Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1876-12-09


for the horse. while 1 posted 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 surg
ing and agonizing emotion. How long
or how far | wandered l do not know,
but at length | met man, wet and drip
ping-with my darling in his arms-my
darling, safe and sound. He told me
that he had caught the child within
few feet 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, hand
some and stalwart. He said he had seen
my wagon tip, and was coming to my as
sistance, when he saw the child washed
away. i threw my life into the bal
ance.' said he, with genial smile, and,
thank God both the lives are saved.'"
| asked him how should ever repay
him. He stopped me with an imploring
gesture:
'.If you ever talk of more pay than /
have already received" he said, ''if you
can rob me of the only solid reward
claim, mercy if saving the life OF such
cherub is not enough of reward in it
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.
| asked if he would tell me his name.
With smile, he answered that his name
did not matter-he was not sure that he
had a name. Ithen asked him if he
knew me. He nodded, and said he
lob of
Walbridgc. When L told him he was
correct, he said that he must hurry home.
L was too deeply moved to stop him, and
when he had disappeared / started to re-
join my wife, with dawning impression
that the man might be slightly deranged.
But my darling was safe-the broad,
tieecy cloak had fOated out and kept her
head above water-and [ went on my
way rejoicing, resolved that the preserver
OF my child should not be forgotten.
L will not tell you of the emotion OF
my wife when she held her child once
more in her arms. We reached Shireton
before night, and found quarters at a
comfortable tavern.
On the following day Laban Sarfurt
called upon Inc and was about to spread
MS evidence for my inspection when
interrupted him. L told him L could not
accept his confidence until / had made
up my mind to take his case in hand.
Something seemed to whisper that there
was danger ahead. [ did not feel COM
Portable in that mans presence. felt as
though he was trying to buy me. The
court would sit in four days. l told him
would give him final answer i'm two
days from that.
That evening made confidant of my
wife, and asked her what should do.
IF take the case" said, IL am sure OF
$4,000" She babe me do what was right.
God has been very kind to u.s." she said;
''let us look to him for guidance"
After this L called OH the clergyman
. of the place, whose son had been my
claSsmate in college, and whom L had
once before visited. He received me
heartily, and by-and-by l asked him
about William Acton. The result of all
he told me was summed up in his closing
sentence. Said he:
II am sure William Acton was Philip
Actions child-in fact, know it-and
| think the father and mother were mar
ried. Betsy died very soon after her
child was born, and we know that Philip
always treated the boy as Legitimate
child and that he loved him as such j
! can confidently affirm"
On the following dGv, after breakfast
as sat by the window in the bar-rOOm
L saw coming from the street the man
who had saved my child. He was walk
ing Slowly, like one i'll trouble. 1 point
ell hlm out to my host, and asked him
who lie was.
Tint is William Acton. Perhaps
you have heard of the trouble he is like
ly to have with Laban Sarturt."
said L had heard.
Il hope he may come out all right
the host added; :" but am fearful. He
has got Il hard and heariless man TO deal
| with.'
shut my mouth and held my peace
until Laban Sarfurt called for his tina
answer. / said to him:
MIR. Sarfurt, L have been considering
all this time whether | could undertake
your case with a clear conscience-wheth
er should be helping the side of justice
and right III helping you. L had con-
cluded that L could not do so before
had seenWilliam Acton to know him by
lame. L know him tor man who molly
risked his own life to save the life of my
child. have not as yet accepted one O
your private disclosures; l have gaineC
from you nothing which you could wisf
10 keep from the public. L cannot tax,
your case, but L tell you frankly that i
/ you prosecute, will defend William Ac
Ton"
L did not mind Sarfurt's wrath. III,
raved and swore and stamped, and ther
he went off and engaged two lawyer
from Herkimer to take his case. l call
ed upon Acton and told him L would de
tenu him, if he would accept my services
as L had accepted his. He took my hant
and thanked me.
l have made great many pleas in m,
life, but L think L never made bette
one i'll my life than l made to that jur,
on that occasion. They were out no
over five minutes. By their verdict Viii
liam Acton was the lawful possessor o
the estate his father had left.
From that day never hesitated to re
fuse case to which L could not give IN,
heart. Such stand on the part of
lawyer becomes known and the peopl
feel it; and what the public feel tn
jurieS are sure to feel.
: Concerning William Acton, will onl
add that he became my bosom friend
He always felt that he owed his title t
his valuable property to me; and l know
that to him was indebted tor the hom
that was mine for over forty years. III
was very delicate in the gilt of tina
piece of property. He decided it to IN,
wife. The husband of my eldest daugh