Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1881-05-14

all his former spirits returning as the last |
luorsei went ravenlously down his throat
With q bound he was off down the |
street, and soon, as luck would have it, |
turning in the pennies as fast as he could |
reasonably desire.
It was near eight o'clock tha, same even |
rs, and our young friend, standing be- |
meath he light of street lamp, was turn |
ing over in his mind whether he had best
spend a portion Of his earnings in theatre
ticket, or save it for the morrow, when
some one lightly touched him on the
shoulder.
Turning suddenly, he beleld the ebony
visage Of young colCred waiter, with
whom he had slight acquaintance.
"How are yer, Samboi" be asked pat
ronizingly.
''Oa, berry..well, tank ee, but I'ze in
powerful hurry, and | cum over dis way to
hunt some pnsson to do me favor"
"All right, shady. Then I'm the one yer
alter How mnch yer goin ter guy p
''Jnst one shilling an it's only to tote
a note to young colored lady dat Ibis wis
some white folks piece up town. She's
actin in the pacity of chamber-mald, and
her name am Sophronia Johnson
''Well. give us the change an' the let
t,r, an Pm off >
"Whew.' exclaimed the boy, as he
started off with the letter in his pocket,
and the directions in his head. 1.-The very
house they druv me from this mornln'.
Wonder If the nigger 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 ''F'ire! Fire!'
reached mis- ear; hurrying on to see from
whence it came, to his amaZement, it
proved to be the very house to which he
was bent on his errand as letter carrier.
The tire alarm had been sounded, and q
crowd was rapidly gathering before the
| door, and in among them the boot black
was soon standing.
IN some way the fire had gained head
| way before its existence had been discov-
cred, and the flames were dartlng up
ward through the wide halls and into the
second story. The staircase was wrapped
in wreathing cloud Of smoke, and little
flame of crimson light appeared in its
midst, and on the pavement just beyond,
stood a gray-haired man with clasped
hands and face stricken with terror.
Our young friend recognized HIM at
once. 1t was the same old gentleman who
had told him so grutily to ''bc off" that
morning, and in an instant he took it al i'll.
That he was the father of the beautiful
youg lady he had seen at the window, and
that some one was perishing in the flames.
my chlId, my pet!" he was saying,
piteously, to himself, then turning excited
ly to the gathering crowd, he exclaimed IN
tones that sounded above the dim of the
4 approaching engines, and the hum of the
murmuring thrOng about hun:
ga hundred dollars to the one who will
save my, grandchild! Who will save my
grandchild T.
Il will" responded u shrill voice at his
slde no other than that of the poor boot
black OF the morning.
''You are only child" be began
| But the boy, pointing to the twlrIlng
flames above him, interrupted hastily.
Tell me where the child is, and foi
Gods sake be quick
s:In the second story back, in a little
crib
.'Some of you fellers boost me ont,
that ledge above the parlor winder.' sale
the boy to the gaping Dystanders, "ant
I'll have it down in a twInkling.
Quickly they did his bidding, and in les
, time than it takes to relate it, he hat
clambered to the front chamber window
and effectng an entrance, disappeared
anid the choking smoke that was fas
filing the room.
. He soon found the crib, and takin
the little sleeper in bus arms, wrapped
4 up head and foot in blanket be tore frOr
), the rosewood bedstead at its side.
g Then pulling off one of the sheets b
endeavored to tear it into shred, but i
q vain: it was made of the strongest an
tinest linen His knife, however, was
his pocket, and hastily whipping it out, /
- cut it into a number of strips.
,s Then tying them together by way OF
:, rope. he fastened il about the middle Of II
q child.
- Here it is he shouted, aud at on,
!. proceeded to lower the child into its gran,
fathers outstretched arms.
A great cheer sounded up from the nlu
titude below, and the hremen, seeing Il
precarious position, ran for ladder. B1
| every .uslaut Tue UauScI tllCEtaSctl, anu
y could now feel the seethlng fire almc
catching him in its merciless embrace.
NJ II must jump, he shouted and hu
dred hands reached ou, 70 catch him as
p gave the leap.
,d But with ali the eagerness Of those /
al meath hlm, they missed their reckoning a
h., he fell heavily 10 the ground.
Tender hands raised him, but there "
al no recognition in the still white face
A deep cash across the forehead point
10 the mos, serious wound he had recelv ve
=; and, without once opening his eyes or g
~, Ing the leas, sign Of consciousness, he v
borne 10 neighboring hospital.
y, II was many days before he recover
-, his senscs-weeks before he could wa
X Bu, wher this stage had been reached
was the recipient Of god tidIng.. I
g hundred dollars which seemel for,u
.n in lis inexperienced eyes~~as cerail
nm his but better than this was the news Il
the parents 81 the child lie had saved
49,, tended 10 take his future in their charge
IA Since, he las hecomea man OF high
s!lion and unquesilcnaole ability, a.