The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1874-12-24
A YOUNG HERO-HIS REWARD.

left it in desolate nakedness, in full view
of the railway trains, which, several times
daily, sped noisily by on their way east
and west. The quick eye of many tray
eler noted the column of smoke curling
upward from the chimney.
Here widowed mother and her son
found an humble shelter. But three
short years before they were living COM
fortably in the nearest village The sud-
den death of the husband and father,
combined with series of lesser misfor-
tunes, caused them to change their pretty
home for this, which they obtained at a
trifing cost from its first proprietor
And here they had lived ever since
how, their old friends and neighbors
scarcely new. True, James, the son, went
to and from the village, laden with num-
erous packages. His herbs, nicely picked
and carefully assorted, were always accept
able at the country stores; and the bum
dies of bright wool he carried home, when
returned, woven into many attractive
forms bv the nimble fingers of the inva-
lid mother, invariably found ready and
eager purchasers.
Many time, as James turned his back
on the CHEEKY village, the intense longing
of childhood for companionship and
amusements stole over him, and an mex
pressible feeling of loneliness caused his
throat to swell with emotions which only
the remembrance of the watching. waiting
mother could quell
One sharp wintry afternoon, when the
quicksilver with downward tendency de-
noted that it was to be colder still, Our
Hero"-for such he viii prove to be
jumped into his little rough wagon, and
turned pony Shag's head toward home,
leaving behind him the CHEEKY glow Of
household fires Never had his heart
been lighter than now For it was his
own at last, the book he had wanted so
long, and for which one hard-earned pen
ny after another had been so carefully
boarded. Now that he had the coveted
treasure in his possession, it seemed doub-
ly precious. As Shag of his own accord
turned to the right, he raised it to his
lips and kissed it rapturously, immediate
ly glancing around to see if any one was
looking at him.
The short wintry day was near its close,
and the bleak hillsides, unkissed by the
sun, crowned here and there with leafless
trees, made dreary indeed the almost
trackless country road. The iron track
of the railroad, running parallel with the
wagon track, gave no token of the loco
motives approach. The pony and his
master were the only living creatures Wis
able The boy smiled joyfully and loos-
ening his grasp of the lines, opened the
book, and in the almost twilight began to
read the pages Undeniably it was the
nipping cold that gave to the end of his
nose rosy hue, but it was not that alone
which sent the vivid color flying all over
his face. What if Shag left to himself
did take the wheels over every stone, and
bump him around considerable? He, as
he read, seemed to be in the land of the
Saracens, in the midst of the Crusaders
side by side with Richard 'Ceur de Lion.
All about him was the din and turmoil OF
battle; glittering armor flashed in the
sunlight; horses and men were falling to
gether; but everywhere, stately, proud
and victorious, went the black horse and
his rider. "Hurrah! hurrahi hurrah +
escaped involuntarly from the boyish
lips. "Whinny! Whitney! whinny!' re.
sponded Shag, approaching the curve
rounding which they would obtain a
glimpse of home, yet half mile distant
Reluctantly James closed his hook and
caught up the lines, for now deep raw.
Inc bordered the way, and his mother had
begged him to be always careful. The
curve of the road, rounding with the
track was safely passed, when James eye
rested on something that made the blood
60 surging to his heart
A huge tree had fallen from the bank
above directly across the track. The
strength of several men would be required
TO lift it from its lodging place and with {
slckenlng tremor it flashed across his minC
that the eastern express, passing through
the village he had just left, was even now
due, and any moment might round the
curve proudly. And then James saw. a.
once he had in dream, the locomotive
and cars tumbling over and over. and
away down at the bottom Of the ravine
faces of wounded and dying Even with
this vision before him he was carefully
turning Shag about. Yet what could he
do? Ii he only had lantern. he might
swing it around his head. and thus warn
the engineer. But he had none. nor any
thing to make light with. Yes. he had
a solitary match, picked carefully up from
the floor of the store. his book-his pre-
clous book-and the pine wagon-box.
In an instant his plans were laid. Shaa
was urged back at his best speed few
rods. Every moment was precious. Out
sprang James, jurked the tailboard from
the wagon, and, in less time than | can
write it, had with the aid of a jack-knife
made it into kindling wood. This. with
quick fingers he piled dollhouse fashion
on the middle of the track, filling up the
interstices with leaves ruthlasSly torn bv
the handful from the new history. until
nothing was left Of it in his possession
but its strong leather cover. Then with
eager haste he crossed carefully over the
top the long side-pieces of the wagon box.
and kneeling down, drew the solitary
match across his rough boot 4 pala
blue light fickered an instant, then gust
of wind and it was out. But no matter
the paper had taken FIRE. and u,
through the quaint little pine tower sped
the flames. The boards, dry as pine
could be. now ignited and blazed UP into
a large fame; but not moment too
soon. for the earth trembled. the rail:
were Jared by low rumbling, aud neal
and nearer came the train.
Hard down upon the brakes, and the
cars laden with human beings, were at a
sudden stand still Open few windows
out popped heads Several men jumped
down into the snow.
What's the matter? what. the mat.
ter? they cried, enquiringly, of the little
figure erect by the bonfire.
The boy could not speak, but pointed
dumbly to the curve, and as they disap-
peared in that direction, fell, overcome by
conflicting emotions, face down upon the
snow. Strong and gentle arms bore him
into a palace car; some one unbuttoned
his worn oyercoat, and out dropped the
| cover of his history all that was left of