The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1858-06-17

"hiec- udiIeu ulu inaN, was infOW0 iOTcl-
bly, over, and came rolling helplessly down
towards the railroad. In an instant he
would have been crushed beneath the re-
.morseless engine, had not Edward, quick
as thought, bounded from the train and
caught him just in time to save him from
q horrible death, which be would have
shared with him but for the frail support
of sprig of laurel, at which he caught as
be was himself slipping down with his
helpless burden.
He dragged the heightened old man
up the steep bank, helped him over the
railing, and then without waiting for
thanks, ran back towards the station
house, fearing the train would start be-
fore he could reach his post. AS he did
SO, glitterirg object at his feet arrested
his attention, aud STOPPING down he pick
ed up an elegant gold watch, with part
of the guard chain attached, which the
old gentleman had evidently lost in bis
unlucky gyrations. He had just time to
get to his post before he was whirled a.
way amid the cheers of the bystanders,
who had witnessed the spectacle, and be-
fore bis terrified protege had at all collect
ed his scattered senses.
You're always in luck, Ned Lowell
whether its for catching up pretty girls,
or miserly old curmudgcon>; shouted
( Bill snook>; but hang me if I'd risk my
life for such an old wretch as Phil Lee
1 You know the gentleman, then!'
/ Zee reason to know him, tue hypo.
critical old reprobate. He's as as rich
as CrW>u>, but as tight as the bark of a
tree to bis help
! but Why do you think him SO mean
and mi~crlyT
Because be pretends to piety, and yet
all the time keep heaping up riches, in
the shape of stocks, and mills, and city
lots, and broad acres, which he most
likely take to another world with him
when he goes, for fear it would do some
body some good here if he left it. l ex-
I pcct he starved his wife to death, when
she died; aud his only daughter I've no
doubt he'd swap away for gold piece a.
ny day
You seem very bitter again-t him, per-
haps Jour judgment is warped iu some
way
Not at all. Wight will tell you that I
speak the truth We've both been in his
employ, | reckon
Yes, indeed, echoed Wight, 'and a
meaner man l never wish to see. Your
heroism is thrown away in saving the
life Of such man, Ned Lowell. You'd
better let him have gone to the deuce,
and done with it,
A few weeks after this, as Edward was
stepping from the train in the Boston de-
pot, be unexpectedly encountered the
same old gentleman he had picked up on
the road, and taking the watch from his
pocket, be stepped up and asked if it be-
longed to him.
Yes indeed, said the gentleman with
a smile, here are my initials engraved on
the back. But how-Bher he looked
up, but Edward had vanished. He would
not wait to be questioned, or thanked by
character SO despicable as be supposed
Phil Lee TO be; ard he scorned the idea
of taxing the generosity of a miser for a
reward.
But Edward was deceived after all By
his associates, who bad been dismissed
from the geutleman's employ for gross
neglect of duty; for he was really good (,
generous, aud spirited man; though
proud one; rapidly increasing in wealth
( it is true; but getting it honestly, and
spending it for good and pbiIanthropic
purposes. He knew Edward at ouce,
aud being deeply grateful for the life he
had saved, aud highly pleased with the
honesty he displayed in returning the
watch SO promptly, he was a good deal
disappointed at his leaving him SO sud-
denly. elshf
This young man evidently wishes to
remain unknown to me- he said to him.
self Il discover the ingeuuou sness of
modest difidence in his counter ance, as
well as an uncommon share OF energy
I and good sense. They tell me he is only
a common hand upon the road, but | am
very sure be is capable of filing much
1 higher positions. | must look to it BY
and by
Being an ingenious, witty, good-look.
ing and generous-hearted fellow, Edward
was admired and appreciated by bis set;
but IS be was young, poor, unpublished
and had no powerful friends to recon-
mend him, he had hitherto been compel
led to toll in the ranks, with little pros.
pect of promotion elseW here.
7 But change came at last, and promo
tions followed SO rapidly that he himself
wondered how his merits came to be dis
covered and appreciated. He proved
himself capable of every trust committed d
to bis charge, however, and DOW that the
spirit of ambition was fairly reused, II
seemed astonishing bow fast be improved
in person, mind and manners.
After confiDing himself to his danger
Gus business for many mouths, Edward
months leave Of absence, and went to got
: visit his widowed mother in the country
She was poor and partly dependant u
! pom his exertions for support Bu