The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1875-05-31

But years have distnnced tho beautiful lay
And ia memory 1oweth 40 swiftly away,
And Wo call Il now .old Times.p M,
THE CREW OF 81. GATHERINGS.
On o bright August day in the year
1860, young Tom Bndstreet, in his little
sIifi, rowed up and down Lake ohewas.
set, looking AZ tho Universitycrews as
they practiced for the race that was to
take place the next day. n
On the right, beneath the edge Of the
green woods, Toms glad eyes beheld
the men OF st James, pulling theirforty-
two strokes, and flying along like m
arrow. Further Off was tho crow Of Cam.
worth, spinning toward tho upper end
Of tho water. To the left were the mag.
: niicent fellows Of Holmon Hall; and last
aud finest OF all, in the middle OF the
lake, coming, as Tom thought, like
"ehain.shot,p Z were tho giants of ST.
Catlerine's=their six long oars dipping
rs one, their six brown backs swaying
like clockwork, and their magenta head.
kcrchiels rising and falling together.
TOMS heart leaped as he saw them.
His admiration Of this crew had made
him its warm partisan, and he never
doubted but that its men would win the
race. I'll, 3ss. (. 4. :. iislslsts 54s4sf
Tho /" Rtroke.oar was q young Hercu
les named Windham, as handsome and
ngile o fellow as ever led o race. This
wnsFTom'shero. He had watched him
with an enthusiasm. that glowed aud
grow oycry day, till IL amounted to o
kind OF worship, and he Ind haunted
the race'cotrse on his skin, and hung
about the boathouses for d chance 10
hear the splendid champion speak, or
perhaps win aglance ofhis eye.
Windham was too busyto notice his
boy 'admirer, although he was very kind
hearted, and ready, on occasion, 10 serve
the poorest being that needed him.
st. GATHERINGS crew cime sweeping
on. Tom, all on fire with excitement,
leaped up and fixed his eyes upon his
horo. Ho could SEQ his great muscles,
lis rich brown skin, his eager, handsome
faco, lis magnificent motion. In q parox-
ysm Of ard6r and delight, he leaped to
his feet and swung his hat, and shouted
and hurrnhed like o crazy boy. =
AS ,llo did 50, he slipped from the
thwart, and pitched forward on his face.
The skill lurched. The large stone tliat
was used sometimes 70 anchor II, rolled
overheard into the deep water, entan-
Cling one Of Toms arms in the rope, as
IL went down. 'i'e i,f4 ei''- 3
In o moment the boy was helpless,
dragged under the water by the running
coils. The crew of ST. Catherine'sheard
the splash, but rowed on, thinking itwas
only aboy'a frolic. They shot past the
skill Just as Tom disappeared beneath
the surface Of tho lake. "a. ,trii a
"Hold oElv cried Windham; back
water stop her
The boat, with its six strong men,
rowod dbacls to the skin. Tho instant
Windham's eye caught sight Of the taut
rope he Bawa the nature Of the accident.
Carefully raising himself, he stepped
into tho slSiff aud motioned his men to
pull away. Then seizing the rope, he
drew II rapidly up, and soon tho arm Of
tho drowning boy came in sight under
the clear watG Bnt the wet coil Blipped
Tom was gonoI y ~ y %
Quick as thought Windham diyed after
him, while his crew, Whiting on their
oars at little distance, kept anxious
witch OF The spot. Every man was
ready to plunge in to the rescue, Il It
should be necessary. Ina minute Wind;
ham came up. He had Tom in his nrtis.
He placed him in the skitf, face down,
took in another man from tho race.boat,
aud set him ut work to resuscitate the
almost 1ifeless boy, while he grasped
the oars aud made for the nearest boat.
house.
He had scarcely pulled a hundred
strokes when he met another akiif, com
taining two mon.
uSee herel" cried he, ahere's Q boy
that's nearly drowned. Do you know
who he islp isf
nIts quito likely he's my nevyy,"
said one OF tho mon, ina cold and heart
loss tone. i'sT That's his sldf you're in;
let'ssee him, and theman rowed along
side. t9sil1
siYcs, That's him, !. said he, peering
over the tlwarts. 6He's alters gettin'
himself inter mischief"
awhere does he liyelp roarod Wind
ham, full Of wrath at the mans coolness.
UPoint out his house, will youp
"It'sright behind ycr-oyer there"
pointingto small cottage at the edge
OF the lake, close by.
Windham turned abruptly. and shot
toward the shore, with his eyes, ever
and anon, fixed upon the helpless form
that lay, withits spdden brown hair, IN
tho bottom Of the sltiff. ~ was some
time before Tom came to himself, 80 that
ho fully realized whAt had happened, and
who were about him. The young man
had carried him 70 the cottage and re-
yiyed him, and when, weak from ex.
haustion, he opened his eyes, the arst
person lio saw was Windham.
The poor boy, in all his hard work, had
never cxporionccd much that was beauti.
fuland genilc, and now the sight of the
hero OF his devotion standing by him and
looking on his face, nnde him smile in
epite oil hiswealnesa. The tears fillod
tis ewes. and he feobly put out his hand.
Windham took II in both Of his.
nDid you Get tno out said Tom, in
faint voice.