LITTLE TROT

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1634, 28 December 1912, Page 9

LITTLE TROT

.. . A S-TO.RY". m— —■ ' ' . . ■ :- ' " " —El

-, Trot wag playing on tho beach; Be- ■ hind mummie's. house, there' is such a pretty littlo beach, quite a tiny. one. 'Trot is allowed to play thero alone— only he must not', go', too near, the sea.. Besides, .Jane stays .inr the garden and every now and then takos a peep at hint. Trot had his spade wiUi' him. He had ■ mado an enormous hole and an enormous mountain, almost,, but not; quite, as. high as those big--rocks that lie all - day as . if, asleep near the sea. ..... "Come and have'. your lunch, Master •Trot," and Trot got out of tho hole to receive a-roll of bread and a piece of chocolate from Jane. ;-:.'He went back to .hie mountain. It is ■ not very comfortable to eat standing up. ''Better change the mountain into an armchair. Trot • sat .down again, his logs 'in the hole. • : Ee nibbled away at-his ;; chocolate with his sharp little-teeth. You could make quite , pretty designs on it with them.. It really was rather arnusing. Who was that? , A shadow.fell in fr.ont of Trot. Trot, looked up. -It was a littlo i)oy! He was v.ery-dirV/and dreadfully, •"ragged... His face., and -hands were iquite black. ': There were ugly'little red spots . under .his nose.-, Trot raised his spade threateningly: •' . .

"Go away!" ' - ' .. . ■The little boy rubbed his eyes with his elbow; he;went,a yard or tn-o. away, then sat down 'on.'the sand opposite Trot and stared at him. ■ . : ...

< on munching ~ and '.;.stared. ■back. .Here'was someone Jane could not wash from head to., foot every day. What a'lucky..boy! .-.And yet—after- all, Trot wasva;;little;gentleniiui. , Of- -it-is : a. botherV;to ~be '.washed,-,but one/must. be. clean:- !:;How ; \igly. this little 'boy- was. : ' . . 'really\are' dirty,,'aren't-you?" , •. The -; little,-boy.. raised. .his--.eyes, ■ then 'dropped':-them:'Vagain.. ahdibegan-giggling : inra' -silly-way: without replying. ;He.let thoXsarid „'slide- : 'from one- hand f -to : the; other:', . But' this-.did not;seem- to amuse him.'much'. -He never.-once'left.off staring.. at: Trot, - who "was.'just finishing his roll of bread.,- ''. - -■■/'

"> -Trot.Nlooked -at .him 'attentively';;- He' noticed, that.the boy's glance : was fixed' on''the'roll.

are'-'very -good,-'-- aren't-.they?" 1 said' Trot; as he crammed the last' bit into' his mouth.

. The-boy gave'a sad-little; grunt. ;• "Have you : had your lunch?" :. ' The, little boy stared 'at him with fcniazed eyes. • Trot repeated, his, question: "Have-you had -your lunch?" • Tlwi little boy' shook his head. 8 :' "W,e11,.'1 suppose you will have' it Boon?" I '•

' The little boy looked down. He filled his- hand with sand-again and went on ■with, his old occupation, once' more shaking ihis head.';

"I-don't- be!ieve;you are' going, to have any .lunch," ;■

The little' boy did' not , reply, but Trot .knew. he. had'. g'nessed ; ' the' truth.' ■"' "I expect you were bilious .yesterday?." The; little boy-opened his "eyes wide. The" word "bilious" did not belong to his .world. But he shook his head, "Did you; have a stomach-ache?" : The head-fehaking. still; continued. ' "Or perhips you. were, naught?" ' Still silence. • "Well, '.why did you have, nothing to caat ?: >

. Tho little-boy ;scratched:.his head with one , hand and" rubbed his ncse with'the thcn roade. a -eOftg-Wquite unintelligible .sounds. •; _D.idn.r they .yoiu anything?" •;§ Once .moroihe rshtfok^his-'Jiead. ' ■ didn't/y'ou/,ask your mother " for' Bomethsngr V . "J, did ask. her.". . . thi'n?®" give : you .any- - i?i 1 ® r ?-^s.' B othing.:in tfo-house." -. _This • informatiori- sounded -absurd, to Trot...,' What, would.be. the good .of lardpantries ?. v,-2fyou opened one> in the.hall.-or.: kitchen., you. could 1 ., see; any. amount ,of nice things. So that. could'not, be,true. .The little. boy, was: .telling. stoTies. His mother had' said.there,'was nothing', in-;order, t-o-punish him.'- TVot said in a very stern voice: : -I,'ufst have:.been naughty.'-. Whit' did'ypui.vq?"' / ' -^.Hpde'?Jb^.-simply.looked. at him ■with, dazed; round eyes.* Trbt;- grew impaHent. - v ;; '. ■: :,./"Perhaps you waft greedy;^ or ' made' your, governess - angry,-i or did not : learn your lessons?" ■' . .Nothing.but a head-shako.' ..;'''/ ; ,r \yere you disobedient?" ■; -' ,'/■: ■/ The child's; Bps .trembled. .'.'■ '• : X . - 1. d°,what I like,.' No one, tella me rotlnng. . .. Y /. . ■ '.... ■ ' Whatever did this mean? Trot' began' to grow angry. . . ... r; '. "Well, theii, why did you get'.nothing to eat?" ' - ■ ■:-

Once more the child/replied' wearily;:;, "There was.nothing in the.house.".. So it.really was true. ■ Trot was overcome -with , surprise.- Was such a - thing possible.,. Was it true that a mother could really have ■ nothing to • give her little son' to .eat?/.

, "Then you-are-hungry?" ; ;Tliere .was ho mistaking the answer in : ;the. little eyes. ' ■ ! "If I had' known' that I would have given you my roll,'because . I really was' not' at ,all hungry;, But I have eaten it all, you see." . .. ..

The little. boy.podded.his head resignedly; he quite'understood. .. '

Trot "reflected a' moment, then he asked a difficult . .question: v,' - ~ "Why "was- ..there nothing in - your mother's; pantry.'". • "We haven't ,a. pantry." ■ ," i This. wai --really • extraordinary.' < • .."Bat wihat'-about the larder?"

"Fath&'is>put'of work.. :Mtither is ill in'bed'with: little'brother.,' So there ain't : much ,to grow fat-on*:'' What 'a rude -way to "talk: . Trot. knew he .ought not to-listen to 1 badly brought tip ohildren. . He felt quite sure he ought to go, but curiosity, prevailed.. .' "Why;'..doesn't your 'father ' buy- ';iyou something to eat"--"Tie hasn't any money." ■ ' Well, 'here at last was a good reason. And.yet Therese often bought things without -money ;- she ' told ..them to put them down to-ihummie's. account. .

' "."Toll,'them' to/put it-down, to the account." ' '

. The. child shook liis head.. .He did not understand. He began playing with the 6and '.'again;.!Trot felt dazed and almost frightened. There were actually children who were : quite.; good,' and' yet their , mothers.; had • nothing to give thenv to eat. AVliat could .' God be' thinking of?, '.Was it : really pos- - Bible?-.' Trot began his questions again.; . "Dbes you father ask God each.day-to give him his daily-bread ?"._ ' -. Once moro the little boy did not understand.'. 1 Trot, repeated, his-question. ; "I don't think so."- '• ' Trot 1 sighed." So' here,at last, was the - explanation; and it was ..really very serious. ' , ~ , "Do'you mean to say your father does ■not' say.- his .prayers?,''; "I don't- think so. . , . "He never talks to God? "I don't think so. At least only when he's- angry." : 1 ' . •. , ' I™. . "What a funny tur.o.to pray.. ..What does'ho say then?" . , "He =ays 'God Almighty,' and h« makes .^a.ffearful^roi^"^ 1 1 '- ; ■ , . 1 -- Trot meditated. •• That, could not be a good prayer. Mother had..never taught ; him one like it. Perhaps it was'only for grown-up people; „V" - «£. • '"Well, how do you-yourself ;pray? . The little boy laughed slyly, but did not reply. \ ■; "Tell me how you-pray?. The little' boy. .went on-chuckling. . At last he jerked out:' ; "It's all lies 1 about God. ■ ■ Trot was-overwhelmed, with horror. All lies about God! The good God to whom his little mother' tauglit him to say his prayers every ; evening, who took care 110 harm came to daddy when-he was on tho sea, 1 who gave, Trot his .'daily, bread, and not oiily bread, but eftko .and chocolate and all ports 61 good things besides. Trot went xjrirtison in tho face. ' • ' . '-"You are very - wicked. ' And God > is quite' Tight not 1 to', .give you anything to eat if that is tho way you thank Him.''

' "What"is'•there to'.thank'Him for?" asked the littlo boy. , The question -rather puzzled Trot. The littlo boy was right—if you are. wicked arid very miserable you do not want to pray to God. You feel angry with everybody. Trot had already moved a step or two away. Ho thought for a moment; then came back.

"Listen to me. If you do not pray, then of courso God cannot hear' you. If -you ask Hun for ■ something to eat, He will give it to you, but you must ask Him.' Tlio littlo boy - looked doubtful. Ho did not quite believe what Trot had, told him.; Hut, after all, it could not matter much asking. You.'never know what 'may happen. Only the other d£y, when ho had Vmii begging, someone had given him a penny. "Where is God?"

It was. not-easy-to answer this question, and Trot's .reply, was a little confused. God was everywhere, .in the churches. You could not see Him, but you had, only to ask for something .to get it, Trot explained. ."To-night before you. go to.bed pray God- to send you a big roll of bread .tomorrow, and you. will got it." . "Where shall I find it?" . j "Oh, on the .table with yotfr cocoa. You-| won't have any- cocoa? Well,, then,, oil the mantelpiece.". "Then father would 'take it. . I would rather God put it; here;.: in the hole near the cliff. . I could come' and find it.. Nothing could be easier; it was.not the, ■usual thing .for, Gorte- do, but. He;.;,would' not mind making an exception of the little bov. ■ He must only explain it all to God/'-and;, tell Him the. place—.9o everything was settled now!, ■_ r • But the little boy still seemed doubtful. What was.the matter?. . ■..'.'l- don'trknow how, to'say. it to taxi. 1 r don't:know. Him:" , .' .. ' : l'rot sighed. patiently.''. What a stupid '.little boy,'he>;as. ; .;;Never mind-now he ihad . begun Trot would go through with it.'. He knelt down.. ..

: ."iJo asil do." 1 ~ ; -The little /boy. tried , to. do the same. ; He tumbled on his/no?e. " '• ;.Trot-grew .angry. At last lie got him properly,-into'place. /"I'oldyour ;hands." :;• • , . , " ' /After, several .unsuccessful attempts, the hands ■' were folded. But how they wore! God would certainly not bo very pleased with them. - ■ ' "Say. after im:: 'Dear God, 1 am very hungry. 5 Well,,go on." . .■ . • . The little boy made several little grunts, listening very carefully.- J ou could J out '.'God" and "hungry, ; and all the time he wiggled like.ail eel. ."Keep still. 'I am very hungry.. Please put a big roll of bread, for ;me to-morrow morning in the hoi© by the where Trot has left his spade; Amen.- • . Trot got up' well content. That was the way to pray.' He went off nodding patronisihgly to his pupil. „•„ • ,:■; Trot was very'thoughtful all the evening. How gla'tl the little boy would be tomorrow. Trot had unlimited faith; never-; theless a doubt arose in his mmd;_ "Munimie, God always gives us what we ask for, doesn't-fie?" _ \ ••••:•• ... "Always, sonnie, if it is* I . something reasonable and we really mean it. - ~ - Trot was reassured. It was surely quite reachable to ask for some breakfast, and as for really meaning it—well,' Trot re'membered with what hungry eyes the. little boy bad watched him eat. ' Trot slept soundly. He dreamt, of great •piles of rolls; big as the horns-of . a cow of the tusks of an elephant, which God was heajping up before the poor little boy. He ate and ate until lie couldlueat noj longer. God always brought lnni more.! He laughed and was happy. His cheeks grewredahd.fat. 'Trot.iwas delighted andvery proud. v v ; - , , ; "Good'morning,-Master Trot::.:1 hope ;you have slept well?" ~ Jane washed and dressed Trot.' Perhaps ;the little, boy ought to. ask God. to wash liim •' and give him - some- new. clothes as well. All the-time-Trot-was being dressed he could think of nothing else. He was longing to eee-the little boy's face when he found-the roll. How. warmly-the ;son-shone;-'. That- was '.go that - ; the .roll 'woiild not'.'get jvet. / ■' ' : •Trot'"swallowed- I his ,cocoa/,m twp • seconds; 'lio -.stuffed his roll/into this pocket to.-'savo tiiiie. . •' "May-1 go on to the. shore for a little, jihummie?" . .'•''■ ■ ■ "What a hurry vou.are in.to-day, dear. Well, it is,really/a lovely morning, sb :Tun. along. . When, yourv governess. (Mnies -, we. will call- y0n.";:.,->/ 'Vpv : : FvV ' ; cliff.- What /would-: God's -roll -,be 'like ?:;lt oujjht'tb be shinier and'much'bigger vthan-'a--baker's..':.Trot - began ..to., feel rather ■envious. He put his hand in the h01e.,,-He looked; in.\VHe grew, pale ;with', misgiving. There was .notlung . there. , .'He-looked: again.,; Could' it "be. true?., ■Perhaps'.God.had dropped it on one-side.' •Trot looked all;round.. Nothing, anywhere. ' He' looked in : all, the: other; holes, near -the cliff. Still-, nothing /to,be- seen.'. What 'could it mean?/,'ln.a; minute or two the ''little boy would be there, and when ,he found nothing he would.say. again that it. was all lies about God; he would think Trot had deceived him, and he would te sd hungry. . Oh dear, oh dear,.how dreadful it was! .'Of course God, had>been too busy, or He . had forgotten; or the rolls had been burnt —that had happened once, at home. All the same, a burnt roll would have been better- than, none at all. Whatever could ho do?

Trot 1 was distracted. .His legs seemed to give way 1/eneatli him-when 1 he saw.in tha distance the little, boy-racing towards the, cliff, his -face litMip in joyful aiiticiipattoii,'. his'mouth'positively .'Watering for ]the'feast. ..Trot'felt'chilled to tho bone. : Somehow he ; must save-the situation. -Mechanically he. put his-hand-> in his Ipocket. '.'What: luck! - His 'breakfast roll -still lay there■'lintouched., -He drewMt: out 'and "quicldyvpiitrit .in : r ; : ; The little boy satiUnf the' ground ■cbm-!fo'rtably-:munching;'..Trot." stood up.aud (looked' thoughtfully at-him. - -He -realised all-at once that he was very hungry'himself. It. seemed;very hard; to watch his 'diafcpeor so quickly; But lie could not help feeling- glad-, when he thought how grateful God- ought-to be to him'for repairing His'oversight. The little boy ;swal lowed last crumb. '• "Was the roll very good P" '"Rather.- But all the same, God never sent it. I; saw you put it in the hole." This was indeed a blow.-: It. was. true, s too. No use denying it. But suddenly Trot's face cleared,- and he. answered triumphantly: "Yes, but yoiv see it was. God Who told me to put it .there.".• Andlheran off;- hungry, but victorious.