Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1873-08-05
the day ebbed gradually from his mind, and
before long, daylight though 1t was, he fell

turn the whole current of our lives. Who
shall-say how much ofsrnisery, how much of
wretchedress nay, even crime, were saved
from Louis Milburu by those few hours of re>
pose. But We anticipate
At about midnight Louis awoke. The
;aaarm bells were ringing. aud the cry of fro
was waited in,his ears. Springing hastily
from his pillow, he threw open .he window,
and seeing the red glare in the distance, in
less time than it takes to write it, he left the
house. Crowds were in the streets rushing
to the place, and before long he found him,
self near the Scene of the fire.,
1t was large fiatSroofed dwelling hsuse,
three stories.s From tho second story window
the flames were pouring, and huge volumes of
smoke rolled out into the night. The fire.
men as yet had made no headway against the
flames when piercing shrek sent thrill TO
every heart.
Oh! my darling, my darling babyl Will
no one save her?" screamed woman, sShe
is in the house !" ....s.... .t.+
1t needed but minute 10 realize what the
matter was.
"Up with a ladder there ] Quick, men,
there's child in the houser' shouted tho
engineer.
Without the loss of single moment
dozen strong men ran ladder up the WALL.
.tThe upper lef. window where the flames
do net reach! Oh, hurry! For the sake of
Heaven hurry. men J" shouted the mother.
And hurry they did.
To reach the room the ladder had to pass
through the flames below. Before the steady
fireman, who sprung up tho ladder could pass
this spot, the ladder itself was on firc. He
reached the burning place, paused a second,
and then tried to struggle on.
Stop !" shouted tho engineer; "Itis cer-
ak M atta . s,
useless TO sacrifice another life"
"What do yon say? 2" screamed tho mother.
frantically. 'tGertain DEATH Will no one
save my child? Then will save her my
SELF"
She started forward, swooned and fell.
There was not dry eye in the crowd tho
engineer was deeply moved.
tWho will volunteer to try again 2" he
shouted cup with another ladderl"
Hardly had the ladder touched tho house,
when a boy darted up, srraug like an arrow
through the smoke and fame aud disappeared
within. A loud cheer, as If from one voice,
swept upward from tho multitude II died
away aud solemn stiffness settled on thom,
broken only hy the cracking flames aud tho
steady thump.-thump of the now working
engines. In a minute-it seemed much
longer-the boy appeared with something on
his shoulder. He saw that the ladder was
all ablsze, and disappeared again. On tho
south end of the building, whero tho flames
had not yet reached, he reappeared on tho
roof
''He has rope! Thank God he will
save -herl"
.sNo"
Eyes ~
'I. is impossible. lie will loso his own
life.''
ale is lowering her down in n blanketw
"lIurrah ! She is saved J" ,.:9,..
Such wers Few of the whispered cxclama-
tions Of the excited people.
The child was safe, but hardly had tho
rope touched the gronnd when the flames
burst out of the window directly beneath tho
youth, cutting off his only hope of esespe.-
The crowd saw that his situation was becom.
ing upbearabIe. He mus. &C. quickly. He
swung on to the burning ladder. Down he
came to tho spot enveIoped in flames. II
quiyered little and then fell, carrying him
heavily to the ground.
Then they bore Louis, (far il was he,)
bruised burned and insensible, from the
scene, and directly tho roof fell
"Who is hew "what is his pamo2 2'
were the questions which echoed on every
side.
1t was weeks before Louis came back to his
senses. A brain fever followed the. excite.
ment and suffering of that day, and for a long
time his life was despaired Of, but kind at
tention at length brought him back to health.
One day the light dawned again upon his
mind. He opened his eyes in a strange place.
A kind, motherly-lookipg lady. whom he did
not know. was sitting by his bedside.
''Did save the child, or was I dream.
ing" he said. "How came here1v 80,
"Hush, my dear boy" said the lady, softly,
"you did not dream; will tell you all when
you are stronger"
So one fine afternoon, when he was CON.
valescipg, when the window was open and
the gentle summer breeze erept into his cham
Der, his kind nurse told him that she was the
schoolmaster's wife, and that it was tho
schoolmaster's little daughter he had saved.
She told him how. through all the earlier
stages of his sickness. Master Bradley had
bent over his bedside till his recovery was as
sured; how, through his de1irium, he had
talked constantly of s'that cruel teacher,
words which, under the circumstances, had
sunk deep into Mr.. Bradley's heart, and
brought hot tears into his eyes; how, when
Louis had lamcnted over his want of friends,
the schoolmaster and his wife had vowed lie
should never want friends while they lived
BY and by the door opened and Mr. Brad
ley himself entered.
Let us drop the curtain jus. here. Enough
TO say that they understood each other now;
tba. both learned lesson they never forgot.
Louis was for time the idol of the town.
aud his uncle was 80 delighted that be trested
the boy with more attention than he ever be-
slowed on him before.
One little circumstances, perhaps, should
mention. Pretty Annie BradIey is to-day
Cha
masters eldest daughter, and could never be
persuaded that the brave lad who saved her
sister was not the greatest hero in the. world;
SO, after few 'years. the attachment being
mutual, they were married.
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