Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1878-01-15

aAd kCN OA JOuA Va Jo'
see, one cannot beat Rats" and roll cot
ton at the same time; and the latter oc
cupation. though perhaps more exciting
Is the less profitable OF the two.
Dick-who, unable to dodge his tor
mentors, has emulated the example OF {
hedgehog. aud made himself as nearly
spherical as possible against q cotton
, bale-does not rise. The foe has mo-
sufficiently retreated. but he keeps .
bright lookout from the corner OF one
eye, so as TO be ready for q Jump.
They have hurt him." said the lady
"He can't get up poor little fellow ~ and
before any one can interfere, she trips
down the stage. and is STOPPING over the
Rat" who is so taken aback By the ap
partition that he forgets o jump and rolls
over straight. His plight-when 1t ap-
pears that no bones are broken-makes
the lady smile. He has been kicked into
\ coal heap, and is black. He has been
cuffed against lot OF oil cake, and is
russell brown. He is fluffy oil over with
cotton waste. His mouth is open. and his
eyes are Wild With astouishment. lie had
never been so near to lady, and ne don't
know what will be done to him.
Come, get mp" says the captain,
there's nothing the matter With you."
Can you rise ?" asks The lady; and
she touches him with the most " onderlul
thipg Dlck ever saw-her hand The
creamy glove upon ii, the simmer OF
lace and ghtter OF gold a, the wrist, and
tue soft. white flesh beyono; never had
I be seen the like Never had be felt such
4 touch. or had been spoken 20 in such q
tone.
"Oh, ain, in for it now !" ho muses. I;
ard then he looks up into the lady's iacc.
He saw an expression there that he did
not understand He had seen anger in
tue faces of those who had caught him
suddenly. Triumph-he knew the look
OF, when after long chase he had been
taken. ScOrn-thAt was common plenty
of that At all times. This was pity-so
he could not make il out 81 all. A He
brew inscription would not have been
more uniutelligible to Dick.
There was no chance for bolt now. The
lady. the gentleman who came with her.
the captain of the steamer and its chiei
officer, formed semi.circle in front; BE-
hind was The bale OF cotton against which
be had rolled himself for protection. lie
sits up, drinking in that strange expires
sion which at once scares, puzzles, aud
pleases him, Till sort OF sleepy faint
feeling makes him close his eyes.
Hes going TO faint" says the lady
Il knew he was hurt. Oh, see how nc is
bleeding"
He is bleeding badly. Big drops are
trickling las, down bis ragged sleeve,
which will soak no more. These come
from an ugly tear (caused by nail in
the wharf plankiug) or his arm just
above the elbow.
Don't look, Mrs. Austen" says the
captain; IN have him attended TO. Oh,
quaItermaster ! come and carry this boy
on board. and give my compliments to
the doctor, and ask him 10 plaster up this
cut. "
Dick has no power to resist. He is
carried on board, mutIeIing. Come,
ain't done nothing 10 you ~
A cold lunch is served under the AVN.
ing on toe main deck. Two other ladies
and their escorts arrive. but the meal is
delayed by the appearance OF some oi
the crew, bearing squat, heavy boxes,
wsich jingle as they are lowered through
\ trap door in he deck, partly under the
lunch table.
Mexican dollars" explains the cap
tsio.
"Wbs, lot o. money! the lady re-
marks.
"Not 50 mach as you suppose. but a
tidy SUN Each box contains two thou
,aod dollars. and there are fourteen o
tbom-eh. Mr. Mansfield ?" This to the
officer in charge, who confirms the count
Tney have got to their first glass O
champagne. " hen The doctor joins them
''Weii. how's your palient?" asks th'
captain
"All right ani clean tor once iu hi'
lie, but rather weak" is The medical re
port upon the Rat. ~
Poor child" sighs the lady. "Wha
ought he TO take ?"
Il should prescribe something to eat,
the doctor replies, helping himself to
slice of tongne.
Captain, / should ike to give hin
some dinner"
1t is unnecessary 10 say who speaks
aud the skipper would indeed have beer
a stern man if he could have resisted th'
pleading OF those kind brown eyes. Th'
quartermaster is summoned again, ant
appears leading Dick, who wslks groggy
1t has begun TO dawn upon him that h'
is not going to be abused. and be goei
along there like a little cock-o'wax,
as be is told.
"What is your name little boy ?" ask