Silver Rags

“READY FOR ANYTHING, IN THE SHAPE OF FUN.”
BY WILLIS BOYD ALLEN Author of “Pine Cones”
“Like beggared princes of the wood, In silver rags the birches stood.”
BOSTON D. LOTHROP AND COMPANY FRANKLIN AND HAWLEY STREETS
Copyright, 1886, BY Willis Boyd Allen
TO THE LITTLE PRINCESS ISADORE
SILVER RAGS.
“HELP! Help!”
It was a girl’s voice, clear and sharp with distress. The cry echoed over Loon Pond, and rang through the woods which surrounded its dimpled waters.
In a small, flat-bottomed boat, about fifty yards from the shore, crouched a young girl of perhaps sixteen years, her face blanched with terror as she gazed into the depths beneath and uttered again and again that piercing cry:
“Help! O quick, quick! Help!”
Something dark rose slowly to the surface of the pond, and a small white hand waved frantically in the air a moment, then sank, struggling, out of sight. Again it came up, this time more quietly, and again disappeared, while the occupant of the boat screamed louder, her voice breaking into sobs. The only oar to be seen was floating quietly on the water, almost within reach.