Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-06-15
FEATHERSTONE'S HERO.

About the time it happened, Little
Tins had been at Featherstone School a
year, think; though may be mistaken
II have SO much to remember since I
began to grow old. There are all the
boys who were at Featherstone in nv
day, the looks of the blessed old school
itself, with the many windowed build
ings, the weather stained belfry, where
the gulls made nests, the neat, trim play
grounds, and the whole broad ocean surg
ing along Cumberland Beach, only
mile way-all this l must never forget.
For what would be the good fortune of
| being boy it one could not have his
school fellows to remember; the home
they had in common, and the glorious old
| days when he and they woke up on the
bright, sunshiny mornings, without a
| thing to do in the world besides coming
a lesson or two? Then there is the mas
ter-though it took us some time to find
out just what noble generous man he
was; and the masters kind, motherly
wife, who cared for us boys when we
were sick andy who brought Billy
Wilson through desperate struggle
with the typhoid fever, when every body
said he would die. Who Of us will ever
forget the quiet, sleepy afternoons we
passed in that large, still school-room,
studying Our illustrated histories and
biographies; listening to the old clock
beating away, as if it were the pulse of
the place; and looking out wistfully
through the deep windows at the sails
heaving in sight now and then on the
glimmering ocean? Or, will any of us
forget the days when it stormed, and the
sea threw its spray away up to our win
dows, and at night rumbled over the
beach like guns, keeping us awake fol
hours2 And finally, whenever, we look
at the sea, are there any Of us who will
not recall Little Tins?
What an odd looking little chap he
was. to be sure, when be first came to the
school! The boys laughed at his name
Littlefeld Tins; and called him
"Gran 'ther" because he appeared SO old
fashioned Then somebody began tt
nickname him Little Tins, and we al
took it up. He was not so very small il
stature, however; only slim and poor
His face was freckled, his hair red, anc
he had large hands, that looked as though
he had been used to very hard work. One
of the boys said that the master hao
brought him from a poor farm; but WI
never found out whether that was really
the truth. All we knew about him wal
that he had no parents and was KEEP
about the school to do the chores Wher
the biggest boy shook him, one day; be
| oo,,,o 10 ,.of,,eo1 <r, Foo. ho COT down orr
cried; said he wished he was dead. 80
never had any friends, and we might Kill
) him, if we wanted TO; he didn't care, h
| said. Some of the boys only laughed a
that and told him he hadn't any pluck
, Afterwards he kept away from us all a
much as he could, and studied his lesson
t alone.
But the day came. at last, however
: when we found out what brave hear
r Little Tins had; and then, of course, "
l wonder that it had taken us SO long t
e discover the fact. It was some time il
. the sprlng-a dark, cold, rainy day, whe
e the sea had been made wild by the hig
t wind. The most of US had remained in
k doors all the afternoon; and, when ever
e ing came, we gathered around the ope
y fire at the end of our long dormitory an
n took turns in telling the sea stories "
d had read. oh! To hear Billy Wilso
re telling about his fathers cruise to Bon
y bay, while you were watching the gre'
" heap Of fire cracking and darting u
y bright flames, and listening to the storl
g beating the windows and the surf thu
u dering against the shore, was worth
is great deal, can tell. you. And what
is noise the wind and waves did make tn
as night! It was as much as anyone cou
as do to catch wink of sleep; andl rect
to lect how lay awake ever so long, fanc
w ing that could hear voices outdoor CT
ut ing and calling to us. I suppose mu
ne have been dreaming an hour or t"
IS though, before really did hear anythin
it because l sprang up startled and co
he fused when that loud boom and rumt
d. broke above the noise Of the storm.
ed .What was that, Ludgate2" whisper
ng little Tom Duffeld, frightened; and tn
as in moment everybody in the dormiito
as was sitting up in bed, wanting to knt
as what had happened. George Jennin
in crcpt out to the end window and pull
ny up the curtain, just as another crash ma
re US Jump, and we caught glimpse Q
ia flash in the distance, bursting the da1
or, ness apart.
nd 'sIt's ship on the reef, fellows" call
ad out three or four at once:
k There was general scramble for {
az clothes, and then we crowded about
y, window and waited for another fla