Show THE FIRST LITTLE BOY A. A Blaine Roberts Once upon a time in a big garden dwelt a little boy He was not a prince he was just justa a little boy But he had ev ever r so much more fun than he would if he had been a real prince Across the lawns where I have heard th that t fairies dance by night under the big oak oal and beyond the picket fence in another great garden dwelt another little boy Now the first little boy boy boy- Oh dear I may as well tell you I am the first little boy and this happened after dinner Papa said I was saucy to him hini when I had only said things which mama says to him every very day But up grown-up people do not seem to understand me Papa said Johnnie you go up to the attic and stay there until supper time Mamma lamma did not look as if she car cared d and so I had to go I counted the steps as I climbed climbed seventeen seventeen n in the first flight and fifteen teen in the other I took my red pencil and ana did lid the sum on the attic door twenty door two twenty steps in all A few old chairs a mattress and some empty beehives with little holes in them them them- these are aVe all we have in our attic Willies Willie's attic attic Villie Willie is the other little boy boy is is full of all sorts of nice things There is a grea great t big hig gun which his grandpa had in the w war r of 1492 and when we play Bull Run Willie Willi holds one end of the gun and I hold the theother theother theother other end and Willie Villie pulls the trigger Some Sometimes Sometimes Sometimes times I pull the trigger and we both yell Ping Dingo bang 1 But Bitt there is is nothing to play with in our attic That is why papa s sends me up there when he fails to understand me Still for a little while it hardly seemed be in the attic It was as like punishment to up darker than outdoors and it felt like being around in in a strange country I looked about the way Robinson Cruesoe would have if he lie had been in the attic all alone the under There Ther was a book tucked away eaves aves by the name of Camille I thought a story about camilles ought to be good probably it was about Africa But I 1 could not read very much of it I guess it was Greek or perhaps politics I turned to the open window where just below was the gently sloping roof of the ell all It looked very pleasant out there in the afternoon afternoon afternoon af af- shade as I leaned on the wind window window- w- w sill I reached out and down for five clap clap- boards Th Then n I slid over the sill and dr dropped lightly to the roof my bare feet making no sound It seemed much nicer on the roof Theair Theair The Theair air was cool and very sw sweet et with the odors of orange blossoms As I was sitting on the dry shingles I heard papa drive away from the stable and the wheels crunched along the roadway beyond the tall row of blue gums I listened until I knew that h he had taken the Redlands road and would not be back before before before be be- fore evening Then I wondered if mamma would come up and let me out and I listened listened lis lis- for her foot on th the stair And then I grew tired of waiting and listening On the shady side of the corral the hens were nodding in shallow dust holes The horses too were si sleeping with their heads resting on the top bar or across one another's ba backs s. s Everything was so quiet so happy happy- except me I wanted to be down in the yard in Willies Willie's yard or anywhere It was was' awful to b be kept in on Saturday afternoon Tomorrow would be Sunday 1 I hate Sunday Sunday Sun Sun- day lay and Monday 7 I should have to to- togo to-go go to school again The umbrella tree beside the house hous was shaking curiously What could it be Soon Soona a familiar head came into view and a moment moment moment mo mo- ment later dear old Willie Willi crept on to the roof And he lie had his air rifle with him What hat made you come up here I asked him Why your mother came over to see seen n mine ine about some nasturtium seeds eeds and I heard her tell about your being up in the attic So I came over without asking That is just like Willie he has done it before By this time Willie had hitch hitched d up upside upside upside side of me and he whispered How long b bit is isit isit it for a week As he lie asked the question his eyes grew big just like papas papa's when mamma asks him for money money I told him that I was only in till supper time COh Oh dear it is so hard to write a story that sounds like a printed one I guess it is b because cause this is a true story Well Vell Willie a and I sat there and talked about things We planned what we would do to Otis Hansen at school Monday He lIe lIelet let the teacher come in and catch us putting eras erasers rs on t top p of the door when he should have warned us N Next ext we shot at the seat on the cultivator because it is iron and we could hear th the bullets strike We vVe shot and shot eV ever r so many nany times Willie hit it more than I did but I dont don't care he has had more chance for it is hi his gun you see The shadows were reaching ov over r the yard and I had forgotten all about that I was being punished The bullets were all gone Willie Tillie was looking over at the foothills There go goes s Bill he cried suddenly Hes Ies going for quail before sunset and Im I'm going too He tIe was already sliding for the umbrella tree at the corner of the roof I was alone again watching him scamper oV over r the ploughed ground aft after r brother Bill Soon they went out of sight over the nearest hill A cheery voice broke the silence It was mamma saying that supper r was ready I dim climbed bed back through the window and it was almost dark Clark in the attic Mamma smiled and kissed me at the head of the stairs so I guess that she will not tell papa about the roof I hope that Willie can come out aft after r supper r for the gang are going to play gray wolf until eight n 0 |