The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1852-06-03

0t the canal with the body OF the man swirl
ng about between them. They woult
inevitably have been drowned, had no, olt
, Peggy caught up long dustrake that wal
close at hand-scrambled down and up t
her knees in the canal--clawed hold Of tht
struggling group with the teeth Of the rake
and fairly brought the whole to land. Jen
was frs, up the bank, and helped up his twe
horoic companions; after which with nc
small difficulty, they contrived to haul the
body ofthe stranger out ofthe wafer. Jen
at once recognized in him the forlorn figure
Of the man who had passed by in the morn
ing, looking SO sadly in the canal, as he
walked along.
i II is fac. we'll known to those who
work in the vicinity OF these great dust
heaps, that when the ashes have been
warmed by the sun, cats and kittens that
have been taken out of the canal and bu
ried few inches beneatl. the surface
have usually revived; and the same has Of
ten occurred ia the case Of men. Accor.
dingly the three. without moments hesi
tation, dragged the body along to the dust
heap, where they made deep trench, in
which they placed it, covering it all over
up to the neck.
"There now" circulated Peggy, sitting
down with long puffto recover her breath,
she'll lie very comfortable, whether or
no."
i "Couldn't lie BETTER" said old Double
year, seven il he knew it."
J, The three now seated themselves close
. by, to await the result
81 thought I'd lost him." said Jem, "and
myeelf too; and when pulled Daddy in
ar,er me, guv US all three up for thi,
world.''
"Yes," said Doubleyear, ''it must have
gone queer with US if Peggy had not come
in with the rake. How dye feel, old girl !;
for you've had narrow escape too
wonder we were not too heavy for
you, and SO pulled you in to 60 with
u.s.
"The Lord be praised" fervently ejac-
ulaled Peggy, pointing toward the palIid
face TINT lay surrounded with ashes. A
convulsve twitching passed over the fea-
lures, the lips trembled, the ashes over the
bre asst heaved, and low moaning sound,
which might have come from the bottom ol
the canal, was heard. Again the moa ming
sound, and then the eyes opened but closed
, almost Immediately. "Poor dear soult
whispered Peggy, show he suffers in sur
vying. Lift him up a little. Softly
Dom, be afcared. We're only your good
angels, like-only poor cinder-sif,ers-
don't'ee be afeared.
BY various kindly attentions and ma
nnuvres such as these poor people had
been accustomed to practice on those who
, were taken out of,he canal, the unfortu
: nate gentleman was gradually brought tc
his senses. He gazed about him, as we'll
he might-now looking in the anxious,
though begrimed faces of the three strange
objects, in all their "weeds" and dust-and
then up at the huge dust-heap, over which
the moon was now slowly rising.
"Land OF quiet Deatbr' murmured he,
family, "or land Of Life, as dark aud still
I have pnssed from one into the other; but
which Of ye am now in, seems doubtful
to my senses"
"Here we are, poor gentlemen" cried
Peggy, s'here we are, all friends about you.
How did zee tumble into the canal?"
"The Earth, then, once morer' said the
stranger, with a deep sigh. 81 know
where am, now. remember this great
dark hill Of ashes-like Deaths kingdom,
full Of all sorts Of strange things, and put
to many uses"
| "Where do you live?" asked old Doub-
Ileyear; "shall we try and take you home.
sir2"
I The stranger shook his head mournfully.
All this time, little Jem had been assidu-
ousy employed in rubbing his feet and
Then bis Ia nd.; in doing which the piece Of
dirty parchment, with the miniature frame,
dropped ou. Of bis breast-pocket. A good
Thought instantly struck Peggy.
"Run Jenny dear-run with that gold
en- thing 10 Mr. spikechin, the pawnbro.
ker's--get something upon il directly, and
buy some nice b-andy--and some God
rrey's cordal-and blanket, Jenny
and call coach, and get up outside on il,
and make the coachee drivs back here as
fast ns you cnn." H
But before Jenny could attend to this,
Mr.. Waterhouse, the stranger whose life
they had preserved, raised himself on one
elbow, and extended his hand to the miuia-
,ure-frame. Directly he looked at H., he
raised himself higher up--turned it about
once or twice--then caught up the piece OF
parchment, and ut,ering an ejaculation,
which no one could have distinguished
either as ofioy or Of pain, sank back faint
ling.
j In brief. this parchment was portion of
1.-The title.deeds he had lost; and though it
did not prove sufficient to enable him TO re-
cover his fortune, il brought his opponent
to composition, which gave him an annu
ity for life. Small a. this was, ne deter.
mined that these poor people, who had so
generously saved his life at the risk Of their
own, should be- sharers in il. Finding
that what they most desired was to have q
cottage in the neighborhood Of the dust
heap, built large enough Tor all three to
live together, and keep COW, Mr.. Water
house paid visit to Manchester-square,
where the owner of.he property resided
He told his story, as far - was need(ul, and
proposed 10 purchase the field 10 ques-
ltion. III
The great dust-contractor was much a.