The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1867-06-15
Misrrllanp.
THE POWER OF KINDNESS.


neighbor, and he possessed many other excel
lencies of character which might have made him
an excellent member of society had it not been
for certain loose habits which had marked his
course from childhood. His parents had been
careless and prone before him, his father had been
a tough, rough customer, so Jack had naturally
come in the same track. But he was good look
ing and kind hearted, and genial and social, and
so had gained for wife of the very best
maidens of our town, as well one OF the hand
soonest.
Master Freddy Sprout, aged five years. STOOD
by his mothers side, with sadly begrimed and
tear streaked face, and his story was, that Solo
mon Gordon had whipped him with stick, and
the boys legs still bore few slight tokens OF the
castigation. Freddy, with some OF his playmates,
had been throwing stones at Mr. Gordons dog,
and one of the missiles hurled by Freddy had hit
the animal and caused him to howl with pain
Of course the stone thrown by such a tiny hand
could not have inflicted much injury upon the
canine brute, but Solomon Gordon loved his dog,
and when he saw what had been done he caught
Mr. Freddy and gave him thrashing; for be it
known Solomon Gordon was Just such another
man as Jack Sprout.-warm hearted, generous
and neighborly but rough, uneducated, strong
willed and impulsive.
Jack Sprout put on his hat and prepared to
sally forth. His lips were pale and tightly COM
pressed, and the huge muscles of his arms work
ed like bundles of rope.
Dear Jack" pleaded his wife, "don't go out
now"
"Let me alone Abby. No man shall strike
child of mine without having q chance to strike
me- I shall go and see Sol. Gordon, and I'll give
him such a licking as he won't forget in a
hurry"
''No, no, Jack-don't go. What good will do
Wait until you are more COOL
'Pshaw Go away, Abby. There is not pow
er enough on earth to save Sol. Gordon from a
drubbing, and I'll give it to him before the sun
goes down"
And as Jack Sprout looked at that moment he
gave awful evidence that he was physically able
to make good his word, for a more magnificent
structure of frame work and muscle was not to
be found in the town.
"Dear Jack" cried the wife, taking her hus-
band by the arm "Oh, do listen to me one mo-
ment Freddy is not much hurt, and he ought
not to have thrown stones at Gordon's dog. You
know both Solomon and his wife set everything
by the little animal, and he would not bark at
the boys if they did not plague him. If you 90
and find Gordon AS you are now you will only
make matters worse. Oh, wish you would
drop it."
Jack only shook his head, and smiled one of
those smiles which are terrible on the face of an
angry man.
'Oh, Jack, if you would only try the effect of
kindness upon Solomon! He is a good man at
heart"
Jack interrupted his wife with derisive
sheer.
.'don't laugh at me Jack tell you it would
be better to do SO than to resort to blows. Hyou
We're attacked l should not blame you for trying
to protect yourself; but this is not a case that
calls for your strength Of muscle There is q
higher and nobler strength that you can use
now"
'Oh, how uttered Jack, you are preaching.
You arc giving me some of your Sunday school
lessons. You may experience religion as much
as you please, but you mustn't preach the stuff
TO me-"
Jack" spoke the wife with stern solemnity,
shave been worse since began to have an in.
terest in religious things?"
mo, Abby-you were always good"
"Then why will you not listen to me? Hyou
will stay with me now--if you will wait until
your anger is coOled--and then 20 and speak
kindly to Solomon Gordon, give you my SOL
emn pledge that you will feel thousand times
better than you will if you"
But Jack would not hear his wife out. He had
said that he would thrash Solomon Gordon, and
he would keep his word. His temper was at the
boiling point, and he was fairly aching to get his
fingers on the man who had dared to strike his
boy; for Freddy was his pet, and every blow
that had been laid on the child's body had made
q 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 Solomon Gordon fallen in his
way just then he would have most assuredly been
severely beaten for though Solomon was stout,
bold man, Jack was very Hercules.
But Jack was destined to get pretty thorough
ly cooled off before he met the object Of his wrath
As he approached the river just below the falls
he heard loud cries of alarm, and upon hurrying
forward, he found that boy had fallen from one
of the projecting tmbers into the water. He
looked over the railing and saw the little fellow
just coming to the surface of the foamng, boiling
iood-a curley headed boy just about the age of
his own darling Notwithstanding forth his
tiny hands in agony of despair. 1t was ter
rible place, that seething, roaring pool, where
the waters of the great river came down over the
dam but Jack did not hesitate. He forgot his
enemy-forgot everything but the danger of the
little one-and only stopping to kick Oft his boots,
and throw aside hi, coat, he leaped down into
the angry flood. He caught the boy in his arms,
and then struck for the shore. 1t was mighty
conflict, but the strong man persevered. More
than once those who had gathered upon the rocks
and upon the shore 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 hands were ready to help him. AS for him
self, a few minutes action assured him that he
was able to walk and he sustained no injury
save few triting bruises And as for the boy,
ne had come forth in safety, for Jack had held
hiin high above the water during all the time of
his struggle.
And when Jack Sprout had regained his breath
and was able to speak, he looked to see the boy
that he had saved, and he saw that it was ANDY
Gordon, brirht-eyed curly.headed ;rf,ood