The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1878-05-15


To his surprise, the men listened TO him.
What's yer idee, johnny"
" The horse can help himself better than all
Of you can drag him, only give him solid
footing.'
In five minutes the poor beast had strug-
gled ont with the help of two or three
planks.
He limped as he was led off Nobody no.
ticed this but John.
Stop a moment he CRIED and lifting the
horse's foot, he picked out stone from it with
little tool which he took from his pocket !;
for Johns pocket was filled with little tools
aud queer, tiny mechanical contrvanees.
. Who madethem, John?o said his teach
er.
I" did, sir, Hooking stupid again.
The next day, about dusk, Mr.. Maggie was
in the ferry boat which crossed the river at
that point. Several of his pupils were ON
board, coming back from a match baseball
game among them Clarence and John.
When half way across the river, there was
loud explosion, and Mr.. Maggie found him
self elingiug to the deck rail his legs in the
water
The boiler had burst with such force that
the boat was shattered. A portion of the deck
had parted from the hulk as the latter sank
to the bottom of the river. There was fran
tic struggle for life. Then the portion of the
wreck he was on iloated down stream
About dozen passengers of the boat chung
to it. The night fell fast. The shore was
but fast reoeding dark line, with red twink
ling dark lights.
Upon the shattered deck cabin hung sim
gle life.presewer. John saw it, climbed like
a cat to where it was, and brought it down.
"Give me that ! y shrieked Clarence. @ Oh,
give it to mel / can't swim =
/" It's for this woman.''
There was but one woman among them,
and she was old and lame.
"Give it to me, l say9 Help, help We're
drowning +"
He seized the life.preserver. John quietly
took it from him, and buttoned it about the
old woman's waist.
Then he began to drag out one or two
benches and boxes that were in the cabin
Mr. Maggie noticed how cool and alert the
boy was, in spite of his deadly paleness and
trembling.
I'VE had better tie ourselves to these" he
said. "This deck is so shattered it will go to
pieces before they see us from Shore"
Mr. Maggie, without a word, followed his
advice. John was no Latinist and no poet,
but he had one quality which made him
leader just then.
A few moments later, the deck broke up,
and Mr.. Maggie found himself in the rushing
current, but was picked up by one of the
boats which were out in search of the vic
tins.
The banks were lined with pale, terrified
faces As he was lifted on shore, he saw a
boy dragged out of the water, ana poor lit
tie woman in black fly to him with wild cry
"rm all--all right, MOTHER gaspcd John
and then he cried on her breast like the child
that he was. az thought I'd never sec you
again . he sobbed.
Now there had been stranger on board
a queer wizened little man with a foxy wig.
This man, who was among the saved, took up
his quarters at the village inn, and presently
there arrived by express a mysterious engine
or pump, directed to him, which was placed
in the hallway of the inn.
1t seemed to have curious fascination for
John He spent half his leisure time pour
ing over it,--measuring the tubes with his
inch rule.
In front of the case there was square of
plate glass. Now it happened that one day,
while John was relaxing his mind by game
of ball in the street, he threw the ball plump
into this costly bit of glass.
The other boys ran, and John ran too,-
but only for few steps. Then he went to
his savings -bank, and took out the money
which was meant for Christmas He present.
ed himself before the old man, who was look
ing at his shattered glass and taking snuff
violently.
al did that sir There is the money for
it. Will it be enough?''
"Oh, you did it, ?" scowling at him.
" WE'LL give me the money. What are you
eternally prying into my press for, anyhow ?"
"Its not press. It's a pump. ! under
stand it all but that wheel. can't make out
what that wheel is there for, f" starting for it,
his hands in his pockets.
The old man talked to John awhile. That
evening he called on Mrs. Steele, and sent up
his card. Peter Copey, Machinist."
"Pve had my eyes on your boy, ma'am,"
he said, abruptly, for some time. Noticed
him the night of the explosion. I'd like to
take him with me and teach him my trade
lie has a sound, practical head that boy"
Mrs. Steele accepted the offer, and went
with her boy.
Twenty years afterwards, Mr.. Maggie, then
judge in the Supreme Court, tried case in
which the firm Of Coplcy & Steele, engine
builders, was plaintiff
In the course Of the suit, lie became ac-
qnainted with the junior member of the firm,
man of high standing in his business, and
Of equally high repute as a man of probity
and honor.
One day there was a sudden recognition.
"John Steele, the-?'
Good for-notlling Yes, said John. with
laugh and no better acquainted with the