Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1874-04-15
lie 'QuicIledE" Fathers in old 81
Jack Backsey's Hcr0ism.


From tie " Q"'cAiedsa fa'tn'f'9 III o'd ana -"
Jack Backsey's Hcroism.
As the saloon was OF mn alnted boards
an" uhpiaHFied' me Aalit9 h'li' i1
progress, ;" that 9iIPS"h' the proprietor
mad barely time TO- save TWO or tllfee arm
ilIs OF botll ;: Ni'li these ne retired TO
'he opposite side OF 'iir street Where IN IN
Pec'"l"[s sloo''' anu ne was Il".'tliul'l
contemplating Tie effect Of c'loric upon
iicoiiol, Wiieh he N''ii'iohiy started ana tA-
CANNED:
Good tod! lnJlh Mary III ile I"l
over the saloon
WHO that asked The deacon VINO
mad now joined the crowd
Hne s-"tli' h"t eNar!lI one "I Ho''i
kind Deacon, replied Jim, She came
las night Win her young un' ana Wan'ed
TO sleep th1r tlll holilh
Some poor, depraved creature,
: pose: slghe. the deacon;
ell, sand JIM. prudrhJiy ma-sIn@
on his front most of his ou-lylng bottles.
: recon lnjns IN general were oil huntn
WHEN religion was give out. de1c n, an
Mary ain no better the rest. But any
body : too gooL 10 b. roISied-lea~t''aY
II tins world. continued Jim Slps"n, re-
membeling the dca, grorndWork q
'rlIei' and treating II Win polite delef
ence.
5 She don't intend to rish 1t now. at any
rate exclaimed the Mayor, us a dark ~
ure dashed ont oi the flames. and rolling
on the ground to eXtin%ulSh its flaming
clothing. disclosed the copptry, dull
heavy, impaSsive features OF Indian
Mary.
"llooray' shouted the crowd. Mary
had been very Of en- ut Spurtlp, put never
aefure had Spurtip felt it>, If called upon
o exhibit any respect for her.
1t was very evident that Mary had heel
asleep, on drunk. or both. for she >t""'
st"pi tly rubbing her eyes t"r scvcra
minutes.
Didn t YOU say She brought a chill
with her?' asked the professor OF jim
Slip>on.
Good God, yes. exclaimed Jim. sciz
ny Mary by the shoulders and >hakln2
/ her violently.
Mary. Mary, where the young 'un?
Mary stopped rubbing her eyes. an'
starred vacantly at jim Tor q moment
then size uttered Il piercing scream, an'
attempted I" en- er The burning buildl2
again. 1he intense hcat, however drov'
her back; and She stood in front of The
crowd with a fierce. hopeless glare IN he
eyes, while every lew seconds She uttered
t horrible cry. halt groan, half yell whicl
made even the most Whlskey hardened
/ man >hiver and turn lhale.
/ " hundred dollars Tor whoever IL ge
that baby! shouted the MAJOR
Mob dy stirred. There We're llenty o
ml ecunlUus men ut Spurtip, Tut non
seemed inclined to earn money IN exact,
I ,hi> manner.
Two hundred! cried The professor
Three" roared the deacon. " Its
lit lie heathcn, an 1t runs double risk.
amt no use trying r'mHrke'
Sevcnteenel, an eN member Of an East II
are departm.n n. No teller cud -
hat ere fire more n nall u mlnut. lie,
..ev to breathe. an thtn Would be al
over with him
" hat YOU yellm. over yohr loss
jim? pleasantly asked joe Backsey
edging into the crowd, and patIing til
unfortunate barkeeper on the Lack.
" ii lnJln Mary; her baby in tn
loft . Lord, Just listen 20 The poor devil.
said jim. rs Mary uttered another cry.
Joe picked up Il bucket OF water an
poured it over himself. and IN IN in>tan
later dashed INTO the flames and up III
blazing ladder which led to the loft. Nc
4 man spoke; II seemed tiIat no on
breathed for Il moment. The deacon clio:
ed his eyes, and hls lips were st, II to mov
rapidly: ami many men, though unuse
to such exercise, followed the deacon's e1
ample. Suddenly Il mighty roar br0h
from the crowd as doe BackScy hatle>
hairless. beardless, and almost blacl
emerged from the hurnng building wit
Il dirty bundle IN his aims. lie had nca
ly crossed the street when suddenly h
stopped, screamed C Catch It. threw Il
child. and dropped face downward on Il
ground.
The deacon was by his side in an instal
shouting for water and oil, as he ten.erl
turned the lnsenslble form over.
"No 90" SAID Seventeener, giving Joe
face Il critical glance. lies breathed Il
fire; | know 1t by his lips an nose;
won't never breathe nothin' else
Joe, joe cried the deacon, viii
BIG tears fell from his rugged face, : Gt
hev mercy on Yer soul.
From beneath the cruelly singcd cy
/ brows and l;ishes, Joe's good natured ey
+ opened; his cracked lips opened n
smiled; he tried to speak, bat suddenly
: gasped, shivered, and then the deac,
knew by the way Joc's head hung ov
D The kind old arm that supported it, til
his partner had drawn his last dividend
For some minutes The crowd stood in +
spectful silence; then Jim Slipson invit.
D The crowd to open his few remaining be
: ties and drink to Joe's good luck in Il
r next world a stretcher was then impr