River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1875-01-15

Ralph, in mounting the last step,
tumbled forward.
4 " beg pardon" he said; and then
remained with mouth agape and staring
eyes, looking at the woman and the
child.
She said not word. 1t will be re-
membered that she had seen him before.
lie staggered forward. May" he
sail-"why, May!" then put his hand
to his head in bewlderment, She still
remained speeches.; but her lips
trembled, het hands left the shoulders
of her child and unconsciously extended
themselves to him.
"Yes, yes" he cried, "oh, come to
mel lie drew her to his side, devour-
ing her with his eyes, while her own fell
fell, filled with tears, under his burn.
ing gaze.
At that moment there was a cry of
terror, a rush iorward-too late. The
child, who had climbed unnoticed upon
the taft rail of the boat, fell overheard
into the darkening water.
May struggled from the arms of
Ralph, and would have thrown herself
after the child, but caught her and
neld her tight, while Ralph plunged af-
ter the boy.
Hundreds of people rushed to see;
tie train stopped on the bridge; sort
OF paralysis fell upon all, except one
little fishing boat; that one, impelled by
powerful strokes, went after the swim
mer and the child.
Once, when the little head--oh, how
little it looked | upon the big surging
wave went under, the hands of the
boatnan seemed stiff with terror
breathless second of despair followed !;
but Ralph was famous at swimming,
and now his soul was in it. On he went
cheered by the multitude. Now the
little head was seen again, the long
curls of yellow hair drifting upon the
cold green wave. The tide swept the
light weight of the child to the bridge
and, just as it was sinking again, Ralph
grasped the little waif and went under
with it himself. Painting and exhaust.
ed, battling, all clothed as he was, with
the choking waves, he gave way at last,
and huge groan burst from the PEG.
PIE. But the boatman was now close
at hand, and, dropping his oars, sprang
into this gulf of blackness that seemed
ready to devouI them all.
But saw the boatman's face as it
went down, and took heart of grace.
wasn't bit surprised when he came up
with them both, and foated them with
one arm to the boat, while with the
other he cleaved the waters that seem.
ed not to hinder, even to aid, their old
comrade. as the little BOAT, with its
dripping Cargo, csme straight to our
steamer, some of the women sobbed
and others laughed with hysteric joy,
while many STRONG man could scarce
ly keep back the tears. One emotional
fellow near By proposed. as a vent to
his feelings, that a purse should be
raised for tie boatman.
''lf it hadn't been for him, the father
and child would both have gone UNDER"
he said, carrying his hat around.
When they came to me for contri-
button | refused. In the first place,
the way to my pocket was INSTRUCTED
by the fainting form Of May, and be-
sides, it was ridiculous.
you'd better give the money back
again, now that you feel calmer," |
said to the emotional chap. 1T don't
look well to pay man for saving his
own child. Besides, he don't want any
money; he's rich."
'But we mean the boatman.
$50 do L.
"WhO in thunder is the other fellow,
then, that jumped off the boat here Z"
"A passenger, that's all. Why, it's
nothing. You, or |, or anybody would
have done the same thing if we'd
thought of it quick enough"
"Hum!" was the skeptical remark Of
this chap. walking off with hatful of
money.
Half an hour afterward the little lad
was cuddled close to his mother's heart;
Ralp was lying back among the cush-
ions in the cabin; Capt. Jack was close
at hand, bursting all the buttons off an
overcoat that the emotional fellow had
insisted upon his accepting as mark
OF his esteem, and looking at May and
the child with all his honest soul in his
eyes.
"Gracious God y he said, going over
to Ralph, suppose you hadn't been
aboard -
"And suppose you hadn't been out
with the boat 7" said Ralph.
"Suppose we look above for
solution to these things" / said.
We slept that night at our old quar-.
tiers at Capt. Jacks house on the shore.
At sunrise the little chap was at his old
trick again, and cried out from his
sleep in the adjoining room. Ralph
grasped my arm. "rhank Cod" he
said" thank God for the child.
i" told you so three years ago." ]
rejoined.
sim cured now, Hail." said Ralph.
for cnce and all.
You ought to be Ralph, it took a
miracle to do it."-Harper's Weekly.
English Railway Accident.
a cable telegram Of December oath
last briefly mentioned an accident on