, 1862-03-20

aroused by cries of alarm, the tone Of which
told his heart tno plainly that some imminent
danger impended. Springing to his Eet he ran
in the direction Of the cries, and quickly saw the
cause Of the excitement Recent heavy rains
had swollen the mountain streams, the turbid
waters Of which were sweeping down with great
velocity. Twoyoung girls who had been amusing
themselves ut SINE distance below, in u boat
that was attached to the shore by a long rope.
had, through some accident, got the fastening
loose, and were now gliding down, far out in the
current, with q fearfully increasing speed, to.
wards the breast Of q mil dam, some hundred
yardS below, from which water was laundering
down height Of twenty feet. Pale with terror,
the poor young creatures were stretching out
their hands towards their comrades on the shore,
and uttering heart.rending cries for succOr.
Instant action was necessary, or all would BE-
lost. The position oi the young girls had been
discovered while they were yet some distance
above, and there happening to be another boat
on the mIll.dam, and that nigh at hand, Logan
and two other young men had lOOscd her from the
shore. But, the danger Of being Carried over the
dam, should any one venture out in this boat
seemed sO inevitable that none Of them dared
| " encounter the danger. Now, screaming and
wringing their hands, and now urging these men
to try and save their companions, stood the young
maidens Of the party on the shore, when Wilson
dashed through them, and sprnging into the boat
cred out;
"Quick, Logan! take an oar, or all is lost"
But, INSTEAD Of this, Logan stepped back q
pace or two from the boat, while his face grew
pale With fear. Not an instant more was wanted.
At glance, Wilson saw thIt IL the girls were
saved, it must be by the strength Of his own
arm. Bravely he pushed from the shore, anil,
with giant strength, born u the moment and 0r
the occasion, from his high, unseltish purpose, he
dashed the boat out into the current, and bend
ing to the oars took direction at an angle with
the other boat, towards the point where the wa
ter was sweeping over the dam. At every stroke
the light sktf sprung forward dozen feet, and
scarcely minute elapsed ere Wilson was beside
the other boat Both were now within twenty
yards Of the FIJI and the water was bearing
them down with velocity that strong rover,
with every advantage on his side. could scarcely
have contended against successfully. To transfer
the frightened girls FROM one boat to the other,
in the few miuutes Of time lcf ere the down
sweeping current would oear their irail vessel
To tile edge the dam, and still to retain an ad.
vantage, was, for Wilson, impossible To let bis
own boat go and manage theirs, he saw 70 be
equally impossible.
A cry u despair reached the young mans
ears, as the oar dropped from his grasp Into the
water. II was evident to the spectators OF the
! fearful scene that lie Rad lost his presence Of
mind, and that now all was over. Not So, how.
ever. In the Text moment he had sprung into
the water, which, neaF the breast Of the dam,
was not more than two feet deep. As he did so
he grasped the other boat, and bracing himself
firmly Hganst the rushing current, held II poised
few yards from the point where the foam. .cTeSte
water leaped into the whirlpool below. At the
same instant his own boat shot like an arrow
over the dam. He bad gained, however, but
small advantage. ltrequired his utmost strength
to keep the boat he had grasped from dragging
him down the (slL
The quickly formed purpose Of Wilson, in
thus Sprnging into the water, had BEEN 70 drag
the boat against the current to the shore. But
this he perceived to be impossible the moment
lie felt the real strength Of the current II he
were to let the bOat go he could easily save him
sell, but not once did snch q thought enter bis
own heart.
Lie down close to the bottom" he said, IN
q quick, hOarSe voice. The terror. stricken girls
nbVyed the injunction inatantly.
Aud now, with n cOOlDeSs that was wonderful
inde . all circumstances, Wilson moved the boat
several yards away from the nearest shore, until
he reached point where he knew the water
below the dam to be more expanded and free
from rocks Then throwing his body suddenly
against the boat, and running along until he was
Nltuiu lew IeeG VI Tue uutlp nv optuhB uto u
and passed over with Il. A moment Or two the
| light vessel, as It shot out into the air, stood
poised, and then went plunging down. The fear.
Iul plunge was made in safety. The boat struck
| the Seetning water below, and glanced out from
the whirlpool, bearing its living freight uuin.
jured.
Which was the coward9 2" The words
reached the ears Of Logan, as he gathered with
the rest Of the company around Wilson and the
! pale, trembling girls he had 80 herOicaly saved.
Fair lips aSxed the question. One maiden had
spoken to another, and 10 . louder voice than
she had Intended.
"NOt Edward Wilson," said Logan, as he
stepped forward and grasped the hand Of him he
had 20 wrUnged and insulted. Not Edward
Wilson! He is the nOblrst and the braVeSIl"
| Wilson made no effort to reply. But he was
| Ior some moments too much excited and ex-
hausted To speak. Al length, he said
81 only did what was right May ever have
! the courage for that while live"
! Afterwards he remarked, when alone with
Logan: alt required far greater exercise Of
courage TO forbear when you provoked and In
suited me in the presence Of those who expected
retaliation, than Il did to risk my lie at the mill
DAM"
| There is q moral heroism that few can appre-
ciate. And it will usually be found, that the
morally brave men are quickest tO luse sense Of
personal danger when others are in peril.
A country girl. feeling unwell, called upon q
| physician for advice. After feeling her puSe.
looking at her tongue, etc., he recommended q
C c,thartic. The girl went home, and in the
| course Of q day or two the doctor called to see
~ h,s r,ad;ci,,, had had its intended effect He