The mountain Democrat., 1865-12-30
TRUs4EDAMD rR0sTY.

J.
hesitate about swinging himself down by
q rope into boat which rocked IN the
waves below the burning ship. The
flames were raging round mast and yard,
thick voiunse a smoke hung like fear
fol pail over Fatbe vessel, aad the awful red
glare was reflected on l'the sea, which
glOw6d like q Rery furnace. t was no
time for delay, indeed, and vet Reginald
drew back from the vessels side. Il had
forgotten it, he exclaimed, and darted
back toward the cabin.
'Madness-he 10 lostr muttered Mr.
Gray; no money was worth such risk
That young life is thrown away
Sailors and passengers with eager haste
lowered themselves into the boats, but
there was not room for all. Some, under
the direction of the captain, whose brave
spirit only rose with the danger, hastily
lashed spars together to forni'a rude raft
for the rest Mr.. Gray labored among
these, gasping and almost fainting as he
was from the heat, which had become
we'll nigh intolerable. Often he glanced
anxiously toward the hatchway, with the
faint hope of seeing Reginald emerge
again from the burning cabin into which
he had so daringly ventured,
The raft, the last hope of the crew, is
floating on the crimson billows, the
crowded boats have Sheered of, Mr.. Gray,
half blinded and sufocated by the hrat
and smoke, springs on the raft he is fol
loved by the captain and all who remain
oSthe passengers and crew except the
poor orphan boy. Just as they are about
to push off Hold, holdp cries Mr..
Gray, starting up from his place, as a
slight form. blackened with smoke, and
with dress singed and burnt, appears on
! deck he springs over the bulwark, miss
/ ing the raft, and the next moment is
dragged out of the pillows to lie gasping
and exhausted, with his head on Mr..
Gray's knee.
Thank God, my poor boy, you are
saved!
Thank God family uttered Reginald
Clare.
A strange appearance was presented
by the lad His hair and eye brows were
singed, marks of burning were ON his
hands and face, his dress hung in tatterS
around him, but he held in his hand 4
fat parcel wrapt up in oil cloth, and a
faint smile rose to his lips as he mgrmur,
ed, I'm so glad that have it all safe.
1t was not until the vessel had burnt
down to the waters edge, and the flames
had sunk at last from having nothing fur
ther on which to vent their fury, til t the
captain dared to raise boat sail which
he had the foresight TO carry with him -
BY means of this he succeeded, after
long hours of painful anxiety, in reach
ing soon after sunrise, the coast, from
which the homeward bound vessel had
not been many miles distant when the
terrible fire had occurred.
When the worst of the peril was over,
and the raft, under favorable breeze,
was floating toward the land, Mr.. Gray,
who felt a strong interest in Reginald
Clare, asked the poor lad some questions
regarding his family and position. lie
knew already that the boy was the or
phan Of a missionary, who had died at
Sierra Leone he now found that young
Reginald was returning to England, to be
dependent on an uncle whom be had
never seen.
Il am glad that you have succeeded in
saving something said Mr.. Gray, who
had himself preserved box containing
his principal treasures; doubtless that
parcel for which you risked your life,
contains something Of very great value
Il DO not know what it contains, sir
was Reginald'S reply.
Not know what it contains ! exclaim-
ed Mr.. Gray.
1T is not mine said the boy, in ex,
planation. it is parcel entrusted to my
care.'
And you really rushed back in the
burning cabin to carry off that which
was not the slightest value to you, and
perhaps, of little to any one else
The pale cheek of the boy flushed as
If be were almost hurt at the question,
and he made the simple reply, . had
been trusted-I had promised-what else
could have done!'
The party safely landed in England
As the fire had left poor Reginald penni-
le.s, Mr.. Gray literally paid for his jour
ney to London. Reginald arrived thai
evening at his uncle's home, when he
was received first with amaZement at his
int and ragged state. till surprise was
chtnged to pity, on the cause of his
stringe appearance being known.
L soon became clear to the boy that
hisuncle, Mr.. Brown, and his wife, were
not in easy circumstances, and they were
likdy to feel his maintenance very un-
weEome burden. The thin, sharp fea'
tural lady, in her gown turned and dyed,
Looked gravely at the tattered clothes
Will Eh must at once be replaced by new
on9.
bid you save nothing from the iire?'
inqAired Mrs. Brown, as on the following
mohing she poured out at the breakfast
sonA very pale tea.
Nothing but parcel which had in
chaGe for Mrs. Bates, Of Eccleston
Squire. Here it is And Reginald laid
on )e table the fat parcel wrapped in
oil DOTH Could. you kindly tell me
how to send it?'
here was no difficultEin sending the
par Iel as Mrs Bates happened to live
neal but Reginald could see that his
aun was provoked at this being the only
thin which he rescued out of the flames.
| Herkmpatience broke out into open ex-
pre4ions, when, as the old couple and
the boy sat together, in the evening by
the hght of SIMPLE dip candle, note
waJ6rought from Mrs. Bates, thanking
Mr.. Glare coldly for bringing the parcel
Of dried fern leaves, but informed him
tat they had been sadly broken and
spol ed on the journey, ~
FERN leaves! trash I exclaimed Mrs
Bird vn, dropping the stitches of her knit,
tindin vexalion. II you had only had
the kense to carry e1t your desk instead ;
the was sure to be some money in it