The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1876-11-02

tmrd OF the way across, the river wa
over the hub fthe wheels. A slittl,
more, and it would reach the bodyg o
the wagon 1 began TO be alarmed
l feared l had left the true track. Pres
emily my horse stumbled and stagger
ed, having evidently stepped on /,
moving stone. The wagon swayet
and tipped, and the food poured il
upon us. My wife clipped, and, in {
moment more we were in the water
With one hand I grasped the harnes,
upon the horse, and with the ether
held my. wife. L was thus struggling
when cry from her lips startled the
air. Our child was washed away.
A moment more and I saw . man
plunge from the bank into the river. ]
saw this much, and then an interven.
ing 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. I left her to care for the horse
while posted off down the river bank
in quest of the swimmer and child.
AT length l met "a man wet and
dripping, with my darling in his arms
my darling safe and sound
lie told me he had caught the child
within few rods of the falls, aud that
in landing he had cleared the fatal
abyss by not more than two yards
lie was young man-not more thar,
twenty. .tive-handsome aud stalwart.
He said he had seen my wagon tip, ,and
he was coming to my assistance when
he saw the child washed away.
- 81 asked him how l should ever re-
pay him.. lie stopped me with an i'm
ploring gesture. eff saving the life Of
cherub is not enough reward of it.
self, then hard is the heart which can
crave for mOre." ..n4a sci TsYs1shl
Iasked him if he would tell me his
name. With smile he answered that
his name didlnot matter. I then ask
ed him if he knew me. ! lie nodded
aud said he thought L might be d Mr..
burlington, of Walbriege. When 1
told him he was correct, he sal a that
| must excuse him. He was wet and
must hurry home. And with that he
turned away. sHs'3 13jaH D. -m3Q {
l was TOO deeply moved to stop him.
and he disappeared. But my darling
was saie--and / went on my way re-
isi cling, resolved that the preserver of
my child should not be forgotten. ID
We reached Shireton, before night,
and found quarters at a comfortable
tavern. sVRG is
That evening mado confidante Of
my wife. and asked her what lzshould
do. "If l take the CASE" said, II ann
sure of 1--WE thousand dollars" She
babe me do what was right. "God
has been very kind to us,' she said.
Let us look to him for our guidance"
"After this called on tho clergy
man Of the place, whose son had been
my classmate in college. He received
me heartily, and asked him about
William Acton. Said he: ucdasDd
II am sure William Action was
Philip Acton's child-in fact, know
I. Betsy died very soon after the
:hild was born" 2 sso4' ,uoJ IA
On the following morning, after
breakfast, as sat by the window in
he bar-room, Isawi coming up the
treet the man who had saved my
:hild. pointed him out to my host.
and asked him who he was, s7sTolqi i
"That is William Acton. Perhaps
you have heard of the trouble he is
likely to have with Laban Sarfurt?"
81 said had heard" usl8i1 .oEeI
81 hope he may como out all right"
he host added: "but I am fearful. He
las got hard and heartiess customer
% deal WITH mss y., .sog 10 ,aoiqI
shut my mouth and held my
'eace, until Laban Sarfurt called for
his final answer. s''', ..ti.-b /
1 then said to him: :. ,ss,,.., 4ayea i
"Mr. Sarfurt, 1 have been consider-
ing all this time whether / csuld take
our case with clear conscience-i
whether l should be helping the side
If justice and right, in helping you. L
lad concluded that L could not do so
'efore L had seen William Acton, to |
now him for man who nobly risk.
d his own life TO save the life of my /
hid. Icannot take your case but L |
ell you frankly, that if you prosecute,
will defend William Acton. " -
l did not mind Sarfurrs wrath. lie
aved aud swore, and stamped, and
hen he went oil and engaged two
awyers from Herki,ner, to take his
ase. L called upon Action aud told
i'm would defend him if he accepted
ny service. He took my hand and
hanked me. ii itha El.fo oa -ui1 sdt
81 have made great many pleas in
ny life, but think never made a
etter one than I made TO that jury on
hat occasion. .fssHgssI.
They were out not over five min
tes-By their verdict, William Acton
,as the lawful possessor of the estate
is father had left. -. b1sy 4
"From that day ! never hesitated to
efuse case to which I could not give
ny heart. Such stand on the part
t lawyer becomes known, and the
ublic feels it and what the public
sels, juries are sure to feel. ss1s.sjl
Concerning William Acton, l will
My add, that he became my bosom
'iend. He always felt that he owed
is title to his valuable property to
he +; and knew that l not only owed
i'm the life of my child, but that to
i'm was Indebted for the home that