The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1880-01-29
and Eddie on the other-the stream

an6 Eddie on the other-the stream
was bridged by nothing more than
single heavy plank thrown from
one side to the other-safe enough
for any one under ordinary circum-
stances, and, for a sure footed per-
son, quite safe even now, although
the stream, swollen by recent heavy
rains, touched the board. But Seth
Manford, who loved his little nephew
very dearly, called out, in a panic of
fear, even before the child's father
had taken alarm:
''Don't try to cross, Eddie. Wait
and 1 will come to you. The water
is deep anG dangerous just now"
But the light-hearted child was
already on the plank and halfway
over before the meaning of his
words had reached him. AS 1t did
he stopped, frightened by his un
cle's words, and, looking down at
the dark, deep water, so different
from anything he had ever seen
there before, the little fellow grew
dizzy, clutched wildly at the air as
if for something to steady himself
by, and then fell headlong into the
water.
Ephralm Manford sprang forward
with perfect yell of terror and ag-
ony, and in a moment was in the
water wadirg the stream that deep
ened and deepened till it was soon
above his waist; but he conidn't
swim. and the child was already far
beyond his reach, carried swiftly on
by the rapid current. go
Seth, fiinging off coat and vest
and boots as he ran, ran swiftly
along the edge of the stream till he
was almost on level with the float
ing child, and then sprang boldly
out far into the water. He had
spoken only once-a single cry
shouted back over his shoulder
as he ran on: ~,
"Leave him to me, Ephraim.A /
will save him. Go on to the house
and get ready what is needed."C H
Ephraim obeyed as one in a
dream, but there was that in his
brothers voice which gave conf
dence, and also commanded ODE
dience. He waded out of the wa
ter, and ran, wet and dripping, but
bathed in perspiration, although the
air was sharp and keen with frost;
and Ruth seemed to comprehend in
an instant his wild, frenzied cry to
have ready hot blankets, stimulants
and bottles of boiling water.
Meantime Seth struggled bravely
to overtake the now sen seless child
so quickly borne onward on the
swift water, knowing too well that
if once little Eddie were carried
over the mill dam no power on
earth could bring him safe to land.
A prayer went up from his soul;
and then the child was saved, for a
piece of floating timber stayed his
course, and in that brief moments
respite few strong strokes brought
Seth so close to him that he reached
him easily, and bore him safe to
shore. He then caught the mani
mate form-in far more danger of
death from cold and exposure to
the freezing water than from drown
ing-and never stopped to draw
breath until he had crossed his own
door step. Ruth was an adept in
the care of children, and little Ed
die was soon restored TO conscious
ness, and lying safe, well, and with
cheeks like June roses, peeping out
of the warm blankets that wrapped
him up.
Ephraim's sarcastic note had
been lost in the stream, where it
was carried over the dam, dragged
down into the roar of water, and
torn to pulpy fragments among the
mill wheels; but Seth's invitation
was answered in better form, as,
in the beautiful old words that no
tongue, or pen has ever improved
.upoa, Ephraim "fell upon his neck,
and lifted up his voice and wept,''
while he begged forgiveness, instead
of giving it.
And so the brothers, with their
wives, and little Eddie, a te their
Thanksgiving dinner together.