The Lamoille news. (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1877-1881, 1878-03-27


II will do all 1 can," promised Mr..
Nagle. But his heart sank within him.
Leaving Mrs. Steele, he went down
into the village street. A crowd had
collected about trench which had been
dug for some purpose. The doctors
horse had fallen into it, and was strug-
Cling desperately to get out, the shelv-
ing yellow clay giving him an uncertain
foothold.
Some of the men had struck him cruel
ly, and some were trying to urge him by
dragging at the reins. All the others
we're looking on solemnly, with their
hands in their pockets. Just then MIR.
Nagle heard clear, authoritative voice
"Help me bring these planks and put
them in the trench y
Surely that was Johns voice.
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
struggled out, with the help of two or
three planks.
He limped as he was led off. Nobody
noticed this but John.
"Stop a moment" he cried, and lift
ing the horses foot, he pickel out a
stone from it with little tool which he
took from his pocket; for Johns pocket
was filed with little tools and queer,
tiny mechanical contrivances.
"Who made them, John ?" said his
teacher.
"I did, sir, looking stupid again.
The next day, about dusk, Mr.. Nagle
was in the ferry-boat which crossed the
river at that point Several of his pupils
were on board, coming back from a
match Of base ball; among them Clarence
and John.
When half way across the river, there
was a loud explosion, and Mr.. Nagle
found himself clinging 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 frantic struggle for
life. Then the portion of the wreck he
was on foated down stream.
About dozen of the passengers clung
to it. The night fell fast The shore
was but fast receding dark line, with
red twinkling lights.
Upon the shattered deck cabin hung
q single life-preserver. John saw it,
climbed like cat to where it was, and
brought it down.
"Give me tbat!" shrieked Clarence.
"Oh, give it to me- I can't swim r.
"It's for this woman"
There was but one woman among them,
and she was old and lame.
"Give it to me, I say? 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.. Nagle noticed how cool and alert
the boy was in spite of his deadly pale
ness and trembling.
"We had better tie ourselves to
these" he said. "This deck is so shat.
tered it will 60 to pieces before they see
us from the shore"
Mr.. Nagle, without word, followed
his advice. John was not a Latinist and nc
poet, but he had enc quality which made
him leader just then.
A few moments later, the deck broke
up, and Mr.. Nagle found himself in the
rushing current, but was picked up by
one of the boats which were out in
search of the victims.
The banks were lined with pale, ter.
rified faces. AS he was lifted on shore,
he saw boy dragged out of the water,
and poor little woman in black fly to
him with wild cry.
"I'm all-all right, mother" gasped
John and then he cried on her breast
like the child that he was. 81 thought
I'd never see You again!" he sobbed.
Now there had been q stranger on
boards queer, wizened little mar
with foxy wig. This man, who was
among the saved, took up his quarters
at the village inn, and presently there
arrived by express mysterious engine
or pump, directed to him, which wat
placed in the hallway of the inn.
1t seemed to have curious fascina
ton for John. He spent half his leisure
time poring over it,-meas ring the
tubes with his inch rule.
In front of the case there was square
of plate-glass. Now it happened tina
one day, while John was relaxing hi
mind by a game Of ball in the street, h'
threw the ball plump into this cost!
bit OF glass.
The other boys ran, and John ran too
but only for few steps. Then h
went to his savings-bank, and took on
the money which was meant for Christ
mas. He presented himself before th
old man, who was looking at his shat
tered glass and taking snuff violently.
"I did that, sir. There is the none
for it. Will it be enough?"
/ "Oh, You did it, eh?" scowling q
him. "Well, give me the money
What are you eternally prying into m
press for, anyhow"
"It's not press. It's pump.