As the child reached land, he was grasped by the angry and anxious mother, who beat a merry tattoo on a tender portion his body with a shingle.
This was not the first time that the young hero had received punishment for loving the water.

His home was within one block of the clear and swift flowing Alleghany; and whenever he could escape the vigilant eye of his mother, he was found either on the bank or in the water.

One day, Mrs.Boyton, who had a continual dread of his being drowned, was going on a visit, and she determined to secure Paul against accident.

She took him upstairs, undressed him and removed his clothes from the room.

She locked the door and went away content.
The day was lovely; the water lay clear and blue in sight and Paul could hear the delighted cries of the boys as they plunged into its refreshing depths.