Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1874-02-05
Ghildrcn's Department. agricultural department.
NEVER RlDICULE THE UNFORTUNATE

4
"Halloa, old limpy! I say, old man, let's
see you rum! and shout arose from a
thoughtless group of boys just out of school,
as they saw an old man tottering along with
two crutches, making but slow progress over
the slippery snow. One boy sent big snow
ball at his head, knocking off his hat, and
letting his long gray locks stream out on the
wintry wind. | do not know how far they
might have carried their cruel sport had not
the sight Of their teacher dispersed them.
! Charley Forrest, one of the boys, after
PLAYING about for a while, entered his fathers
door, when to his astonishmcnt, he saw the
very old man seated quietly by the kitchen
fire, while his mother was preparing him
warm supper. "Charley,' said she, 'here is
IA poor old man who has no one to care for
him, and we must try and make him com
tortablc.' Charley blushed, as you may sup
pose he would. Before long the old man be-
gan to nod wcarily, and Charley's father COM
ing in, he was assisted to bed.
After the evening lamps were lighted,
Mrs. Forrest said, "Charey, would YOU like
to hear Il storyY
"Of course | would mother"
"Many years ago, in small cottage on the
bank of a river, lived a widow, with one lit
tie girl, whom she dearly loved. One spring
when the child was seven years old, there was
'freshct, which carried off bridges and
houses, and the mother missed her little girl ;
but after long search she saw her floating
slowly down the stream behind the house, on
frail raft. Her frantic cries aroused the
ncighborhood, who soon gathered in crowd
on the bank The child WAS clinging to a
board, which drittcl slowly but surely toward
mass of logs and driftwood, among which,
once entangled, her death seemed inevitable.
"But who would be daring enough to 60 to
the rescue? 1t seemed like sure destruction
to trust human life within that crashing mass
of timber, while the poor child's cries Of mann
ma! mammal were now and then family
heard above the roaring torrent But man
rushed from the crowd eXclaimlng, What
towards. Shall We see the little lamb lost
without one effort to save her?' He instantly
plunged into the raging waters, and on, on
! he goes while the crowd stand in breathess
terror as ever and anon he moves by some
log which threatens to crush him.
"And now the child is reached almost mi
raculousy, and seizing her in his arms, he
once more stems the tide. A shout of JOY
! bursts from the throng as he nears the shore
and puts the child into its mothers arms.
"It is needless to say that the thanks of the
poor widow we're unbounded to her child's
prcscrvcr but in less than year she died,
and the little girl went to live with some rel
atives in distant State; but never until to-
night has she been able to learn more of the
man who riskcd his life and lost his limbs in
saving her."
"10night, mother?" said Charley "sure-
ly-why, what do you mean"
"I mean, my son, that this poor old man
saved your mothers life years ago, and
praise God for leading him to my door"
As you may suppose, Charley felt badly
enough. "Never, never, neuer" he said to
himself "will treat a poor old man dIsres'
pcctfully or make fun of misfortune. Never,
never nevcrw I wish all boys would echo
those words, "Never never Child's Paper.