The Shasta courier., 1868-03-21
NUMBER 2.
Highest.

:. Well, III do something yet to show them
l'm somebody. You wait. Jarvey Williams
shall see it too, the mean little chap"
. Don't be ongry with Jarvis, Arty; he is
kind-hearted, good boy. If you failed, and
he won the prize, you know it isn't because
he tried to injure you; and he would try and
do you kindness at any time, if he had an
opportunity, I'm sure"
f" III have my name above his yet, Marion,
see If don't I'm off for Martins Ledge"
And. with dark face and a darker heart,
Arty Fisher left his gentle sister. who had
Jailed to soften his hard feelings towards his
classmate.
Martins Ledge was the name of huge
rock that formed one side of hill which was
a favorite play ground with the BOYS: and
the largest of them often had trials of skill,
or rather strength, in climbing its steep
front. 1t was not an easv task. for there
was not much for either hands or feet to get
hold of, and the rock stood nearly upright,
and stretched away up some sixty feet, SO
that there was danger in the sport. Here
and there, upon its sun burnt and storm.
beaten face, were initial letters rudely cut,
fifteen, twenty, thirty feet from its base
memorial marks of the climbers and one
could be seen fully forty feet high, where
Tommy Black, who, always more venture
some than the rest, and who afterwards went
to sea, managed to leave large 7, but who
did not wait to add his other initial Tommy
never owned that he felt dizzy, and didn't
dare to stay longer though the boys all said
it was so.
1t was Wednesday afternoon and many of
the boys were there usual. playing about
Martins Ledge. Arty Fisher Joined them.
A hammer showed its handle from his pock-
ct, and clnked against the iron chsel inside,
telling thai he was all ready to climb.
" Now, boys. let's see if | can't put my
mark highest of all. I'll be first here any.
howl Who cares for Jarvey Williams ?''
They all knew what had happened at
school. They all knew Arty's vexation at
his failure, and at the success of Jarvis, and
they also knew the unmanly spirit he had
shown, but none of them wished to quarrel
with him.
Go ahead, Arty !" cried several voices.
as he started.
He went rapidly up the ledge, at first;
but there was less and less to hold upon the
higher he went, so that he got on slowly
Twenty five feet, thirty, thirty fve-the boys
knew from old marks when he reached these
points. Forty, forty-one and the boys
shouted:
Highest of all, Arty !"
The face of the rock was almost without
break here; still he held on, and gained
one foot more; forty -two-he was higher
than the bravest
He managed to get out his tools, and
clinging to the rock, began to make bis mark.
Slowly and painfully he worked on the letter
A, for there was danger every moment that
he would lose his balance and fall backward.
1t was very hard. His limbs trembled under
him IIn Ola0and 6OuY for q
his foot slipped. Down over the steep rock
he fell, to the gravel-bed below. He had
made his mark highest of all +; but it was
unfinished.
Arty was carried home, bruised, and
bleeding, and unconscious. lie came to
himself to find that broken arm and other
injuries were the result of the days work.
He learned, too, that little Jarvis Williams
had been the first to run for help, and to
bring the surgeon and that, with the heart
of a brother. be had fingered near for hours
after the accident, Offering any service in his
power. And then he remembered his sisters
words:
81 believe Jarvis is Christian"
The next day Jarvis came to see him, and
though he spoke hopefully, and tried to COM
fort his suffering playmate, Arty saw the
tears in his eyes, and knew they were from
sympathy. And then Arty " came to him
SELF in another way. He held out his hand.
Forgive me Jarvis"
That was all he said but it came from
penitent heart, and loving word, in reply,
from Jarvis. made them friends. And so,
through Arty's long confinement, Jarvis
came every day to do what he could to cheer
him, telling him all about the boys and their
play.
Jarvis" said Arty, one day, "what
made you so kind to me when you knew |
hated you?"
Don't, Arty; you didn't hate me; or at
least you couldn't have if you knew how
felt. And how could help coming to see
you when you were hurt so badly. Besides,
Arty," and Jarvis eyes glistened now
g Pm trying to be Christian and if you
would only try with me, how much we could
help each other.
When Arty's sister came in, the boys were
talking softly but very earnestly.
There is place in Arty's heart where are
written the names of all his playmates whom
he loves BEST and on that record the name of
Jarvis Williams stands 6 highest of all,D for
Jarvis conquered by love and the two boys
walked in love together.