Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-08-23
a LITTLE Karaar gRRAar.

alter all-not more than dozen perhaps,
but they were all on the bridge; and this
was the way it happened: Agnes Lowe
looked so down-hearted as she left the
scheol.room that Frank Morrison, who
never could bear to see any thing unhappy
from girl to a kitten, had proposed to
run down TO the bridge and see the ice ssgo
out, for the river was breaking up for the
spring. Now It happened Frank was the
hero OF the school, not so much, ] dare say,
because he was much the bestEcholar in it as
because he was the best skater, the best
swimmer, and, to tell the truth, the best
boy, not only in school, but in the village.
So Isabella Stillman said she would like
to 60, too, and after that everybody wanted
to go, down to poor Jamie West, who was
an idiot, but who was kindly treated by
the children, because Frank said it would
be shame and disgrace not TO be kind to
him.
really must tell you why Agnes Lowe
looked SO down hearted before we 90 any
further. The scholars had had spelling
and defining match that afternoon. When
the teachers ruler came down upon the
desk with such thump, and she said in a
terrible voice, Scholars, attention books
aside rise choose sides !" Agnes always
was frightened, and by the time the sides
were chosen she had almost forgotten her
lesson, though she had studied it diligently
knight Grant, demanded the teacher
of her in sharp, cross voice.
Agnes thought the teacher was always
cross, but l know all about it, and the truth
is she wss only nervous and tired.
Knight knight, e'r er, knight er,
FAINT rant-knight Grant, spelled Agnes,
very slowly, in a low voice, and then
paused and began to blush
Isabella S.iilman, on the opposite side,
looking very trim and composed with her
long, light braids and clean starched apron,
had already opened her lips eagerly to give
the definition, when Agnes went on pain
fully: observation-disclosures and gener-
Gus"
Knight knight, e-r er, knight-er,
rant rant-knight errant, spelled Isa-
bella, quickly interruptipg in clear, dis
tlnct voice" A knight who travelled in
search of adventures for the purpose of ex.
hibiting military skill, prowess and gener-
osity." She spoke go rapidly that eve-y.
body admired her very much.
Right !" said the teacher YEARLY, ana
not paying much attention, for her head
ached. Choose one for your side.
Agnes looked as if she was going to cry.
81 would rather not choose if you don't
mind, said Frank Morrison, who stood at
the head of Isabella's side. 81 think Ag-
mes would have given the definition if she
had had time"
Let me see, !" said the teacher. Yes,
her idea was right as far as il went. Yea
may choose or not, as you like"
Isabella frowned, but Frank did not
choose, and the result was that his side
was beaten, and Agnes was mortified to
hear Isabella say that it was all her fault.
And SO it happened that they were all
on the bridge, and Agnes was shyly keep
ing close by Frank and remembering
definition ehe had once reed, Though ahe
u forgotten the definition n The lesson.
nan always wants TO win d game, a
gentleman always wants to win it fairly"
The view from the bridge was fine one.
The ice came plunging over the dam in
great masses and sen. all the water in the
little river bubbling and boiling and leap
ing on every side, and there was such
rush and roar in the ears of the Gtys and
girls that they could hardly hear EACH
other speak.
Hello, children y or;o4 the cheerful
voice of pass'r so2er you'd bet
ter PEI : br.&se; it. doesn't look
'. ....dy. And his hsases trottod on
.nd a crook in the<f5-i and he disap-
peared.
.-.-L%%ozder if there is any danger, said
Frank, leading the way eff the bridge.
Now this bridge was an old one; it had
three parts, perhaps because ti,ers were SO.
many rocks in the river there. There was
a short span on one side supported on a
little stone pier, then there was a long space
which seemed more like bank of earth
than anything, and then a little wooden
bridge beyond. The scholars had been
standing on the wooden bridge and they
stepped or the bank of earth, all but Jamie,
who was leaning on the railing, his sad
and usually wandering eyes fixed intently
on the dashiug spray below the dam.
"Come, jamie" cried Frank, you'd
better come with rs !"
But before he finished the sentence cry
OF horror broke from all the children.
Without one minutes warning the frail
wooden bridge gave way at once, and in
second more it was swallowed up in the
hurrying water, as if there had never been
such thing
Agnes, who was looking straight at
Frank, saw he turned perfectly white, but
without an instaut's hesitation he flung off
his jacket and dived into the water. Isa-
bella shut her eyes and screamed so did
some of the Others. Agnes stared with a
face as white as Franks. Yes, there was
Jamie's head, and there was Frank close
behind him. Oh, have they gone under
again No, there they are. The waters
have dashed over them again. Oh, oh,
oh, how thankful we ought to be. They
have come up again, and Frank has firm
hold on Jamie. But it was not very easy
swimming in that furious water, and Frank
caught desperately at projecting rock.
Help !" he cried. 81 can't hold on
long, aud / can't swim with him.
The children were too frightened to know
what to do There was 30 house in sight.
Agnes looked round in despair. Then she
remembered the wagner. All this had
happened in less than minute, and per-
haps ne was not out of reach. She ran
along the road he had taken with her
utmost speed. Run, Agnes, run, that
dreadful water is tearing away at the rock,
and Frank is getting exhausted. Round
the crook in the road Agnes saw the
wagner slowly ascending a little hill at
some distance. Her little feet flew along
the ground. She called cut, "Stop
Stop! but her voice was faint, and she
could NOT make him hear. Hurry, Agnes,
hurry Franks strength is almost gone
The WAGNER ia almost at the top of the
hill, and then his horse will begin to trot
again, and there will be no more hope OF
overtaking him.
Isabella had said that afternoon that
Agnes was stupid thing but however
that may be, at this moment a bright idea
came to her. She had little rubber ball
in her pocket The scholars had fashion
of playing ball at recess, ard Agnes was
quite skillful Aim steadily, Agnes, it is
for life or death she gathered all her life
and strength and aimed the bali straight at
the wsgoner's back. 1t did not hurt him
much, but he looked around with sudden
exclamation, and he saw the girl waving
her arms in distress and he turned his
horse and trotted back to her.
swell, little girl, what now % said he.
They're drowning !" Agnes white
lips could barely form the words, but the
WAGNER understood her in an instant, and
Selling her with one hand he swung her
over the wheel to place beside him, and
then drove bis horse at pace that must
have astonished that sober animal.