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

Mercy. What is it. Jack y
Mrs. Sprout was alarmed her
husband was dripping wet his
step was tottering; his breathing
was labored, and there was a hyid
mark on his forehead as though hs
had received a heavy blow.
1T is nothing. Abby .
Has Solomon
Dye think Solomon Gordon could
have done this ! have been in the
river. \ little boy had fallen from
the bridge right into the flood be-
meath the falls. | jumped il and
brought him OUT
alive p
Yes, alive and unhurt,' replied
Jack.
80, thank God! Whose HID
was il, Jack p
Don't stop to ask me questions
now, Abby. but make me a cup Of
hot, strong tea, while / get on some
dry clothes. My soul / think /
had a nar ow dodge of it,
Jack put on dry garments, and
when lie had rested awhile he drank
his tea, and IN the course of an hour
all traces OF exhaustion had passed
away.
/ tell you, Abby, I have had a
good many tough jobs in my day,
bnt | never had one like that before.
A weaker man than could never
have brought the child out alive
ooh, how grand it is, Jack, to use
ones strength in such a cause. But
whose child was itr Do you
know p
Before Jack could answer the out
er door was unceremOniouSly open.
ed, and Solomon Gordon entered
the apartment. Abby shrunk back
in alarm when she saw how pals
and excited the man looked, and
how he trcmbled. for she did not
notice the moist brimming light that
shone in his swollen eyes.
Jack spoke the new conner, i'll a
gasplug manner, at the same time
holding out both his hands. He
choked and stammered, but pres
emily gained strength to add, Oh,
my Godi what can ] say : Jack !
Jackn Here the stout man broke
fairly down and burst into tears.
Jack, almost az much affected as
was his visitor, arose and took the
extended hand.
Never mind, Solomon, II is all
right
no, no. cried Gordon. 1T isn't
right. 1t never can be right. o,
what can | do9 Jack, if | uld
only 20 back to where | v this
My God | bea your
child tor triiiing thing, az you
have saved mine from a terrible
death, saved him almost ut the cX.
pense of your own life. Kill me if
you will. Beat me, Jack. Do any.
thing YOU like, only forgive me, so
that this saving act of yours shan't
be always like heap of Goals upon
my headn
And then with a sudden impulse
under the influence of an emotion
such as he had never before expert
cnced, Jack said
Solomon, tell you it is all right.
You Lave no more reason to thank
God that 1 saved your child than
have. When went forth from my
house | was full Of wrath and mad.
ness, and curses were on my lips
and in my heart. | should have
sought such revenge as the wild
beast seeks. Is it not better that l
found your little Andy i'll the Hood;
and is it not better that my great
strength was used in saving his life
l forgive you, Solomon, from the
bottom of my heart. And now I
say it is all right
And so was cemented a friend.
ship holy and lasting.
Seemingly slight perturbations in
the current Of mans life some.
times work marvellous changes for
good on i'll.
Abby said Jack Sprout--it was
late in TIE evening, and they had
been sitting for some time without
speaking-'l believe am converted.
Saul OF TaIsus, that you read to
Freddy about last Sunday, was not
more suddenly brought to light
than have been. Now, really and
truly, there is more virtue in kind.
ness than'in enmity ; it blesses eve.
rything and everybody. He who
bestows it is as much blessed as he
who receives it,
And then the wife, with her arm
placed around her husbands neck,
gently said:
Dear Ja *, wouldn't we both be
happier if we would try to live by
the blessed rules laid down by our
Saviour! Oh, know that they
were given by One who sought our
highest good, and | think we should
iiud JOY in trying to square our
lives by the golden rule.'
My darling we will try