Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1872-05-23

"uht SusA1 We NO WlGH GlO UTOkeIl
pieces, asked a lady Of another as she
packed away tho dishes. "Leave the
bits for the Birds" was tho answer. and
80 it came to pass that quantity of
vituals was piled at the foot of the old
elm. Downywing seeing the crumbs
from his perch, and the child behind
the bushes, both longed errnestly for
the departure Of their woodland guests,
that they might begin their feast.
'One song before We part" said Il
gentleman, and their voices Joined in
the music of the beautiful hymn, con-
Guiding with the grand old doxology,
Praise God from whom I'll blessings
how."
Lingering yet awhile rs if loath to
depart, the gentlemen went first to har.
ess tho horses, which hnl been tether-
Ell through the day; then followed the
girls aud boys filling tho mir with song
ane. jest. Two ladies remained in car
nest conversation, while unnotioed by
them, a wee toddler WAS climbing a
bank which overhung the water. A
bunch Of wild flowers allurod hor on.
The chubby fingers twining around the
twigs and grasses helped her upward.
1t was only little knoll after all, but
she was very near its edge, and the lake,
which was shallow in certain places was
deep here. A shrill whistle pierced
through the woods, loud splash in
the water, the flowers still nod gaily ut
the top of the hill, but the child IS
gone. "Elsie! darling! where are
you" cried one of the ladies' but there
was no reply. Winged by fear, both OF
them almost few up the bank. There
was just one glimpse ola white dress
and golden hair floating upon the wa
ter, little face turned skyward, and
two tiny arms thrown upward; then
the cruel waves closed over her. "Oh,
my child! my darling!" shrieked the
frantic mother, "she will be drowned
and l can not help her. Run, Mary,
run; call some one quick or it will be
too late and she sank upon her
knees, her face white and rigid with
despair.
Her companion turned and ran, al
most breathless, toward the road. STUN
bling over sticks and against bushes in
her haste But holp was at hand the
bushes beside the elm parted sudden
ly, light form darted up the knoll,
two thin brown hands clasped them
selves above a boyisi head, and like an
arrow cleaving the mir the young diver
shot downward into the water.
Who or what he was the mother
could not tell, only she knew twas an
answer to her prayer, In q moment,
though it seemed an hour, she saw some
thing rise to the surface and strike out
for the shallow water lower down.
A golden head lay on its shoulder
baby was safe, safe. but the dropping
weight seemed almost too great for the
young swimmer who struggled forward
bravely. Toward the point at which
he seemed, the mother ran in eager
haste, and wading out into the water,
snatched the rescued child from the
arms OF the almost exhausted boy, who
YEARLY, painfully reached the shore,
creeping at last upon his hands and
knees; then the bank, the sky, the
trees reeled around him, and faded
away as the lids fell over his eyes.
When next he became conscious, he
was lying upon the grass his coat was
of, ana q rent in his coarse shirt re-
vealed the long, ivid welts of = cruel
whip; fearful, pltying faces were all
about him.
"Who is he 7" he heard one ask an
other.
Johnny Styles, Mrs. Smiths bound
boy" was the answer.
II know him; he can swim like
fish, = chimed in another.
Johnnie opened his eyes and looked
round imploringly. "Don't send me
back" he whispered feebly; "I had to
save her, you know, and now will 20
away" and he tried to rise but fell
back again"
A gentleman caught him in his arms
and held him there lovingly. '.You
saved my darling's life," he said, his
voice trembling with emotion, land
now, while He spares both of our lives,
you shall be to me as a son."
"Bless me, the poor child looks
hungry" calculated plump old lady,
busting up to Johnnie's side. Cant
you eat something, bubby2" 81 be-
ieve SO, answered he, smiling as pic.
doughnuts and tarts were tumbled pro-
miscuously out of the huge basket on
her arm. "God is so good" answer
ed the child, &C only asked him for
my daily bread,"-
land, now, upon this lovely May
day, He has given you food, shelter,
raiment, and loving care" whispered
the voice of his adopted father iu his
ear.