The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1865-12-10

The weather had been unusually mild for
two or three days before Christmas, SO that
the ice on the big pond was rotten but Harry
thought he would brave it ; ii would be pity
not to enjoy the fun now, with so many ad-
mring eyes fixed upon him! He made a bold
dash-his little figure, upright and graceful,
was balanced upon the ice. Then there was
cry, Harry disappeared beneath it.
The group at the window seemed for mo-
ment paralyHd with horror. Then several
voices exclaimed:
''He is under water.-father, father. Har.
RVS under the ice y
Every particle of color had gone from far.
mer May S face. He trembled and threw up
his hands wildly.
.'Oh, help'' he cried .'My boy my toy
and | can't swim y
''But cam shouted voice Il can swim,
and I'll save him - and dashing past the
weeping mother, Joseph Craig plunged into
the freezing water.
How they watched him, breathless and ex-
cited. How they shuddered when they saw
him grasp once, twice, at dark object under
the water and then rise. his face gashed and
bleeding from contact with the ice corners
He was some way out. but, breaking the ice
before him, he swan slowly and with difficult
ty to the land, with one arm halding up poor
Harry.
THANK God Z" cried the happy parent fold
ing him in his arms. They bore him to the
roaring fire in the sitting room, and rubbed
him until he opened his eyes. Very soon he
was able TO sit up.
And where was Joseph? Sitting on the
kitchen hoor, squeezing his wet clothes and
rubbing the great painful gashes on his arms
and face, from which the blood was still
streaming.
"Joseph!" 1t was farmer May voice, I'M.
usually soft and tender. Before he was aware
the poor apprentice had felt . strong arm
round him, and in a moment found himself
sitting beside Harry, with great tears rolling
down the grateful boys cheeks.
''lf there's anything you wish for now, Jo-
seph, said the farmer; anything you d like
10 have, just name it, my boy You have
saved US many q year Of sorrow, and given
us cause to remember this Christmas before
all others"
Twice Joseph tried to gulp down the sobs
that were rising in his throat: sobs of Joy
they we're.
"Only be kind to me SIR said he at last
only drop kind word to me now and then,
for ha' nj any mother, like the rest
How was it with farmer May? He felt at
once what lack there had been in his other
wise kindly heart. 1t quite broke him down,
that appeal to his better nature so he bowed
his head down on his hands and cried like a
child
Joseph sat as if in dream. His beautiful
Christmas had come at last. No more hun.
ger and thirstingof spirit now. How the Joy
Gus red sparks of freight ran up the white
walls, the whole room shining. Harry pressed
him tightly with one arm, and Tiny, her
cheeks flushed with crying, thrust her pretty
doll into his lap, whispering:
There, there keep it, Joseph don
want it, indeed DON'T" and then ran away
into the corner, her face to the wall, lest by q
look back she might repent the immense sac
ri6ce.
| Well, we'll, tears cannot always last, and
very soon the May family were bright and
smiling again, Joseph the happiess Of them
ell. And when the Christmas dinner w,s sst
on, and all the friends were gathered about it,
| they made place for Joe among the child
rem; and mother May couldn heap his plate
enough with the good things; and the poor
lad felt rs if he were more ready to CRY than
to laugh, at all the kindly words which ever
one had for him.