The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1880-02-05

chamber-maid, and her name am
Sophronia johnson
-"welI, give us the change an the
letter, an Pm of" q u
nWhewI" exclaimed the boy, as he
started of with the letter in his pocket,
and the directions in his head. The
very house they druv me from this
mornin'. Wonder if the Niger ill
order me off the stoop."
As the young "colored gemman" had
said, it was "only piece uptown" the
house being on Fifth avenue, Just above
Sixteenth street.
But as the boy neared the corner of
the street, a piercing cry of "Fre !
FireP reached his ear; hurrying on to
see from whence it came, to his amaze
ment, it proved to be the very house to
which he was bent on his errand as let
ter carrier. .-.
The fire alarm had been sounded, and
a crowd was rapidly gathering before
the door, and in among them the boot
black was soon standing.
In some way the fire had gained a
headway before its existence had been
discovered, and the flames were darting
upward through the wide halls and into
the second story. The staircase was
wrapped in a wreathing cloud of smoke,
and little flames of crimson light ,ap-
peaIed in its midst, and on. the pave
ment Just beyond, stood q gray-haired
man with clasped hands and face
stricken with terror. =. . ls..--. g.
Our young friend recognized him at
once. 1t was the same old gentleman
who had told him 30 gruffiy to "be off
that morning, and in an instant he took
it all in. That he was the father of the
beautiful young lady he had seen at the
window, and that some one-was perish
ing in the flames.
"My child, my petp, he was saying,
piteously, to himself, then turning
excitedly to the gathering crowd, he ex-
claimed in tones that sounded above the
din of the approaching engines, and the
hum of the murmuring throng about
him, ~ 1E.EG
D.A hundred dollars to the one who
win save my grandchiIdl Who will
save my grandchild p 40 z -'i.'a'.i II !
"I whip responded shrill voice at
his side; no other than that of the poor
bootblack of the morning. - ss,g y. |
You are only child" }" he began
But the boy, pointing to the twirling
flames above him, Interrupted hastily.
"Tsil me where the child is, and for
Gods sake be quick pa = S'O " 4 |
"In the second story back, in little
crib" (. asa-s 3 gss.s = ,ll.sfFll
"Some of you feliers boost me onter
that ledge above the parlor winderp'
said the boy to the gaping bystanders,
and PlI have it down in q twinklingp'
Quickly they did his bidding, and in
less time than it takes to relate it, he
had clambered TO the front chamber
window, and efecting an entrance, dis.
appeared amid the choking smoke that
was fast filling tie room.
lie soon found the crib, and taking
the little sleeper in his arms, wrapped
it up head and foot in y blanket he tore
from the rosewood bedsiead at its side
Then pulling of one of the sheets be
endeavored to tear it into shreds, butin
vain; it was made of the strongest and
finest linen. His knife, however, was
in his pocket, and hastily whipping il
out, he cut it into number of strips,
Then tying them together by way of 8
rope, he fastened it about the middle oi
the child. f 3r ~ lna .ssaiEssileus
"Here it isp' he shouted, and at once
proceeded to lower the child into it.
grandfather's outstretched arms.s.
A great cheer sounded up from the
multitude below, and the firemen, see
ing the precarious position, ran for a
ladder But every instant the danger
increased, and he could now feel the
seething fire almost catching him in its
merciless embrace. |
al must jumpp he shouted, and 6
hundred hands reached out to catch hin
as he gave the leap.
But with all the eagerness of those be
meath him, they missed their reckoning
and he fell heavily to the ground.
Tender hands raised him, but there wa
no recognition in the still white face.
A deep cash across the forehead
pointed TO the most serious wound. be
had received, and, without once openin1
his eyes or giving the least sign o.
Consciousness, he was borne to neigh
boring hospital. ~
1t was many days before he recovered
his senses-weeks before he could walk
But when this stage had beeen reached
he was the recipient of good tidings
The hundred dollars, which seemed ,
fortune in his inexperienced eyes, wa
certainly his; but better than this wa
the news that the parents of the chile
he had saved intended to take his tn
ture in their charge. AtI
Since, he has become a man of higl
position and unquestionable ability
and, whenever ne is asked how he cam
by the scar ON his forehead, his answe
invariably is: "I received it when
was boot-black and I call Tiny re
venge.'