River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1877-11-22

@whefex papagn asked the dripping
child.
He is coming, > answered some one in
the crowd.
Jack looked up and saw solomon Cor
don coming, solomon, pale and terror
stricken, and with all possible haste he
seized his coat and hurried away. he
could not meet solomon Gordon then.
mercy. what is il, JackYH
Mrs. Sprout was alarmed. Her hus-
band was dripping wet, his step was tot
tering. bis breathing was labored and
there was livid mark upon his forehead
as though he had received heavy blow.
1T Is nothing, Abby
"Has Solomon"
ssPshaw DYE think Solomon Gordon
could have done thisg have been in the
river. A little boy had fallen from the
bridge right into the food beneath the
falls. / jumped in and brought him
out"
"Aliyegr
Yes, alive and unhurt, replied Jack.
"Oh, thank God! Whose child was II.
Jack2"
Don't stop TO ask questions now,
Abby, but make me 9 cup OF hot, strong
tea, while get on some dry clothes. Ny
soul ] think had narrow dodge Of
it!n
Jack put on dry garments, and when
he had rested awhile he drank his tea.
and the course of an hour all traces Of
exhaustion has passed away.
tell you, Abby, have had a good
many tough jobs in my day, but i never
had one like that before. A weaker man
than ! could never have brought out that
child alive"
aOh. how grand it is, Jack, to use ones
strength IS such cause. But whose
child was itg DO you know"
Before Jack could answer, the outer
door was unceremoniously opened, and
Solomon Gordon entered the apartment.
Abby shrank back in alarm when she saw
how pale and excited the man looked,
and how be trembled. for she did not no
tice the moist, Drumming light that shone
il his swollen eyes.
Jack spoke the new conner, in a
gasping manner, AZ the same time hold
ing out both Of his hands. he choked
and stammered, but presently gained
strength TO add: Oh, my God what can
say. Jack jack Here the stout
man fairly broke down, and burst into
1 tears.
Jack, almost as much affected as was
his visitor, arose and took the extended
hand.
HNever mind, Sol. It's all right"
stNo, no. cried Gordon. sit ism
right. II never can be right. Oh, what
can dog Jack, if / could only 60 back
10 where was this morning. Ny God
/ beat your child for trifing thing. and
you have saved mine from terrible death
saved him almost at the expense Of your
own life Kill me If you will. Beat me
Jack DO anything you like, only for
give me, SO that this saving act of yours
sha'n't be always like heap Of Goals upon
my hesdw
And then with a sudden impulse-un-
der the influence Of an emotion such as
he had never before experieneed-Jack
SprOut said:
solomon, ! tell you it's all right. You
4 have no more reason 10 thank God that
saved your child than / have. When
went forth from my house / was full Of
wrath and madness, and curses were upon
my lips and in my heart. ! should have
sought such revenge as the wild beast
seeks. is il not better that found your
/ little Andy in the food: and is it not bet
ter that my great strength wac used il
saving his lifeg forgive you. Sol, from
the bottom of my heart. And nov, say
it's all rightl'
And so was eemented a friendship holy
and lasting.
Seeming slight perturbatiOns In the cur.
rent of a mans life sometimes work mar.
velous changes for good or I'll.
"Abbey, said Jack Sprout-it was late
In the evening and they had been sitting
for some time without speaking-1I believe
/ am converted. Saul of Tarsus, that yoJ
read to Freddie about last Sunday, wa
not more suddenly brought 10 light thar
! have been. Really and truly there i
more virtue in kindnes than IN enmity j
blesses everything and everybody, be whC
bestows it is as much blessed as be who
receives it,"
And then the wife, with herarm placed
gently around her husbands neck, kindly
said:
Z" Dear Jack, wouldn't we both be hap
pier if We would try TO live by the rules
laid down by our blessed Saviour