Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1878-02-14
The Lesson Of a Life.

In December, 1915, in the Department
Of the Noges, Navler Thiriat, boy of ten
accompanied four Young girls of about the
same age to the church. They had to
cross brook, over which was placed a
single loose plank. The boy crossed safe
ly, the first girl who attempted it, fell in
The boy jumped in. pulled her ont. and
then. walking In the water. guided each OF
the girls across. sometime was lost bv
this. and the party reached church late.
Xaver, ashamed OF beng late, did not 20
up 10 The stove. bat kept behind, He
reached home chilled, a dangerous disease
followed, hv which he was left a complete
cripple tor lJir his onlv mode OF movHg
about was on hands aud knees. SO com
pletely were lis legs plraiyzed and dis
was every prospect that Thiriat would be
a heavy charge TO his family and a
wretchcd burden to himself. Instead OF
this, he reached manhood bright, cheerful
and intelligent. Reading all the books he
could lay hold Of. he was soon the best
educated man in his district, and rapidly
acquired extensive influence. which was
always used for good. He induced the
vCung people to read and to study. Some
contributions To the local newspaper. the
Echo DIS P0S9es, attracted attention and
made him known. the result OF which was
were extended TO HIM. He made himself
a good botanist, meteorologi>t, instructed
others in these branches, and procured the
foundation of several local libraries. He
could not, however. be satisfied without
achieving his complete independence and
earning his support. He obtained the
position of manager of the telegraph at =
neighborin9 town, was made Secretary to
the Mayor. became a iavorite correspond
ent Of several agricultural papers. and re-
ceivcd the highest reward OF the ffcuch
Franklin Socjety'-its gold medal.
All this was accomplished by native
force OF character aud strong religions
feeling, under circumstances not merely
adverse, but at first absolutely hopeless
A horrible deformity. intense suffering.
absence OF Instruction, crushing poverty.
all these disabilities were overcome uu-
aided, and this ignorant and crippled lad
made himself the light. intellectual and
moral. of his whole district Public Ledger.
4 RACE BETWEEN 4 CARRIER PIGHpN
AND LOCOMOTIVE ENGINE.-Dover i
twenty miles from London ''aS the crow
flies ard seveutysiX and a half miles BY
railroad; and few days ago there was ala
exciting race between the two cities. The
French police wished u forward 60 Lon
QOll a very important document aS tulchtF
as possible; and the question was whether
a carrier pigeon or the continental mail
express" could take i the sooner.
1t was determined to try in a competitive
manner both W. ans OF conveyance. The
railroad company selected its strongest
and fastest engine; AMI the French police
hired the services ola Bel giau yoyageur,"
which l. Of the best breed of homing pig
cons. At the moment that the train
started the little messenger with the dOcu-
ment fastened to him. was tossed out of
the window "f a car Flying about half Il
mile high, for a minute or two he cirClrd
about as if III search Of bearings, and then
took a straight course for London. His
apparent hesitation led the railroad officers
to teel confident in their own success.
They made their iron horse stretch every
nerve, and they scored mile tor every
minute. But in the hazy, sunny atmos
phere and borne along by the West wind.
the bird beat the train by twenty minutes
time allowance representing eighteen
miles. He accomplished in tifty-siX min
utes What the engine was seventy-six min
utes in accomplishing.