Middletown transcript., 1880-03-13

one yer arter. How much yer goil
ter guv.'
"Just one shilling, an it's only t.
/ tote note to a young colored lady
dot Ibis wis some white folks a piece
up town. She's actin in the pacity {
chamber maid, and hei name am Soph
ronia johnson"
Well, give US the change an the
letter, an I'm off
"Whew = exclaimed the boy, as he
started off with the letter in his pock.
ct. and the directions in his head
The very house they druv me from
this mornin." Wonder if the niger
i'll order me off the stoop."
As the young 'colored gemman
had said, it was 'onlya 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 Fire
Fire" 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
letter 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 dart
ing upward through the wide hall and
into the second story. The staircase
was wrapped in a wreathing cloud of
smoke, and little flames Of crimson
light appeared in its midst, and on the
pavement just beyond, stood a gray
haired man with clasped hands and Il
face stricken with terror.
Our young friend recognized him at
once. It was the same old gentleman
who had told him 50 gruffly to "be off
thar 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 perishing in the flames.
My child, my pet, he was saying,
piteously to himself, then turning ex-
citedly 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;
"A hundred dollars to the one who
will save my grandchild ?"
Il will = responded shrill voice at
his side; no other than that Of the
poor boot-black of the morning
"You are Cnly a child" he began
But the boy, pointing to the twirl-
ing flames above him, interrupted has
tily
Tell me where the child is, and for
Gods sake be quick r
In the second story back, in little
crib.
"Some Of you fellers boost me onter
that ledge above the parlor window !"
said the boy to the gaping bystanders,
''and I'll have it down in twink
ling
Quickly they did the bidding, and
in less time than it takes to relate it,
he had clambered to the front chamber
window, and efecting an entrance,
disappeared amid the choking smoke
tha. was fast filling the room.
He soon found the crib, and taking
the little sleeper in his arms, wrapped
it up head and foot in a blanket he
tore from the rosewood beadstead at
IFS side.
Then pulling off one Of the sheets
he endeavored 10 tear it into shreds,
Dnt in vain it was made Of the strong
est and finest linen. His kDile, how /
ever, was in his pocket, and hastily
il out, he cut i into num-
Der Of stri ps
Then tying them together by way
IF i rope, he fastened it about the mid |
lle of the child
Here it is T. he shouted, and at
)nce proceeded to lower the child INTO |
It's grandlather's outstretched arms.
A great cheer sounded up from the
multitude below, and the fireman. see
ng the precarious position, ran for a
adder. But every instant the danger /
and he could now feel the
-eething fire almost catching him in
nerciless embrace.
Fl must jump!' he shouted, and a
hundred hands reached out to catch /
lim as he gave the leap
But with all the eagerness Of those
him, they missed their reck
ming and he fell heavily to the
ground.
Tender hands raised him. but there
vas no recognition in the still white
ace.
A deep cash across the forehead
pointed to the most serious wound he
rad received and, without once open
ng his eyes or giving the least sign OF
Consciousness, he was borne to a neigh
,oring hospital.
1t was many days before he recover,
d his senses-weeks before he could
walk. But when, this stage had been
cached he was the recipient Of good
idings. The hundred dollars which
eemed fortune in his inexperienced
yes, was certainly his; but better
han this was the news that the par
.nts Of the child he had saved intend
d to take his future in their charge.
Since, he has become a man Of high
position and unquestionablc ability,
md, whenever he is asked how he
anne by the scar on his forehead, his
-nswer invariably is: Il received it
yhen | was boot-black and | call 1t
ny revenge"
DECISION INTIMATED,--" Judge"
aid zone of the boys" walking into
Judge Moses office this afternoon,