The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-05-18
ACROSS THE ICE.
ny GEORGE CALLAHAN.

ice in the creek will break up very soon.
It has been thawing all day"
"Why, mother, 1 saw the boys skating
on it."
eyes, you saw them early this morning,
when going to school, but think how much
damage the sun has done, between eight
o'clock and three. And, Willie, it is naugh-
ty to argue with your mother. You know
always let you Aeve as much pleasure as
danger my Willie's life, must prevent it.
Therefore repeat, you shall not CO."
Gunners Greek, which was the innocent
object of this little discussion and moth
erIy sermon, was the branch of large riy-
opposite Willie Whites house, aud mar
rowed in width the seven miles above the |
house, until it ended in q muddy pool.
The authorities seeing that the old wood
en- bridge which spanned the creek was
worthless, had commenced building a new
tions had begun, the remains of the old
one were washed on shore, and the boys
of the village quickly secured them for
making bonfires.
A hard frost, which seemed to have
waited for the wreck Of the old bridge,
the workmen from building bridge for
temporary use.
twas hardness on the part of the au-
thorites that left the villagers without any
passage across the creek, at the period at
which our tail opens.
Dick Jones, the playmate of our hero,
and owner of the new sled, resided on the
side of the little stream opposite to Willie's
house, and at the same distance from the
water, which was nearly half a mile.
The firm of Jones & White had been
long known in the city, which was about
an hours ride from the village, as doing a
good business in the manufacture of gas
fixtures. The firm was composed of
Messrs. Nathan Jones and William White,
the respective fathers of our play mates.
This alliance o. the two families in bust
ness way, connected them the more closely
in the ties of friendship.
Therefore, it is not to be wondered at,
that this afternoon we see the form Of
Dick, who thought not of danger when he
crossed over on the ice, prowling around
the house, waiting impatiently for Willie's
answer.
1t was plainly written on his crest-fallen
face when he Appeared at the door.
Dick, who was not to be thwarted in his
hope for amusement by Mrs. Whites refu-
sal, persuaded Willie, after a good deal of
him across the stream. They proceeded at
first very slowly and cautiously, stepping
on what seemed to be the hardest parts,
and had reached the middle in safety, when
Willie, who all along had been thinking of
the great sin he had been committing, and
disobedent children, fatty refused to go
any further, and taking his little brother
by the hand, fled precipitately towards
home. But he was soon overtaken by
Dick, who was the heetest of the three.
Willie was now again coaxed and threat
ened to be whipped; all to no avail, for he
was steadfast in his good resolution.
Johnny, who up to this time had not
said anything, now burst into tears, and
whimpered out that he wanted q ride on
Dicks new sled. Those tears at once
changed the resolution of his brother, whe
was very fond of him.
The three, after enduring much fatigue,
at length reached the other side of the
creek, where they Immediately commenced
playing with the new Dasbaway.
1t was in vain Willie tried te enjoy him
self that afternoon. There seemed to be 8
foreboding of something that was to hap
pen.
Therefore, it was with an anxious hear
that he began for the second time to cross
the creek. Proceeding very slowly, as be-
fore, followed by his brother, he reached
about two yards from the shore, and waf
beginning to cheer up with the hope Of
soon being at home, when he heard crack
and then crash, followed by the sound o.
plunge in the water. On. turning round
he was just in time to see Johnny disap
pear from view, and hear his agonizei
shrek for help.
That shrek was heard by his father
who was proceeding towards home, after q
fruitless search for his boys.
Willie was saved from a watery grave by
the prompt appearance of his almoet dis
tracted parent, who put his ewn life ir
jeopardy to save that of his son.
When the ice had broken up. the ffelesi
body Of Johnny was found by the XillagerI
with the help of graphing irons.
The old remedies used in drowning easel
were now put in practice, but they brough
no sign of approaching consciousness, fol
the soul Of HIM whose light laugh but few
moments before was waited over the fata
stream, had taken its flight.
The drenchiDg that Willie received that
evening, brought on q severe cold, followed
by a violent fever, which lasted four week.
before he showed any signs of recovery. II
his raviDgs, he told again the history of hi
little brothers sad death. The journey
across the ice, and it's fatal consequences
we're we'll remembered in his after-life.-
Guardian Angel.
The following beautiful experiment, des
cribed by Prof. Tyndall, shows how music
may be transmitted by an ordinary woodeu