Daily Republican., 1881-12-09
THE APPRENTICES LEAP.

THE APPRENTICES LEAP.
, A STORY OF LONDON BRIDGE.
, From Harper's Young People
Sunset over London, on a fms sum
J mer evening in 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 were 1t was hscked
by the dark shadow OF London Bridge,
then regular street, with houses along
each side Of 1t.
just above the middle arch rose q
house larger than the rest-that OF Sir
William Hewet cloth-workcr and Bur
CESS OF the city of London. The sunset
made glory upon the windows of the
old mansion, and lighted up the balco-
ny, on which Sir Williams baby
daughter was Growing and clappirg her
tiny hands with gles at the sight OF it,
and stole into the work room, where the
young apprentice, Edward Osborne,
was beguilipg his talks by singing the
ballad of Brave Lord Willonghby,'
which was as popular in that aye as
GLORY, lIallelujah : is in this.
'Ah, if could have the chance of do
ing such deed az that murmureG the
boy, as he ended.
We'll, we'll my brave lad, answerea
the cheering voice of old Sir William.
who had entered the room unperceived,
you're On the right road to it by being
diligent 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 hearer
guess how soon and In what way those
words were to come true. Scarcely had
the old knight lef, the room when the
boy was startled by sudden shrek
from tie balcony over head, and some
thing white flashing past rhe window
into the depth below. Sir William Hew'
cts only child had l:aped out of her
nurses arr 5 and fallen Leadlong into
the river,
That faint splash was instantly an.
swered by much louder one, and the
distracted household, as they rushed in
body to the fatal balcony, saw Edward
Ooburne's br VII curly mead far down
the shining stream, shooting straight as
an arrow coward the tiny white speck
that toated little way beyond him.
H" has her.
mo-.
'Ye,
No, he's gone past. Stay he's turn
ing again.
'Hurrah! he'A got her at last. Thank
Cod
The anxious fathers s.raining eyes
were already too dim to anything
clearly; but the Joyous shout Of his
keeu-eyed serving-men told him that
all was well, and In another momelt h.
was hurrying toward the scene o az
ton az fast as his feet could carry him.
But the peril WIS not over yet. Good
swimmer as he was, the furious swirl
Of the current, together with the heavy
weight of his own wet clothes and also
those of the child, was fearful, odds A.
gainst tho brave apprentice. Twice
ii head dipped below the surface of
the water, and all seemed over: but he
sliIl held the rescued infant above the
wafer with one hand, while struggling
for life with the other.
Courage, my hea tv!' said hoarse
voice beside him. Hold up another
minute, and als we'll
AT the same moment n boat pulled
by two sturdy watermeu, who 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 falling grasp, while in another in-
stant he was seized and dragged into
the boat after her, just as the last REM
naut OF his Ovcr-tasked strength gave
way.
Get her head round, Tom, said one
OF the boatmen to bis com rade, 'aud pull
with 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 Hewitt
sprung into her like mahman, and
nnuin, his child unhurt, tiung his arms
round the neck OF Lue h-,lt-dro ! ned ap-
prentice.
God bless thee, my son' cried he,
fervenlly. Let thc'u never call thee ii
roy again, for few men would have
dared as much
"Let them call him a hcro," said a
voice from behind.
The boy looked uD with start Be- |
sid, him stood the hand ,omest man he |
had ever seen, in Il rich court dress,
looking down On him wi h grave kind
ly eyes. 1t was Sir Waller Raleigh, ia.
mus even then as one Of the greatest
men whom England had ever produc-
I'd, but destined TO become more ia
nous still az the cO!onizer Of Virginia.
Ten years from that day there was n
great merry-making in The old house
on London Bridge, and SIR William
Hew.t, still brisk and cheery as ever,
though his hair is now white as snow,
sat at the head of his own able, amid
a circle of guests whose names a;e in ev-
cry history Of England. at hi, right
hand was his daughters newly made
Lusband-a tall ,tiDe.looking young man
whose clear bright eyes faced dat bril-
liant 'semblage as boldly as they had
looked Gown into the foaniug waters
of the Thames years before.
This is the man to whom have
given my girl, fair sire,' said the old
knight. Many % rich man and many i
grandee have asked me for he !; but al
ways said Let the best man win.'
And so he has cried Sic Walter
Raleigh, grasping Osborne's hand, and
the fairest lass in London may be
proud TO bear his name for III warrant
it will be famous yet.
RAle,yh smoke trull A month