The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1866-07-19

ary, and if you are in need before that
come to me, I'm poor man myself
and I can feel for other poor met.
| shall never forget that mans face
in all my life, so wondering. so thank:
ful and so awc-stricken. Ali be said
was God bless you,' but there was
whole sermon in those words, and
slept better for them.
On Christmas night he paid me every
cent, and from that day until I left the
heighborhood dealt with me regularly.
But times grew SO much better that I
took a store in good street at the 9th.
er end of the town, aud one way and
another saw no more of my policeman
for three good years.
One night, just such night as that
on which I first saw him staring on the
hams, I was awakened long after mid
hight by the cry oc FIRE. I started up
to see the flames through the floor, and
to know the store down stairs was sll
afire. The stairs we're on fire also, and
whes, as opened the entry door the
hot air rushed in and almost stothered
me, gave up all hope of getting my
poor wife and helpless little ones out of
that burning building alive and safe
l waS so faint and i'll from the accident,
ytn see, that hadn'. all my Wits about
me, and believed there vas no one mis-.
sing. My blood ran cold, when my
wife, clasping her hands, and With an
awful look upon her face, screamed
"Our little Lucy, our little Lucy il
left behind"
She had slept with our hired girl
since her little baby brother was born,
and the woman in her fright had for.
gotten her little one. There she was at
the top of that burning building, out Of
the reach of any human help; it secm-
ed to me as looked up at the walls,
great red and yellow sheet of Aamej
with blue CLEANS here and there, as
though devilish heads were peepins out
and grinning at US. Still, hopeless as
it was, l should have gone back into
the burning house and saved my badly
or died with her if l had been able to
stand. No one else would venture. It
would be foolish sacrifice Of life they
said for no doubt the child vas already
smothered by the smoke, and though I
raved and pleaded and made wild PROM
ises they shook their heads and only
babe me have patience.
Z" Patience!" thought that was
going mad as the face of my little girl
my sweet, pretty pet-rose up before
me. But just then a tall man dashed
through the crowd aud came towards
me.
Quick !" he shouted, which room
is the child ir-speak qdickly-vhich
room?"
"The back one on the upper 6oor," ;"
I groaned, and he dashed away from
) me, parting the throng with his strong
| arms, and in another moment saw him
mounting the ladder. / heard them
calling him to come back, bidding him
him beware, and speaking of him as
| though he were dead already. But hs
never needed them, and as l saw him
: hidden BY the black smoke which pour.
ed from the window, l covered my face
and prayed that the angels who walked
in the frey furnace might 20 with
> him.
/ perhaps they did. Something Stron'
ger that an earthly thing must have
been there, for 10 few minutcs-th y
seemed years to me then-we saw him
> coming down the ladder with something
in his arms. The burnt body Of my
child, perhaps thought, but as he
came closer saw that it was my OVID
. laughing, living darling, with her blue
eyes open and her little arms about his
, neck.
"The roof fell in the next moment,
but my treasure was safe and that was
all cared for.
, "What shall say or do to thank
! you," l said, as l grasped his hand.
"Fm a ruined man, and l can only give
: you my blessing but let me know your
name"
"Have you forgotten me? don't y"d
remember me ?" he said, as he beat