“Where is Tiny Paul? where is Tiny Paul?” again asked the old man.
“Down in there,” said Tom, pointing to the middle of the pond.
Sam Green fell back as if shot. Tom thought that he was dead, and jumping up, ran off to call for help. He told everybody he met till he reached his master’s house.
People made out that some one was drowned; but whether it was Sam Green or Tiny Paul, they could not tell.
Among those Tom met was Farmer Grey. He at once rode to the pond, where he found poor Sam lying where he had fallen. Sam was carried back to his own cottage by order of the farmer, who sent at once for a doctor. The doctor came and said he would recover if treated with care.
“Then I will stay by him till I can find some one to take my place,” said Farmer Grey.
Meantime the pond was dragged, and Tiny Paul’s body was found: not Tiny Paul though; he had gone far away, to the bosom of One who loves little children, and because of that love often takes them to Himself.
Tiny Paul’s body was taken to the cottage of his father and mother. John Dixon could not speak for sorrow; and Mrs Dixon, bursting into tears, threw herself on the body, and would not be comforted.
Some hours passed, and Sam Green awoke, as if out of a deep sleep. The first words he spoke were about Tiny Paul.
“Tiny Paul is in the hands of One gentle and kind, who will care for him far more than you or his father and mother can,” said the farmer. “Do not grieve for Tiny Paul.”