The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1881-09-22

Aud keep your Own fanciful leisure,
But give me my four splendiIboys!
THE APPRENTICES LEAP.
a Story of London b iidge.
From David Kerr. in Harper's Young People.
Sunset over London, on a fine summer
evening the days Of "good Queen Bess;"
tall, quaint old houses with peaked roofs
and countless gables, standing up on every
side, and the Thames lying in the midst
like broad sheet Of gold, save where it
was fecked by the dark shadow Of London
Bridge, then regular street, with houses
along each side of it. 9
Just above the lower arch rose house
larger than the rest that of Sir William
Hewet, cloth worker and Burgess of the city
OF London. The sunset made a glory upon
the windows of the old mansion, and lighted
up the balcony, on which Sir William 8 baby
daughter was growing and clapping her
tiny hands with glee where the sight Of it and
stole into the work room where the young
est apprentice, Edward Osborne, was be-
ginning his task, by singing the ballad Of
Brave Lord Willoughby," which was as
popular in that age as GLORY Hallelujah" is
in this. T'd
4Ah, if could but have the chance of
doing such deed as that!' murmured the
boy as he ended.
"Well, we'll, my brave lad, !" answered the
CHEEKY voice of old Sir William, who had
entered the room urperceived, you're on
the right road toit by being dilligent at
your work. Keep to that meanwhile, and
never fear but the chance Of doing great
deeds will come all in good time"
Little did either speaker or nearer guess
how soon and in what way those words
were to come true. Scarcely had the old
knight left the room when the boy was
startled by sudden shrek from the bal
cow overhead, and by something white
dashing past the window into the depth be-
low Sir. William Hewet's only child had
,Eeaped out Of her nurses arms and fallen
headlong into the river.
The faint splash was Instantly answered
kby much louder one, and the distracted
ahousehold, as they rushed in body to the
fatal balcony, Saw Edward Osborne's brown
curly head far down the shining stream,
shooting straight as an arrow toward the
tiny white speck that fDateda little way
i beyond him.
He has her!"
MOI
~aYesw
s.No. he's gone past. Stay! he's turning
again"
4Hurrah! he's got her at last. Thank
sGod!n
The anxious fathers straining eyes we're
already too dim to see anything clearly; but
theS5oyous shout of his keen-eyed serving
, other moment he was hurrying toward the
scene of action as fast as his feet could
sacaMy him.
But the peril was not over yet. Good
swimmer as he was, the furious swirl of
the current, together with the weight of
his own wet clothes and those Of the child.
was fearful odds against the brave appren-
tice. Twice his head dipped below the sur
face and all seemed over; but he still held
the rescued infant above the water with one
hand, while struggling for life with the
other. a IS
Courage, my heartyr' said hoarse
whisper beside him. "Hold up just anoth-
er minute and all's WE'LL"
at the same moment a boat pulled by
two sturdy watermen, wLo had put off from
the shore on the first alarm, came sweeping
up to the sinking boy. A strong hand
caught the child from his failing grasp,
while in another instant he was seized and
dragged into the boat after her, just as the
lest remnant of his overtasked strength
gave way.
Get her head round, Tom, said one of
the boatman 10 his cOmrade, land pull
with q will, for that's the youngsters father
running this way or I'm much mistaken. !"
Scarcely had the boat touched the wharf
on her return, when old Hewet sprang into
her like a mailman, and finding his child
unhurt, flung his arms round the neck of
the half drowned apprentice.
God bless thee, my son" cried he. fer
IN a how nov no1l fhno o. How
again, for few men would have dared as
much"
s'Let them call him hero, said a voice
from behind.
The boy looked up with start. Beside
him stood the handsomest man he had ever
seen, in a rich court dress, looking Town
upon him with grave, kindly eyes. It was
Sir Walter Raleigh, famous even then as
enc Of the greatest men whom England had
ever produced, but destined to become
more famous still as the colonizer of Vic
ginie.
Ten years from that day there was 9
great merry making in the old house OF
london Bridge. and Sir William Hewet
still brisk and CHEEKY as ever, though his
hair was now as white as snow, sat at the
head of his own table, amid a circle o.
guests whose names are in every history OF
England. At his right hand was his daugh
ter's newly made husband-a tall, fine
docking young man, whose clear bright eye
faced that brilliant assemblage as boldly a
they had looked down into the foamin,
waters of the Thames years before.
This is the man to whom I have give1
my girl, fair sirs, !" said the old knight
Many a rich man and many grande
have asked me for her; but always said
Let the best man win.
And SO he has," cried Sir Walter Ra
leigh, grasping Osborn's hand; and th
fairest lass inLondon may be proud to bea
his name, for I'll warrent that it will b
famous yet.
Raleigh spoke truly. A month later. Til
,eT-apprentice was Sir Edward Osborne
yeta feweyears, and he had become sheriff
and when the Spanish Amanda came, fore
most among the defenders Of England, wa
Osborne, Lord Mayor of London, frol
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