The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1867-07-17

j
the surface of the,foaning, boiling food
curlysheaded boy just about the age OF
his owndarling Notwithstanding forth
his tiny hands in agony of despair. IL
was a terrible place, that seething,S roar roar
ing pool, where the; waters of.the great
river came pouring down from over the
dam; but Jack did9n hesitate, He Tor
got his onemy-forgot everything but the
Danger of the little one-antt only stopped
to, Kick off his boots, and throw aside his
coat. he eaped wn.into the angry flood.
He caught the boy in his arms, and then
struck for the shore. 1t was a mighty
conflict, but the strong man perscvered.
More than once those who had gathered
upon the rocks had reason to fear that
neither the man nor the boy would come
forth alive; but Jack held his own against
the mad torrent, and finally reached the
shore, where many hards were ready to
help him. AS for himself, afew minutes
rest assured him that he was able to walk,
and he had sustained no injury, save a
few trihing bruises And as for the boy,
he had come forthin safety, for Jack had
| held him high above the water during all
the sime Of his struggle.
| A1d when Jack Sprout. had regained
his breath and was able to speak, he look
ed to see the boy that he. had saved, and
he saw thatit was Andy Gordon, a bright
eyed, curly-headed, fair.f faced boy, not 4
wear older than was his son Freddy.
"Whcre's papa? asked the dripping
child. ;.
al3e is coming" answered some one in
Jack looked up and saw Solomon Cor
don coming-Soiomon, pale and terror.
stricken-and with all possible haste ne
seized his coat and boots and hurried
away He could not meet Solomon Cor
don then.
eMercy what is it, Jack ?"
Mrs. Sprout was alarmed. Her hus-
band was dripping wet, his step was tot
tering, his breath vas labored, and there
was a livid mark on his forehead, as
though he had received o severe blow
"Itis nothing, Abby"
elias Solomon"
"Pshaw! Dye think Sol Gordon could
have done this /? Ihave been in the river.
A little boy had fallen from the bridge
RIGHT into the food beneath the falls. |
jumped in and brought him out :.
"a i've 2"
eyes, alive and unhurt"
,"Oh, thank God Whose child was it,
Jack?''
"Don't stop to ask questions now, Alb
by, but make me a cupo hot, strong tea,
while 1 get on some dry clothes. Ny
soul! 7 think had narrow dodge of H. ;"
Jack put on dry garments, and when;
he had rested awhile, be drank his tea,
and iu the course of an hour all traces OF
exhaustion had passed away.
81 tell you, Abby. L have had a good
many tough jobs in my day. but | never
had one like that. A weaker man than l
could never have br' ught out that child
alive"
sob, how grand it is, Jack, to use ones
strength in such cause! But whose
child was it, jack? Do you know?"
| Before Jack could answer, the outer
door was unceremolious opened, and Sol
onion Gordon entered the apartment.
Abby shrank back in alarm when she-saw
how pale and excited the man looked, and
how he trembled, for she did not notice
the moist brimming light that shone in
his swollen eyes.
"Jack vs- spoke the new conner, in a
gaspine manner, at the same time hold
/ Ing out both bis. hands. He choked and
Lstammered, but presently gained strength
to add:. "Oh, my God! -wha. can l say !
Jack! Jack p Here the stout man
broke fairly down and burst into, tears.
Jack. almost as much affected as was
this visitor, arose and took the extended
hand
"Never mind, SOL It's all right"
"No,. mop cried Gordon, sit ism right;
| it never can be right. OH, what can |
do? Jack, if L could only 60 back to
where / was this morning! Ny God! l
beat your child for tritiing thing, and
] You saved mine from terrible death ;
saved him almost ut the expense, of your
own lite. Kill eff you will. Beat me,
Jack. Do anything you like, but only
forgive me, so that this saving act OF
yours shapt always be like heap of Goals
upoB my head p
And then with sndden impulse, under
the influence of such an emotion as he
had never before experienced, Jack Sproat
said:
Solomon, I tell youit's all right. You
have no more reason to thank God that l
saved yonr child than L have. When /
went from my house was full of wrath
and madness, and curses were upon my
lips and in my heart, and | should have
sought such revenge as the wild beast
seeks. Is it not better that Ifound your
little Andy in the food? And is it not
better that my great strength was used
in saving his life? Iforgive you fromthe
bottom Of my heart. And now say it's
alb rightp
And SO was cemented friendship holy
and lasting.