By the RoadsideYates, Katherine M. (Katherine Merritte)
General
By the Roadside
Yates, Katherine M. (Katherine Merritte)
Conduct of life -- Juvenile literature
"I wonder why," echoed the Dream, and there was a queer little note in
his voice that made Marjorie glance toward him; and then her face
flushed and she gave a little laugh.
"Why, of course it's my work!" she exclaimed, stooping and beginning to
roll one toward the side of the way. It was rather heavy and awkward to
handle; but she kept bravely on, and soon returned for another. As she
bent toward it, she happened to glance back down the road, and then she
suddenly straightened up. "Oh, look!" she cried. "See all the people
dragging that wagon up the hill,--and just hear them shout! Something
must have happened to the horse! I'm going to help!" and she started to
run down the hill.
"I thought you were busy," called the Dream, after her.
"Yes," she called back, "I know; but I can do that after a while,--I
want to help with the wagon now;" and she ran on down the hill, and
squeezing in among the others, she managed to get hold of one of the
ropes, although there was scarcely room for her hand to grasp it. Up
the hill she came, struggling and panting with the rest, and as she
reached the spot where the Dream had remained, she waved her free hand
proudly; but just then her foot struck a stone, and she tripped and fell
against the person next to her, who let go of the rope in a wild effort
to regain his balance; while the man behind her stumbled upon her feet
and let go his hold; others stumbled, the rope was jerked from their
hands, and in another moment the wagon began to roll slowly backward.
Every one made a dash for it; but it was too late, and in an instant it
was careening madly down the hill,--then a wheel struck another stone,
the tongue turned, and with a great lurch the whole thing went over,
scattering potatoes, turnips, and other vegetables in every direction,
and sending barrels and boxes rolling and tumbling down the hill with a
tremendous clatter.
Marjorie had picked herself up and stood watching it all with great,
frightened eyes. "Oh, look, look!" she cried. "It's all my fault, and I
was only trying to help! Oh, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to trip,--I
truly didn't!"
"Never mind, never mind," said a man near her, "you weren't to blame. It
was all because of those stones in the road,--any one would trip on
things like that;--some one else would have stumbled if you hadn't, so
don't worry," and he began pitching the stones out of the way.
"Oh," cried Marjorie, in dismay, "then it really was my fault more than
I thought! Why didn't I keep on with what I was doing, when it needed to
be done, and I was doing it right! Oh, dear, what shall I do now?"
But the man did not understand. "You can't do anything," said he,
sending the last stone flying into the ditch. "It isn't your fault; it
is the fault of the people who go by here every day and leave these
stones lying in the road, when it would take only a few moments to clear
them away. Now run along and don't worry,--you couldn't help it."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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