National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1867-05-10

VIII 1t do Wait until you ar
cool"
'Pshaw! Go away, Abby. Their,
Is not power enough oil earth [,
save Sol. Gordon from Il drubbing
ana l VIII give it to him before the
sun goes down =
And as Jack Sprout looked a,
that moment he gave awful eyi
dence that he was physically abl,
TO make good his word for nor,
magnificent structure Of fr am
work and muscle was not to b,
found in the town.
Dear Jack cried his wife taking
her husband by the arm, 'oh do lis
ten to me one moment. Freddy il
not much hurt, and he ought not tC
nave thrown stones at Gordou'S dog
You know both Solomon and hi,
wife set everything by the little ani
nal, and be would not bark at til,
boys if they did not plague him. i
You go and find Gordon as you arc
now, you will only make matters
worse. Oh, how l wish you wolld
dIop itn
Jack only shook his head and
| smiled one of those smiles which
are terrible upon the face of an an.
CRY man.
oh. Jack, if YOU would only try
the effect Of kindness upon Solo.
mon. He is good man at heart
Jack interrupted his wife with a
sheer.
Don't laugh at me, Jack. l tell
you it would be better to do so than
to resort to blows. Ifyou were at
tackled | would not blame YOU for
fighting to protect yourself but
this isnot a case that calls fOI your
strength of muscle. There is a high
er and nobler strength than you can
use now.'
Ohio " uttered Jack, you're
preaching. You are giving me
some Of your Sunday School lessons.
But / don't want 'em. Iou may ex.
perience religion as much as you
please !: but you must not preach
the stuff to me-
Jack spoke the wife, with stern
Solemnity, have l been any worse
since | began to have an interest in
religious things"
no, no, Abby-you We're always
good.
Then why will you not listen to
me! If You will stay with me now;
if you will wait until your anger is
cooled-and then go and speak
/ kindly to Solomon Gordon, | give
you my solemn word that you will
feel a thousand times better than
YOU will if you
But Jack would not hear his wife
ont. He had sworn that he would
thresh Solomon Gordon, and he
would keep his word. His temper
was at tie boiling point, and he was
fairly aching to get his hand upon
the man who had dared to strike his
boy for Freddy was his pet, and
every blow that had been laid upon
the child's body had made Il mark
of fire upon his own heart. SO he
put his wife away from him and
hurried from the house, slamming
the door after him.
Away went Jack Sprout with
rapid, heavy strides and had Sol
omon Gordon fallen in his way Just
then, he would most aSsllredly have
been severely beaten for though
Solomon Gordon was stout, bold
man. yet Jack was very Hercules.
Bat Jack was destined to get
cooled off before he met the object
OF his wrath. AS he approached
the bridge that spanned the river
Just beOS tie falls, he heard loud
cries OF alarm, and upon hurrying
forward lie found that Il boy had
fallen from one of the projecting
timbers into the water. He looked
over the railing and saw the little
fellow Just coming to the surface of
the foaming, boiling tlood--a curley
headed boy, just about the age OF
his own darling Freddy-stretching
forth his ;iny arms in an agony OF
despair. 1t was Il terrible place,
that SETTLING, roaring pool, where
the waters OF the great river came
pouring down from the high dam ;
but Jack did not hesitate, he forgot
his cncmy--iorg0t everything but
the danger of the little one-and on.
" stopping to kick off his boots
and throw aside his coat, he lcaped
down into the angry flood. lie
caught the boy in his arms and thci
struck out for the shore. 1t was 1
mighty conflict, but the strong MAJ
perSevcred. More than once thos'
who had gathered upon the rock'
had reason to fear that neither til,
man nor the child would come fortl
alive but Jack held hisown agains
the mad torrent, lnd finally reached
the shore, where many hands wer'
ready to help him. AS for himself
u few minutes rest 40 far restore,
. him that hc was able to walk ant
, he had sustained no injury save
few triiling bruises. And AZ for the
boy. he had come forth II safety
. for Jack had held him high abov,
the water during all the time OF MS
struggle. I'll,
And when Jack Sprout had re-
! Gained his breath, aud was abe 10
sneak, he looked to see the Doy he
lad saved. and he saw that 1t was
AnIy Gordon, u bright eyed, curly
, haired. red faced boy, not u yeai
older than was his sou Freddy.
, .Whcre's papar asked the drip
, uiuv child.