Alexandria Gazette

Alexandria Gazette.

MONDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 1

PERIL OF A LITTLE BOY.

Three little boys sat digging in the sand on the beach at Long Branch yesterday afternoon. They had been "playing Indians" and were industriously making a cave to live in. One of the boys was Johnny Holbrook, who lives with his mother on Summit avenue, Jersey City.

"Let's play I was dead," said Johnny, "and you fellers bury me in the sand."

"Injuns is buried standing up," said one of the others. "It says so in 'Wild Bill, the Ranger.' We'll have to dig the hole deeper so you can stand up."

So the boys dug the pit deeper. The water came in from below and Johnny quietly took off his shoes and stockings. Then the other boys packed the sand about him till only his head remained above ground. The work kept them busy for more than an hour.

So intently had the lads labored that they had not noticed the rising of the tide until a big wave dashed over poor Johnny's head and, rolling back, left him gasping for breath, with his mouth and eyes full of sand. He struggled to pull himself out of the hole, but the sand held him like a vise and other incoming waves had no mercy.

Johnny screamed for help but there was no one within hearing except the two little boys and a man too far off to be of any immediate assistance. And the terrible waves rolled nearer, licking Johnny's chin and threatening to hide his head under a fatal coverlet.

The little boys tried to pull Johnny out, but that they were not strong enough to do. They tried to dig the sand away, but they were so much frightened that they made little progress, and every minute seemed an age.

When Johnny was finally extricated his face was very white. When he had recovered his breath he began to cry.

"It's too late for that," said a bystander, "what's the use of crying now?"

Johnny looked down ruefully and answered:-

"What'll ma say about them new cloze!"-N. Y. Herald of the 29th.