The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1865-12-23
9Mistellalleo,,s.
TRUsTED AND TRUsTY.

cover the side with ye, quick one min-
ute's delay may cost your life y exclaimed
Mr. Gray to fellow passenger Lad of
about fourteen, who appeared sste
about swinging himself down r 50
a boat which rocked in the -. 50 ~ Nv
the burning ship. Fhe flames ~ ring
round mast and yard, thick ytduiaes of
smoke hung like a funeral pail over the
vessel, and the awful, red glare was reflect
ed on the sea, which glowed ike q fiery.
furnace. 1t was no tina for dely, indeed,
and yet Reginald drew backfrom the yes-
sells side II had forgotten it, he exclaim-
ed, and darted back toward the cabin.
/"Madness---he is lcstl9 muttered Mr.
Gray; N 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
dashed spars together to form . rude raft
for the rest Mr. Gray iaboring among
these, gasping and almost fainting as he
was from the heat, which had become we'll
tnigh intolerable. Often he glanced anx-
iously toward the hatchway, with the faint
hope of seeing Reginald emerge againfrom
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 crowd
| ed boats have sheered off, ME Gray, half
blinded and sufocated by the heat and
smoke, springs on the raft he is followed
| by the captain and all who remain of the
| passengers and crew except the poor or
| phan boy. just as they are about to push
| off-"H old, hold !" cries Mr.. Gray, start
| ing up from his place, as q slight form,
| b|ackened with smoke, and with dress sing.
| ed and burnt, appears on deck he springs
over the bulwark missing the raft, aud the
next moment is dragged ont of the billows
ITO lie gasping and exhausted with his head
on Mr.. Gray.s knee.
| THANK God, my poor boy, youar saved =! y
..Thahk God,n family uttered Reginald
| Glare.
| A strange appearance was presented by
| the lad. His hair and eyebrows were sing
| ed, marks Of burning were on his hands
and face his dress hung in tatters around
| him. but be held in his hand fat parcel
vrapt up in oil cloth, and faint smile rose
to his lips as he murmured, "Tm so glad
that have it oil safe y
1
! down to the waters edge, and the flames
! had sunk at last from having nothing
further ON which TO vent theirfury, that
1.-THE captain dared to raise boat sail which
he had the foresight to carry with him.
BY means of this be succeeded, after long
hours Of painful anxiety, in reaching soon
after sunrise, the coast, from which the
homeward bound vessel had been not many
miles distant when the terrible fire had oc-
CURED.
When the worst Of the peril was over
and the raft, under a favorite breeze, was
Hoating toward the land, Mr.. Gray, who
| felt q strong interest in Reginald Glare,
asked the poor lad some questions regard
| ing his family and position. He knew al
ready that the boy Was the orphan of mis-
| sionafy, who had died at Sierra Leone he
nov found thatyoung Reginald was return
ing to England, to be dependent on an un.
Gle whom he had never seen.
+ 81 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"
II do not know what it contains, Sir,
1 was Reginalds reply.
..'Not know what it contains" !" exclaimed
Mr.. Gray.
f. at is not mine, said the boy, in expla-
lnation, ut i'd parcel entrusted to my care
| FApd, you, really rushed back 10 the
burning cabin, to carry OF that WHIST was
notsthe slightestyalue to you, and, perhaps,
| Of littlerto any one else. "aai
II The pale cheek of boy flushed a. Il he
we're almost hurt at the question, and he
made the simple reply, II had been trusted
- had promised hat else could have
done ?ssNaa 1a2fse zsFe 's.'5
T The party safely landed 10 England gqAA
the Ore had left poor Reginald Epspuilesgg
Mr.. Gray literally paid for hin journey 10
] London. RaGinald arrived that evening At