a mile further onward was a fine stream of water. It began in
the hills, and ran winding along, deeper and broader, to a great
distance. Mr. Harvey owned several farms along this creek; and here
Thomas and John often came, in summer evenings, to swim. The water was
clear and pure, so that hundreds of fish could be seen sporting around
the shores.
When the boys reached this creek, they sat down under a shady tree, to
watch the fishes, and listen to the songs of the birds, on the bushes
that hung over the water. In a short time, a number of eels came from
under a large stone, one after the other, and after swimming about for a
little while, buried themselves in the mud. Samuel asked Thomas where so
many came from.
"They live in the water," replied his cousin. "On a pleasant evening you
can see many more swimming among the stones, and the roots of trees, by
the edge of the creek. But, do you know, that they sometimes come out of
the water, and glide about the meadows."
"No," said Samuel; "do they?"
"Yes," replied Thomas. "At night you may sometimes see a great many
among the grass. One evening last summer John and I met a whole company
of them, going from the little creek, near Daddy Hall's house, toward
the mill pond. We thought, at first, that they were snakes, and so moved
out of their road; but by and by, we perceived that they were eels. The
weather had been hot and dry for two weeks before, and these eels were
travelling to find more water. So father told us afterwards."
The boys now walked on, down the creek, until they came to a small
bridge. On this a boy, about as large as Samuel, was standing, throwing
stones into the water. When Thomas, and the other two, got near enough,
they saw he was stoning frogs. Every time one of these little animals
put its head above the water, the boy pelted it with a stone; and two or
three had been mashed to death, as they sat on the broad stones, near
the water's edge.
[Illustration: STONING FROGS.]
Now, all good boys and girls, who read this book, will say that this was
a cruel boy--and so he was. As soon as John saw what he was about, he
called to him to stop. The boy said he would not, and stoned harder than
before. Then John began to grow angry. You remember, children, I told
you, that though John was a noble hearted fellow, yet he was quick of
temper; and when he saw boys doing wrong, he was apt to get angry very
soon, if they did not stop when they were told. So, seeing that the boy
still threw stones, he called to him again, louder than before.
"What shall I stop for?" said the boy.
"Because," said John, as he stepped on the bridge, "you have no business
to stone frogs. What hurt do they do you?"
"A good deal," said the boy; and he threw another stone.
"I tell you to stop," replied John; "this is father's field, and they
are his frogs, too; and you have no right here, if you can't behave
yourself."
The boy now threw off his cap, as if to fight, and said: "I don't care
for you or your father either; I'll stone as long as I please, and no
one shall hinder me," and as he spoke, he shook his fist in John's face.
John was now very angry.
"If you touch me," he said, "I'll throw you, head foremost, over the
bridge. I tell you to quit stoning frogs, and you shall quit."
Thomas and Samuel now came forward; for they were afraid that there
would be some fighting. John and the boy stood looking at each other for
a little while; but at last, the boy seeing that John was not afraid of
him, picked up his hat and walked off, muttering that he did not care
for any body. "He had better go," said John. When his brother began to
grow calm, Thomas told him that he ought not to get so angry, for he
could have driven off the boy just as well, by speaking quietly to him.
"I have seen him once or twice before," added Thomas, "and I hear that
he is a very bad boy."
[Illustration]