Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1876-09-01

us. My wife slipped and in moment
more we were in the water. With one
hand / grasped the harness upon the
horse and with the other / held my wife.
was thus struggling when wild cry
from her lips startled the air. Our child
was washed away.
"Oh, my soull cannot tell you what
suffered during those moments.
could not help our darling. If left my
wife she was lost. clung TO the horse
and clung to my shrieking wife-shriek
ing to God for mercy for her child. In
the distance, upon the bosom Of the
surging flood, could see our little one,
her white dress cleaning in the sun,
being borne swiftly away A moment
more and saw man plunge from the
bank into the river. / saw this much,
and then an intervening point of land
shut out the scene. The horse was now
rapidly nearing the shore and ere long
my wife and were on dry land, with the
horse and wagon. As soon as was sure
my wife was safe left her to care for
the horse while / posted of down the
river bank in quest of the swimmer and
the child.
"You may we'll understand that all
this time ! was frantic. was machine
being operated upon by a surging and
agonizing emotion. How long or how
far wandered ] do not know, but at
length met a man, wet and dripping,
with my darling in his arms, my darling
safe and sound. He told me that he had
caught the child within few rods of the
falls and that in landing he had cleared
the fatal abyss by not more than two
yards. He was young man, not more
than twenty-five, handsome and stalwart.
He said he had seen my wagon tip and
was coming to my assistance when he
saw the child washed away. Il threw
my life into the balance, said he, with a
genial smile, and, thank Godl both
lives were savedr
II asked him how should ever repay
him. He stopped me with an imploring
gesture
"' If you talk of more pay than have
already received he said; If you can
rob me of the only solid reward l can
claim, mercy if saving the life of such
a cherub IS not enough of reward in it.
self, then hard is the heart that Graves
more And with moistened eyes he told
me that he had child of his own at
home--an only child of very nearly the
same age.
81 asked if he would tell me his name.
With a smile, he answered that his name
did not matter-he was not sure that he
had a name. l then asked him if he
knew me. He nodded and said he
thought / might be Mr.. burlington, of
Walbridge. When l told him ne was
correct he said that he must hurry home.
And with that he turned away. / was
too deeply moved to stop him, and when
he had disappeared l started to rejoir
my wife with a dawning impression that
the man might be slightly deranged. But
my darling was safe--her broad, fleecy
cloak had floated out and kept her head
above watcr-and went on my way re
joicing, resolved that the preserver OF
my child should not be forgotten.
81 will not tell you of the emotion o.
my wife when she held her child once
more in her arms. We reached Shiretor
before night and found quarters at a com
| Portable tavern.
"On the following day Laban Sarfur
called upon me and was about to spread
his evidence for my inspection when
interrupted him. / told him / could no
accept his confidence until had mad
up my mind to take his case in hand
Something seemed to whisper that ther
was danger ahead. l did not feel com
Portable in that mans presence. / fel
as though he was trying to buy me. Th
court would sit in four days. told hin
l would give him final answer in tw
days from that,
"That evening l made a confidant O
my wife, and asked her what l sboul
do. If take the case, said, 9 / al
sure of $1,000 She babe me do wha
was right. God has been very kind T.
us, she said; { let us look to Him TO
guidance
After this / called on the clergyman
of the place, whose son had been m
elassmate in college, and whom / ha,
once before visited. He received M
heartily, and by and by | asked hir
about William Acton The result of al
he told me summed up in his closin
sentence. Said he: am sure Williar
Acton was Philip Acton's child-in fact
l know it. Philip Acton always treate
the boy as his child; and that he love
him as such can confidently affirm"
"On the following morning, afte
breakfast, as l sat by the window in tn
bar-room, l saw coming down the stree
the man who had saved my child. II
was walking slowly, like one in troubl,
pointed him out to my host, and aske
HIM who he was.
"'That is William Acton. Perhar
you have heard of the trouble he is lik,
ly to have with Laban Sarfurtr
l said had heard.
"'I hope he may come out all right
the host added; but l am fearful. Fl
has got hard and heartless customer I
deal with
II shut my mouth and held my peaC
until Laban Sarfurt called for his fin;
answer.
said to him:
"' Mr.. Sarfurt, / have been considerin
all this time whether could undertah
your case with clear conscience
. whether / should be helping the side {
justice and right in helping you. / ha
concluded that could not do so befol
had seen William Acton. to know hi
! by name. / now know him for ma
VIM hODl1 ilShGu MS OMu lllC W save u
life of my child. For that deed will r
ward him if can. / have not, as We
accepted one of your private disclosure
j have gained from you nothing whiC
you could wish to keep from the publi
! cannot take your case, but tell yc
i frankly that if you prosecute / will d
fend William Acton
81 did not mind Sarfurt's wrath. l
raved and swOre and stamped, and the
he went off and engaged two lawye
, from Herkimer to take his case. / call'
upon Acton, and told him would defer
him if he would accept my services, as
had accepted his. He took my hand al
thanked me.
, 81 have made great many pleas
my life, but / think never made be
/, , ter one than made to that jury ON tn
occasion. They were out not over fi'
minutes. BY their verdict VIM. ActC
was the lawful possessor of the esta
his father had left.
; From that day l never hesitated
! refuse case to which / could not giv