American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1876-09-16

ed sportsmen. Mr.. Nichols, the man
in the white hat, was the only other
stranger there during the month.
Mr.. Feisbie found Jimmy an always
ready companion. The boy was up be-
fore day with the fishermen, helping
them unwind their seines; he went gun
ming for snipe; he rowed about in any
kind of boat he could find; he
was busy in the shed repairing
some old saws he begged |
every dirty little clam-digger in the in
let to give him lesson in swimming.
In week he knew the name of every |
night, when he could keep awake, he
pored over the school-books he had |
brought with him. All the while he |
was the same silent, bright-eyed, watch
full little fellow, who would 60 through |
one day after another without speaking
unless he was spoken to. The truth
was, the boy was determined to make the
best of his holiday, and besides not to
lose single chance of any kind of
knowledge.
"There's no telling,' he thought,
"but that some day it may help me to
make dollar for mother" She was
all he had to care for; he knew as no
body else did how hard she had worked
to give him those three years of school
ing.
The end of the holiday came at last.
They were to start home on the next
day. Mr.. Feisbie had gone out alone
in small boat, trolling for blue mack
erel; Jimmy was sailing up and down
in little Tuckerton skiff; and Sam, as
usual, lay fiat on his back on the sand,
thinking of his future. Mr.. Nichols
sat beside him, peering through his
spectacles.
elbow well that little lad steers,' he
said. You have not learned to man.
age boatP"
"N-no," drawled Sam. 81 intend
to study navigation properly. That's
small game, to my notion"
"You have not learned to fish nor
swim eitherP"
"No. My father brought no flies to
fish with, and these men hereabouts
know nothing of the business scientific
ally. AS for swimming, intend to go
to the Natatorium; there one can be-
come an adept
"Oh!" said Mr.. Nichols, and lighted
his pipe.
The evening was dark and chilly. A
heavy sea-fog began to come in. The
wind blew sharply on shore. Jimmy
landed, drew his skiff up, and stood
anxiously looking out to sea.
"What's up now, Jim?" shouted
Sam.
"Nothing. dare say your father
has put into the cove below"
81 dare say he has done nothing of
the sort. Why should hep"
s'The wind is too full of flaws for
him to land on this rough bit of shore. :"
"Hillo! where did you pick up your
flaws? Such bosh!'
Jimmy said nothing. Mr.. Nichols
rose, and taking out his glass, scanned
the horizon. Sam watched him anx-
iOusly.
"There is Mr.. Feisbie coming in
now. There is not another sail in
sight. If we could only give him warn
ing!" cried Mr.. Nichols, excitedly.
But it was too late for that. The boat
lunged heavily, and turned over. As
long as he lived, Sam never forgot that
breathless, awful moment, when the
white sailed boat that had gone out
light and airy as bird, was dashed in,
dragged back, driven here and there,
by the remorseless tide, a yellow, dark
lump, to which chung small black
heap, which he knew TO be his father.
GAS long as he keeps his hold on
the boat, there is chance" cried Mr..
Nichols.
What chance? The fishermen had
not vet returned from the Banks; Mr..
Nichols was an old man; and he, Sam,
stood there helpless as log, crying
feebly, like child.
For minute the boat was lost to
sight. When it came from under the
wave, the deck was clear.
"Merciful Heaven! he is gone!"
Sam heard the old mans voice beside
him; and then he saw dark body rise
to the crest of the breaker, and an arm
flung up.
1t disappeared.
The boy was fond of h is father; and
he had keen feelings under his conceit.
He grew deathly sick, and blind.
Jimmy ran past him, stripped to the
waist, and carrying rope which was
fastened to an anchor in the sand. He
looked so puny and small, poor Jimmy,
as he dashed into the waves!
Sam could not move. He lay sick
and gasping on the beach. Half an
hour afterwards Mr.. Nichols came to
him.
sect up, boy, and try to be of some
use. Your father is saved, thanks to
God and to the common-sense of that
little fellow yonder. He could swim,
and could not; he dragged him out,
and brought him to consciousness. L
, did not know how to do that, old as L
am. But Jim had studied it out of
some book or other.''
That evening Mr.. Nichols went to
Jimmy's bedside, where he was snugly
tucked under half dozen blankets to
keep off the ill effects of his sudden