Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1877-01-31

that the stream was somewhat swollen
from the late rains, but that if my horse
was trnsty, there could be no danger"
Arrived ut the stream-the Wampa.
tuck river-I found the water indeed ris-
ing, and the current strong; but l saw
that others had recently gone over, and l
solved to venture. | knew my horse,
and had faith in him. My wife was anx-
ious. but she trusted my judgment. A
thrd OF the way across, the water was over
the hub of the wheels. A little more and
it would have reached the body of the WA
gon. began 10 be alarmed; | feared |
had left the true track. Presently my
horse stumbled and staggered, having
evidently stepped upon moving stone.
The wagon swayed and tippad, and the
Hood came in upon us. My wife slipped.
and in moment more we were in the VIII
ter With one hand | graSped the har-
ness upon the horse, and with the other
held my wife. was thus struggling
when wild cry from her lips startled the
air. Our child had been washed away.
Ob. my soul | cannot tell you what
| suffered in those moments. could not
help our darling. If l left my wife, she
was lost. | clung to my horse and clung
to my shreking wife -shricking 10 God
for mercy for her child. The horse was
struggling for the shore. 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; an intervening
point OF land shut of the scene, the horse
was now rapidly nearing the shore, and
ere long my wife and | were upon dry
land. with the horse and wagon. As soon
as my wife was safe, left her to care for
the horse, while l went down the river
bank in quest of the swimmer and the
child.
You may well understand that all this
time was frantic | was II machine be-
ing operated upon by u surging and ago
nizIng emotion How long or how far |
wandered | do not know, but at length |
met man, wet and dripping with my
darling in his arms my darling safe and
sound. He told me he had caught the
child within few yards of the falls, aud
then in landing had cleared the fall abyss
by not more than two yards. lie was a
young man-not more than twenty FIVE
handsome and stawart. He said he had
seen my wagon tip, and was coming to
my assistance, when he SAW the child
washed away. 81 threw my life into the
balance" he said with u genial smile
land, thank God! both the lives were say.
ed"
asked him how should ever repay
him. He stopped me with an imploring
gesture.
" If you talk of more pay than l have
already received" he said, "if you car
rob me of tho only solid reward, mercy! il
saving the life of such cherub is no
enough of reward in itself, then hard is the
heart that can crave more"
And with moistening eyes he told tha
he h nd child of his own ut home-an on
ly chld-of neatly the same age.
asked him if he would tell me hi,
name. With IL smile, he answered tina
his name did not matter-he was not sure
that he had II name. | then asked if h,
knew me. He nodded, and said he though
| might be Mr. darlington, of Wabridge
When told him he was correct, he said
must excuse him. He was wet and mus
hurry home. And with that he turned
away. WIS too deeply moved to stop him
and when he had disappeared | started i'
r'join my wife with dawnng impression
that the man might be slightly deranged.
But my darling was safe-her broad
fleecy cloak had tloated out and kept he
head above water-and | went on my wa,
rejoicing, resolved that the preseryer 0
) my child should not be forgotten.
| will not tell you of The emotion of m,
wife when he held her child once more II
her arms. We reached Shirelon befor
night and found quarters ut comfortable
tavern.
, On the following day Laban SarGurt call
ed upon me and was about to spread hi
/ evidence for my inspection. when | inter
rupted him, | told him | could not aceep
, his confidence until | had made up M,
mind to take the case in hand Some
f thing seemed to whisper that there wa
danger ahead. did not feel comfortabl
, in that mans presence. felt us thOug
he was trying TO tuy me. The cour
would silin four days. | told him wou
give him final answer in Two days from
that.
That evening made n confdant Of IN
wife. and asked her what should do. " !
| | take the case" | said, " am sure G
five thousand dollars She babe me d
| what was right. God has been yer
| kind to U.S. she said. :" Let us look /
Him for our further guidance
ftDr ibis | nalIn1 uhnn tho p1prurOlu a
of the place, whose son had been m
S classmatr in college, and whom had one
before visited. lie received me heartily
and by and by asked him about Wi
D liam Acton. The result of all he told m
G may be summed upin lis closing sentence
, said he:
S lam sure William Acton is Phil
/, ActOn's child-in fact | know it-and
Y think the father and mother were married
+ Betsy died very soon after her child wa
born, and we know Philip always treatc
e the boy us II legitimate child; and that |
e loved him us such, can confident
= affirm"
| On the following morning, after breal
S fast, as sat by the window in tho ba
It room, saw coming from the street, II
c man who had saved my child. He WI
II walking slowly like one in t'ouble.
s. pointeh him out TO my host, and askC
t. him who he WAS.
rt THAT is William Acton. Perhaps y,
d have heard of the trouble he is likely
e have with L,ban Sarlurt."
It said l had heard.
l 81 hope he may come out all right
| the host added &" but am fearful. |
| has got II hard and heartess customer
K deal with.
e shut my mouth and held my peaC
Of unt Lnban Sarlurt called for his fin
C answer. said to him:
,e Mr.. Sarfurt, | have been consideril
al this time whether | could undcrta
1t your case with Il clear conscience-whelh
should be helping the side of justice a
L. right in helping you, | had conclud
that could not do so before l had Sc
IL William Acton, to know him by name.
u now know him for man who nobly ris
| ed his own life to save the life of my chill
For that deed | will reward him if ca
n have us yet accepted not one of your p
vale disclosures. | have gained from y
Dr nothing which you could wish TO Ike
/ from the public. cannot take your ca!
but tell you frankly, that, if you pro.
i. cute, will defend William Acton"
i'm | did not mind Sarfurts wrath.