Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-12-26

| o0lOW tii'tAi
close cropped head
sufficiently resem ai a
in reality belong 60 ua
boy swimmer, lfassa ibs ait
Floating behind bqin ata
upturned and resiira up9n ~
tie shoulders that siF0es Gus ss nsa
through the cii,lrq!la stes
| merchants little daa t
insensible infant by mems Of $50
sunny curls passed over Yrs
and gripped firmly In sia
boy struggled on to the lie3.az M
which he finally chung hte
amphlbious animal he really 9s
A boat-hook twisted In tie 4
of the girl soon relieved ala IS
charge, which was placed u .s IS a.
bling arms of its mother, whose heaven
raised eyes told plainly that sac ielt tae
baby's heart still beating against ner
own.
As they lowered the HOOKS again to
draw up the almost equally exhausted
rescuer the hen motto ID that the drops
that fell bach, from his clothes made 81
red stain on the water. As they lifted
him gently over the edge of the wharf
and laid him down on his back, a terri
BILE wound, extending around his side
and cutting clear through two of his
ribs, was exposed.
"Stand back !" said one of the men to
the crowding bystanders. Giles all
broke up. Must have Owed under the
wheel for her."
The lookers-on drew back aghast from
the puny wet form lying there on the
slowly-expanding carpet OF red blood
which throbbed from his mangled side.
In the awe-struck silence the low Sob
bling of the reviving baby near by was
heard, at which sound the wounded boy
slowly opened his eyes and smiled faint
ly.
"Where is hep said strong voice.
shaken with emotion, and the merchant
pushed his way through the ring and
knelt tenderly by the pitiful little fig
ure.
"God bless you, my little man.
What can do for you % and then, in q
shocked tone, he added, "Why, he is
wounded. Some one fetch a doctor at
once !"
'Tain't no use" whispered the boy,
family; and then, reckoning to the
merchant to bend closer, he said, in ir-
regular gasps. "Does yer savoy the
mousew
The merchant looked perplexed.
eyer don't know me, but I know'd
you and the little gal, too, as soon as I
seed her drop. I'm the boy what was
looked up"
eyes, yes, I remember; but YOU
mustn't talk until the doctor comes, my
poor fellow"
"Tain't no use, I'm goin'," said the
small mouth. ''Here, take that out and
count it, " and he indicated lump that
protruded from a pocket Of his wet
clothes. The merchant gently with
drew rag, in which was rolled a lot of
silver.
"Count it, persisted the lad, earnest
~. The man wonderingly obeyed, and
then said there were just SO. 40 in the
bundle.
81 said I'd pay you back this year, :"
said the boy in fainter whisper and
with disregard of his terrible pain that
was marvellous "but I can't now I'm
a-goin', and Tn 60 cents short! !"
And he said this with so earnest q
look OF distress and shame at his failure
that through the mind of his wet-eyed
creditor involuntarily passed thought
Of the petty privations, the ceaseless lit
tie acts of self-denial, the haIf-fed days
and shivering nights that were ex-
pressed by each of the battered dimes
and boarded nickels of the slowly.
acquired sum he held In his hand.
Never mind the money!" said the
father In choking voice; "my baby is
worth all the money in the world to me.
and you have saved her life." As he
spoke sudden thought dimIy bright
ened the eyes of the battered little
tradesman. Accustomed as he was from
his earliest moments to fight the despe-
rate battle of existence with his hunger
sharpened faculties on the alert for every
advantage and Offset in his pigmy bar
gains, he asked:
Is gals worth anything?"
1t was evident that saving another
life, or losing his own, was small mat
ter beside his anxiety to pay the debt of
honor that weighed upon him. He
asked the question incredulously though.
The few girls of ''Snub's acquaintance
were wretchedly Intellectual creatures,
unable to compete in the paper trade,
and proportionately worthless and in
significant.
eyes, yes mine is worth ever so
much" said the parent gently, and
hardly knowing how to frame his an
swer to the odd question.
"Sixty cents ?" persisted Snubs.
"Oh !! yes-much, much more
"Then, whispered the child, with an
effort, but still triumphantly, "we're
square. I said I'd do it-and I have r.
and his eyes closed.
"Can't do something for you, my
poor little hero?" said the merchant
through his tears, for the just-arrived
physician had turned away, shaking his
head. "Do you wish for nothing ?"
The little black eyes opened DULY a
moment, pondered, and then closed
again.
II should like Skinny Smith to have
my corner" The murmur came family
and far off. And then, having made his
brief will, he choked, and as the blood
oozed thinly from his little drawn mouth
ne whispered but one word more:
Square
cts beginning to rain," said one of
the bystanders, in husky voice. "Let
US carry the little chan home"