The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1858-09-08

shore.-Conscious of this, at momen,
when Jacob was only few feet above
him, Frank let 20 of the tree top, and
pushed himself out with the stroke of his
feet, far enough to be able to grasp the
drowning boy. AS he did so both went
gliding on towards the dam, only hund-
red feet below, equally powerless in the
strong current.
For some moments Mr.. Lloyd stood
paralyzed upon the shore, The struggling
boys were beyond his reach, and wholly
beyond his skill to save. Then he COM
menced running along the bank, his mind
in an agony of terrible suspense, keeping
opposite to them as they went quickly
down the swollen food In less than two
minutes they were within few feet of the
dam, yet still, if the eyes of Mr. Lloyd
did not deceive him, in line with the
abutment, and faint hope dawned with
in his mind that they might strike against
the pier, and glide inwards towards the
head-gates instead of outwards in the
current and over the deadly waterfall.
Mr.. Lloyd sood still in fearful suspense
his lips apart, his arms reaching out i'm
potently, and his face as pale as ashes.
Suddenly he struck his hands together,
and sprang forward with an eager bound.
The drowning boys had swept against
the pier, and passed under instantly from
sight.-Throwing off his coat as he ran,
and drawing off his boots as he reached
the head-gate, Mr. Lloyd leaped into the
water, and disappeared few feet inside
the spot where he had seen them 90 down.
In moment or two he came to the sur
face, grasping tightly the two boys, now
insensible, struck out with one hand Wig
orously for the shore, ,and succeeded though
not without difficulty, in reaching a spot
just above the heavy stone wall, where he
could Chamber up the bank IN striking
the abutment, the pressure of the current
against the lads had borne them inwards
into the quiet eddy above the head-gate,
instead Of outward into the leaping cata-
ract
The first care of Mr.. Lloyd was to re-
store, il possible, animation to the appa-
rently dead bodies of the two boys. Frank
earliest showed signs of recovery then
there was feeble play of the pulse, and
slight flushing of the cheeks in Jacob,
but to neither did life come back, at the
time, in full vigor. A neighbor who hap
pened to come by, assisted Mr.. Lloyd to
carry the boys home, where under the at.
tendance of physician, full activity was
soon restored to the vital organs.
Il positively forbade his going to the
mill-dam," said Mr.. Lloyd to his wife,
after all fear was past, something of his
old sternness and anger showing itself in
tene and countenance.
"He did not disobey you in spirit" re-
piled the mother, with moist eyes and
voice that had not yet regained an even
tone.
How can you make that appear ?"
was demanded
And then the mother of Frank related
how, with her permission, he had gone to
the mill-dam to watch over and guard
the little boy who was there all alone.
And she related, also, for she had CLEANED
from her recovered son the incident al.
ready known TO the reader, how he had
passed nearly an hour upon the hill above
the water, after having searched about
the head-gste, watching lest harm came to
the lonely and thoughtless Jacob Green.
The heroism of his son Mr.. Lloyd knew
! already.
For long time the stern farmer sat
with his head bowed upon his breast. A
shudder almost. of horror, shook, for
moment, his strong frame, as vivid imagi-
nation drew a picture Of himself standing
in wrath above this heroic son, with his
arm already descending to strike cruel
blow He had not spoken to Frank since
life had flowed back freely through his
veins. When fully satisfied that all dan
ger was passed he had retired from the
chamber where he lay, displeasure at the
act of disobedience resuming the utmost
place in his mind.
Now his feeling towards the boy were
altogether changed, Tender love had
driven out wrath.
Where is father ?" Several times had
Frank asked this question, looking as he
spoke with a troubled countenance, to-
wards the door of the chamber in which
he lay. He remembered, only the