Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1873-01-22
Whole No. 2938

but he could not sleep. The boy was
hurt deeper than anybody could
know. He knew how weak in BODY
ne was and without any education his
life would be useless. And he,wouId
become so helpful aud good a man if
he had but the chance which other
boys did not care for.
But where was the chance2 He
turned restlessly on his narrow he'd
until midnight, and then he got M
and dressed himself. He wonid On
out on deck in the fresh air.
As he went out under the clear
moonlight, the solemn shadows of the
hills on either side the poor boy pray
ed to God to give him his chance.
As he turned into the lower deck, a
curious smell came with a sudden
Whit toward him. Sam stopped a
moment, then hobbled quickly toward
the hold. A dense curl of black smoke
crept out of the door. He flung it
open. On the lower step lay an ever
turned lamp.
THAT drunken Stile!" muttered
Sam. From the lamp a tongue of
flame crept along the floor, a mere
thread, which pail of water would
extinguish. But at the further end
Of this tongue it licked and twirled
about keg, had adlready eharred the
hoops, and was thrusting itself up to
the head.
The blood seemed to stand still in
Sans veins. He knew the keg was
full of gunpOwder, enough to blow
the boat into atoms.
Could he give the alarm
The watehmen were at the other
end of the boat. Long before he could
reach them, that glittering. writhing
point would have done its work.
For himself there was a chance of
escape. With step he could reach
the small skiff Of the boat and rush
it into the water. Life was dear.
1 doubt if this thought stayed one
moment in Sans mind. An empty
pail lay near him. He caught 10 up
and filed it with water. Then he
stopped. He must go up close to the
powder. The hames were cracking
all about it.
A strong boy would have rushed
desperately in. But Sam had only
the courage of a girl. He staggered as
he went; his breath left him. But he
hObbled straight up to the jaws Of
death.
The next minute the floor was
drenched in water and the fiery tongue
died like a living thing, Kissing
venomOusly.
The watehman hearing the sound,
and catching the smell of smoke, gave
the alarm, and rushed to the lower
deck to find the fire out aid Sam lying
exhausted on the floor, his arms over
the powder keg.
The cry of fire once given, a wild
terror spread through the boat. In a
few minutes the passengers, men and
won en-, were huddled together in the
cabin, pale and chattering. Capt.
Scott came in the door.
What is it?" cried Mrs. Brooks
''Is there danger? Are we to be the
next victims of these murderous
steamboats, ?"
There is no danger now, madam.
wish You would come with me,
| gentlemen, and see what the danger
has been, and who it was, under God,
that saved you"
The men crowded after him. They
were Southern and Western men,
I whose hearts are easily touched, and
" MAOoC AAdAuo nnu
to their pockets. They delight, too,
in meetings and resolutions
The next morning a meeting was
called and a string Of grateful resOlu-
tiOns relative to Sam, which ended by
q subscription list for q testimonial.
Judge Brooks placed the money in
the captains hands: II hope you Will
fnd it enough to do the lad some per-
manent good" he said. -....
The captains eyes were dim. at
will educate him thoroughly as q ma
chinist." he said. ''You viii hear Of
that boy yet, sir"
We have all heard of him. But it
is not necessary to give his name or
to tell anything concerning him, ex-
cept that God gave him his chance
and he has used it as God would have
him. Youths Companion.