[Illustration: "My father, my poor father!"]

"Reckon he's hurt pretty bad," said Sandy Stone, a mason, who had been
the first to be called to the scene of the accident. "'Tain't outside
so much as it's in. Wait till we get him home."

For Richard was bending over his father, and trying his best to do
something that would help the unconscious sufferer.

"Did you send for the doctor?"

"Yes; sent for Dr. Melvin first thing," replied one of the others,
"But we don't know where he is."

"I think he is over at old Mrs. Brown's," returned the boy. "I saw him
walking that way a while ago."

"I'll go and see," put in Nicholas Boswell. "Meanwhile you'd better
go and tell your mother."

"My mother! what will she say? And Nancy and Grace and baby Madge! Oh,
it's dreadful!" broke out Richard. "I'm sure none of them can stand
it."

"I'll send my wife over soon as I can," said Sandy Stone. "She's as
good as a doctor, and can quiet your mother, too. Be a brave boy, Dick,
and go and tell her. It will be easier, coming from you, than it would
from any of us."

So Richard returned to the house. His mother was dusting in the parlor,