The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1871-12-07

tuCih WI, TIC hdh H'iSc dS 'huSh az ~
could d" before the hour fixed TO
the performance, without devotins
especial attention Ia aay one animal
There was q crowded andienc'
from far and near whole families
from the father down to the babe II
arms, were ranged on the hard bench
es to enjoy the acting elephants ant
precocious PONIES. There was ever
an extraordinary number OF children
for a thriving school bad entered ear
ly, and nois,ly secured nearl y all tn,
front seats, and delighted antlclpa
ton shone on rows OF chubby anC
eager countenances. The pea nu
boys drove a heavy trade, and III,
vendors of mugs of mead had a very
profitable and active time, and al
was going as merry as a marriage
bell in the ring and ont OF it, when
suddenly became aware that some
thing serious was the matter, for
saw Bill slip quickly from behind the
cage of the still tidgeting tigress, and
come to a statuesque stand in full
front of The amused people whu
scarcely observed him, amidst a
round of uproarous applause but
he was il hi shirt sleeves and dead,
Iy pale-as we'll he might be, having
just discovered that the mighty beast
beside him had, by some unnoticed
frantic effort, so lLosened the struct-
ure of her cage that the next wrath.
full movement would render it fear
fully unsafe. There was not minute
to be lost in the creatures evidently
excited condition, further aggravated
by the sounds oil the band and tor
menting attacks of exasperating flies ;
anu Bill rushed out III order to look
for Mr.. Kingsley among the audi.
ence, where he usually sat, and tell
him to dismiss the crowd as rapidly
and ar quietly as possible, as not
knowing what instant the necessary
power of p election would be past
but not seeing him al the moment III
his accustomed place, Bill scarcely
hesitate d at the responsibility of All
nouncing danger himself; but before
bis slow speech could be framed into
words that could warn and not too
severely alarm, it was too late.
The awful animal, crouching wall
ly in corner of its shattered encl"s-
ure, gave one abrupt vault, and swift
as lightning, amidst the startled
shrek of the terror stricken throng
dashed into the open space before
the encircling seats. For moment
it stood still there, as though daZ- d
by its freedom, while the struggling
IN ASS of scared humanity, with SCARCE
i, regard for lite or limb in each 9th
~, fled in trenZled haste and fright.
Bat just AZ she had gathered herself
up Tor her second srr1n9, our quiet
Bill made "A simultaneous leap, anu
landed square upon her brstllng
oack, with his muscular arms claspeG
tight around her swelling neck, and
his leg- wound close around her lith''
and outstretvhed loiDs. DIsmayed
by this unexpected obstruction, for
the space of "a breath or two the u
gress stood at bay =; then, with hor
r,ble roar rolled over and over in the
ring. We could hear Bills bones
break beneath her appalling efforts
10 di,lodge INN, for a sudden Sllence
fell upon the seiti-h crowd that sway
Ell aside from fright TO watch this
shocking contest between undaunted
man and untamed brute. In yaln
she turneh and twisted, reared and
plunged Bin held fast, though thr
blood poured from his mouth and
blinded the beasts sigbt>-held tasI
with the grip of everlasting fate, till
Mr.. Kingsley, snatching a loaded
pistol from a trembling rhtfian at his
side who had just threatened with il
some women IN his way of escape,
stretched his firm hand, and sent a
bullet stral ghL INFO the savage crea-
lures brain. One sharp convulsion
of the heavy frame, one final heaving
of the burdaned back, and she lay
still at last, with Bull partly under
meath her crushing wei, hit. Tender
hands lifted him and bore his sense
less body to the nearest comfortable
place, and more than one strong man
dropped unshamed tears over the
manned comrade who had SO gal
lantly sacrificed his own life for 9th e.
ers for, if not companionable, Bill
had done many kinder deed for his
associates in his unobtrusive way,
that, when the hour OF trial came,
the toughest remembered.
Turn 10y turn We watched by him,
but we knew that nothing more conld
be done tor him in this world and
even in his agony he was SO grateful
for the interest manifested, that 1t
seemed as if he wondered that any
had cared for him, aud it was touch
ing to hear him gasp out between his
throes ofanguish, show good you all
are to me-
But the end came soon. The doc
tor told him, and he heard it calmly
and bore it bravely. Mr.. Kingsley
and | were beside him few moments
after, when he turned to the former
and earnestly said
& think | nave made it even, sir. ,
What, Bill p
why, yon know, sir, | took life,
and | reckon | saved one the other
day, didn't p
Mr.. Kingsley took the cold hands
in bDth of his own. Yes, indeed,
Bill, many more than one, perhaps,
and gave yours, too !
Then you think it's even ?
Yes, Bill, ! do
'And do you believe that He, the
great Judge, will hold it even, too ?
Yes, Bill, | do think so for He
is full of mercy aud loving kindness.
But He is just, too ); murmured
the d. iog Voice, tori heard a preach
er once say He waited an eye tor an
eye, a tooth for tooth, and then |
knew | must give Him life for the
one / slew, and I've always been
looking out for the chanc~. 1t was
long comm but got it at last !;
and thank HIM for letting me make
it even.'
Dir. Kingsley was crying like a
child. ..
'My good old Bill he said, Il am
sorry to- lose you. You have been a
faithful servant, and l shall miss you
more than / can say
A glad light flashed into the dim
eyes, ana, in spite of the exquisite
pain OF every movement, he made
one supreme effort and lifted Mr..
Kingsley's hand to his white lips.