Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1857-10-07
FRED LINCOLN,
on, THE REFORMED DRUSKAR


Fred was sick. Poor fellow, he had dissi-
pated by FAR too much for the last year; had
speut nearly all his money, and now lay pros
tTated on his sick bed at the house of his grand
mother. He had been sick and confined to
his bed some three weeks, and the frequenters
OF the tavern of the town were far from salts
fed with this, and many the one, both landlord
and visitor, expressed the wish that he might
soon recover,-for what, reader but that they
might complete the work they had nearly done,
VIZ: draw from him the last cent. Not for the
enjoyment of his society altogether, did they
wish him well, but for the few remaining dol
lars in his pocket. The s'setters'' got many a
dime from the same-fallen Fred Lincoln.
Some two years previous to the present state
of things, Fred Lincoln's mother lived, and
fel, Proud of her noble and honored Frederick.
All loved and honored him. He used to COM
fort his widowed mother by all the many at
lentious and deeds of kindness which son
could think of. But at last the cloud of misery
began to appear in the east, and rose high in
the bright blue sky of his happiness, and final
Iy drove the golden sun from view in the west,
and night came close on following, leaving
Frederick Lincoln, first an orphan. None but
his grandmother left now to care for him, but
she could do well the part his mother had
done.
One day there was to be picnic. got up by
the young people, and as they were anticipa-
ting and making such excellent preparations
for it, Fred took notion to go, though he
vowed within himself before he started, that
he would take nc girl in his charge, but be free
to go where he chose. The place designated
for the picnic, was near small village. Ar
rived there, Fred managed to get away from
the many ladies and gentlemen who sought his
company and walked towards the village. A
iitsIe from the skirts of the wood, and short
distance from large mansion, which he CUES.
sed must be that of the wealthy Stephen Stet-
sen, ESQ.,, he sat down beneath the shade of a
sau tree, and on the bank of a stream, be fell
asleep.
He had slept some time, when he was "a
roused by something laying heavily upon bis
arm. He leaped up, and found dog had been
laying by his side, with his head resting on
his arm. He spoke to the dog but the dog on
ly whined and jumping up, ran towards the
h.
and he found the dog continued to whine and
run on ahead, down the stream. The dog was
a heavy Newfoundland, and looked strong e.
-ougb to hold down very strong man.
Suddenly the dog gave leap into the
stream, and started to wade across. On fol
lowed Fred, and when they reached the oppo-
site shore, the dog led the way little below,
.xh.r. Prad observed the water began to grow
deeper as they proceeded on On turning
corner of the stream, he espied, laying upon
the ea-e of the bank the form of woman
ITO dog crouched at his feet and whined. he
went TO her side, and found she breathed light
ly. Having a small bottle of wine in his
pocket, he bathed her face and in a. few minutes
Eno came too. so tha. she oped her eyes, and
locked strangely around. Her clothes were
soLxing wet, and Fred judged that she had iai-
len in the stream, and the Newfoundiano hao
saved her.
"Where, where am i 2 Ohl-I-had dread
frl '-eam. Thought was drowning' anu
but who are you 2" she cried, starting oack
and looking in astonishment at Fred.
F.el 80. her the circumstances whion ieo
him there and she thanked him for his KIND
ness, and invited him to go to the house.
Fred consented, of course, and off thoy start
ed conversing various subjects on the way.
Fred was sure he had never in his life before
seen such a beautiful girl, and one so near per-
fection, and ere he reached the entrance OF the
kdy's house, he was sure, quite sure he was in