The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1871-06-30
BLOOMSBURY, PA, FRIDAY, JUNE 80, 1871

$50 you have been to the river, after
all that l said.'
The boy lifted pale face and fright.
ened eyes.
"Didn't tell you not to 60 to the
river?"
A vicc.likc grip was already on his
little arm.
"Yes, sir" came through quivering
lips.
"And you went for all !"
" But, father"
Not word sir, told you not to go
to the river, didn't II"
eddie Wheeler" The poor child
tried to explain.
" / don't want to hear about Eddie
Wheeler. He can't excuse your disc.
bedience. Come, sir, we'll settle this
business !" and he dragged the white
faced boy after him, upstairs, to tho
garrct, and taking down rod, swung
1t in the air above his head.
80 father Don't! Let me tell you!"
A look, almost like despair, was in
the boys face. Mr.. Ellis remembers 1t
to this day; and will remember it to
the day of his death.
" / don't wish to hear any excuses"
was replied, as the 1.-THE rod came down
upon the shrinking child, with stroke
that made every nerve quiver with
pain.
go father"
Once moro the mild, appealing look,
so full of agony, was lifted to tho stern
face above him, but lifted in vain. A
second cruel stroke fell, and then rain
of strokes, until the fathers sense of
pity, intruding between anger and un-
forgiving justice stayed his arm. He
went down stairs, left the boy lying in
the middle of the floor, as he had drop.
ped from his hand-motionless as If he
were extinct. He met the pale suffer-
ing mother below-she loved the boy
tcnderly, and felt every smarting blow
but he passed her without word.
She had seen Willie as he encountered
his father at the door, and understood
the punishment.
Mr.. Ellis went out into the porch to
breathe the free air, and cool the sud-
den excitement under which he had
been laboring. AS he shut the door
behind him, in kind of instructive
effort to separate himself from painful
| hn tn f,p lIr
Wheeler. A hand grasped his hand in
quick, strong pressure.
"It was brave act! He's a noble
boy Where is he?"
Il don't understand you," said Mr.
Ellis, looking bewildered.
Didn't he tell you ?'
"Tell me what ?"
"How he sprang into the river and
saved my little Eddie's life? ?"
81 heard nothing of it."
There was a choking sensation in MIR
Ellis throat his voice was faint ant
husky.
"Aud he didn't tell you! Brave
uoble boy! He came over to play will
Eddie; and Eddie wanted to go dowr
to the river; but Willie said he couldn'
60 to the river. / heard Eddie coaXinl
him, but Willie was firm, because HI
said you had told him not to 60. / wa
so pleased with his obedient spirit
Well, lost sight of them after littl,
while, but, as learn, Eddie would g
down to the river, and your boy follow
ed him, but kept distance from tn
water. Instead of climbing over tn
logs and barrels, or getting into th
boats, he sat by himself way of
Then, sir, my Eddie, in leaning owe
the river slipped and fell in; and you
boy, instead of running away, hal
frightened out of his senses, as mos
children of his age would have done
sprang down to the wharf, and into tn
water after Eddie. l wonder they wer
not both drowned. 1t was only in God
mercy that they were saved. Whe
the man who saw what happened 60
to the place, and looked over the docl
into the water, there was Willie, hold
ing on to ring in one of the logs wit
his right hand, and clinging to Eddi
with his left. Such courage and pre-:
ence of mind in boy almost surpasse
belief! Where is he? He ran Off hom
as soon as the man lifted him from tn
water. l must thank him for this nobl
act"
At this moment, the door openin
into the porch swung back, and tn
, white face of Mrs. Ellis looked out.
[ so husbandw she exclaimed in
|, voice of terror, "come to Willie
quick |"
; Mr.. Ellis followed his wife, and tn
, neighbor hurried after them. Th
mother had found her boy lying inseI
f.; sible on the garret floor, and lifting hiI
f in her arms, had brought him dow
stairs, and laid him, in his wet clothe
upon her own bed.
y AS Mr.. Ellis came into tho room, /
saw the deathly face turned toward II
/ door. The sight seemed to blast h
vision. He struck his hands togethe
< shut his eyes, and stood still suddenly
G "Will you run for the doctor ?" sa
y Mrs. Ellis to the neighbor.
i The neighbor did, literally, as Il
mother said ; he ran all the way to ii
c physicians residence.
G BY the time the doctor arrived, WI
h lies wet garments had been remove
n He asked but few questions as to Il
It meaning of the boys condition. NJ
IS Wheeler had told OF his heroic condu'
5; and the inference was that there HI
II been an over.excitement of the brai
Ie leading to suspended animation. st
the case puzzled him.
h He may have been hurt jump
ID from the wharf, suggested \
+, Wheeler.
L. The doctor on this hint examined t
h. body.
~ "What is this ?n he asked as a loi
a. purple stripe, lying across the back a