Mexico weekly ledger., 1878-01-03

quick as llgnGnInS lie hung the Soou
''Blue Streak down upon the road
and himself upon it, steering straight
for the unconscious child.
"Clear the t ack!". yelled the rip
per's crew. 1t was frightfully near.
Now Tom was at the corner. He
glanced up the road there they were.
right upon him, already bending in
to keep the craft upright rs they went
round the turnl But he was ahead!
One moment more, and deity steer
ing to the left of the child, he passed
his right arm around him, and giving
his left foot a powerful dig into the
snow, swept the little fellow out of
the track and over a little bank by
the roadside. Toms sled tipped over
and he and the child rolled down the
bank together, but neither was hurt.
The crew OF the ripper turned pale
with fright, as they saw the sudden
danger of the child and his marvellous
escape /; the stern of the "Blue Streak
was grazed by the PROV of their craft
as it went round the turn, "Good boyi
Toni .'Bully for you'll" they shot,
ted as they swept on down the hill.
But if the crew of the ripper were
thankful what do you suppos were the
feelings of little Harry's father, who
was just coming out of the door as
Tom plucked his child out of the
Jaws of death. He had heard tbs cry
of the ripper crew., and looking out,
had seen little Harry sitting there !;
then rushing out OF the door had also
seer ~tlercscue. ''You brave boy!"
he said, with swelling heart, as Tom
put the child into his arms. "You
saved his life! God bless you. Come
in!'' But Mrs. Holmes had fallen
fainting in the doorway, overcome by
the sudden peril of her child, and
Tom simply said, ''Thank you, sir
not unless l can be of some use. ]
must go home after this trip" AnG
he climbed back to the starting place.
where the other boys were still stand
ing breathless.
Three cheers for Tom Noble
cried Charley Green, and the boy:
gave him three and a tiger.
There, fellows, that will do
laughed Tom, I'm not running TO
office, and it is not worth while t
make yourselves hoarse about so sma.
q matter"
''But it isn't a small matter" sale
George Lincoln. "Look here, oil
fellow, You know L called you
coward two weeks ago because yo
wouldn't go skating on Brown
pond when the ice was thin"
"And you know" broke in Wi
Stebbins, THAT | said that you wa
mammals boy, and that l wouldn'
lie tied up to any woman's apro
strings as you were to hers"
"Well," said Tom, "what of ii
L don't lay up anything against yo
on that account"
"No matter if you didn't" sal
George, Il take it all back. That
the best L can do. And if anybod
calls Tom Noble a coward after til
-why-it won't be true, that's all.
And if anybody calls him man
mas boy in my hearing" said vii
81 shall only say that l wish my man
ma had as plucky n boy, that's all.
''All right, fellows" said Tor
"You're all very generous. I'm 81;
of your good will, and hope to mel
the continuance of the same, as L
papers say. But now l must
home"
And mounting again his good sic
Tom was sOon at the foot of the hi
and speedily reached his home.
L must not take long to tell you
what happened that evening. Aft
supper, according to programn
mother came out into the sittin
room the Christmas tree was brone
i'll and dressed, and it was just
pretty a tree as merry children eN
danced arOunG the nuts were craC
ed, the games were played, and j.
as the first verse of we Three Kin.
was finished. there was a sound
sleigh-bells outside, and somebo
stopped at the gate.
"AIr. Holmes and Mrs. Holm
and Harry" said Tom, as he look
out into the moonlight.
"What can have sent them o
here this EVENING" qucried NJ
Noble.
Tom blushed, but said nothil
When he let them into the sittiI
room his mother noticed that
lady caught caught hold of him 9
kissed him, looking very much as
she was going to cry. All this wa
riddle to Mrs. Noble, but she RENE
bered in a moment that Mrs. Holm
hoy Phil had died only two years
fore, and she thought that Tom
probably brought him freshly to
mind.
After a few words Mr.. HolI
said to Mrs. Noble: Il suppose
know, madam, how much We owe
your son?'
"No,' said Toms mother, wit
puzzled look. "What do you meal
$50 no hasn't fold Won - ca;d