The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1874-04-23

BOYS. Where d9 you liver v hat ls your
uameg Is there nobody TO lake care OF
Besny but YOU,
The boy shook bis thick hair back, and
crushed hi. hat into shapeless mass a.
be looked up into Dr. Dayid's face
/ Nobody bat me, nobody since my
mother died Father died ever so long
ago. | kin take care Of him good-but
to-day be was afraid 10 be LEFT alone
I'm Bob Brown, and live down by the
cooper shop.
Dr. David was d Kind. hearted man,
but wilhal exceedingly cool aud cautious.
He thought about all the disorder hat
would ossue when the little child was
seated among the scholars. lie thought
OF the chances Of being left with siekly
boy to care for altogether, but the appeal
ing aud wistful lsok In the brown eyes
soon oyeTcame all scruples, aud be badc
The chrildren come in, Benuie was seat
ed in an old wooden settee by the side OF
the stove, and DR.. David folded up his
own coat to make rest for bis head -
You may be sure there was a eommotion
among the scholars, and loud comments
on Bob Browns ragged clothes aud
rough hair, lie shook his grlmy dst at
one or two, as DIR, David was looking
the other way. IN come back, sir, by
three O'Clock, sure, aud then whispered
loudly to Benny;
Don't you get skeery; III be back be-
fore you can say Jack Robinson; and
with another hitch AT the tow string that
served for suspender, he ran of as
quickly as bis old shoes would allow,
When recess came, DIR. David was
obliged to stand guard over the little yell
ow-haired lad in the corner, who looked
about him like a strange cat. The boys
called him sissy aud blew back his yell
low curls whenever they got chance;
they made horrible faces at him until
tears came in his big eyes, and then call
ed him Miss Nancy until he began TO
| think he would rather been ost +. in The
freezing cold and snow.
| 1t was not until DR.. David had called
the ringleader aside and told him in con-
fidencc that he wished he would keep a
little watch over the boys and see that
they did not worry the poor, motherless,
sckly lad, and SO disarmed him altogeth-
en- that there was anything like peace.
Benny lay down on the coat and slept
all the after noon, until the school was
dismissed, aud Bob had not yet appear
ed.
Mr.. David began TO have some mis-
givings now, aud 10 speculate on the
chances Of being left with a sick boy on
his hands, but resolved TO wait little
while longer before he felt any serious
dislrusI.
Meantime he tried to divert the little
fellow, who was growing unhappy and
restless. lie had gentle, girish ways,
and n soft voice, qHite unlike the great
school-boys with whom DIR. David had to
deal. lie told of his long fever, and all
the queer visions that he had while 1t
lasted, and Of the kind lady who came
every day to sec him until she had to go
TO her home in another city.
There was always sparkle in his eye
when he spoke Of Bob, and he said over
and over, Bob promised mother, and
Bob'Il stick to me, bet you.
And can you skate any, Benny said
DR.. David, by way OF amusing him.
Not mnch, sir; only with one foot; !
had an old skate, but teller can't do
much with one. My mother used to live
by big river, and in winter time it froze
all over, and the college boys came down
like the wind on the ice, she says; she
used to see lots of 'em. Sometimes to-
ward spring the ice got thin, and every
once in a while some chap got most
drowned. Mother used to tell how she
saved one feller's life
Did your mother save an,body's life
asked Mr., David as he stopped in his
walk TO and fro, and sat down beside the
little lad.
Yes, sir, she did; pyc heard her tell
when she was young girl. That must
have been an awful long time ago, mustn't
It?
Tell me an about it, said DR.. David, as
( he looked long and earnestly at the big
brown eyes that had strangely familiar
look; the same look he bad seen in Bobs
upturued face.
Well-Benny felt quite proud that his
story had such an interested listener
well, mother used 10 tell me all about Il,
over and over when | was getting we'll
aud wanted stories every minute. She
used to teach In the district school, am
she had to 90 close by the river every
day. So one day she saw college feller
coming along like steamboat, round by
the bend. There had been a thaw, so the
ice was dreadful thin; she saw him com.
ing right straight on toward crack
! 10 the ice that he didn't see at all. She
followed and threw up her hands and
] tried 20 stop him, but he was going q
i fast De didn't see her, and sure enough
{ crack went the ice, aud be went straight
down into the cold water.
! Then be tried to pun himself out, bnt
. the rotten ice kept breaking away n fasi
, a. be took hold Of the edge. She said II
8 Was dreadful 10 see that white face going
! up aud down, and the poor arms flying
{ ont 10 try aud get hold soraeRherc Thu
: mother said she made Up her mind to fry
. to save him, and she ruu to The feacr a4a