The true northerner., 1882-04-14

ing matron, while the merchant, who
had descended to the lower deck with
the child, was head over ears in a polit-
ical disquisition regarding the new Cab
met. Little Lille, at length getting
tired of hanging to the unresponsive big
forefinger of her fathers hand, trotted
off unnoticed to the side of the boat to
peer timidly from beneath the gangway
rail at the great, tall poles that were
sweeping close past as the boat entered
the slip. They reminded her OF so many
soldiers on parade.
As the steamers bow crunched against
the piles with a more than usually vio-
lent preliminary jar, q sudden inarticu-
late shout of terror rose from. the pass
engers. The little bundle of chubby
prettiness had tottered and disappeared
over the side.
"My God |" shrieked the paralyzed
father, as the crowding of the boat
against the slip shut the drowning
child from sight and rendered help i'm
possible; "she will be crushed under
the wheel"
"Back back !" shouted the passen-
gers to the pilot, and, while the frantic
screams of the hysterical mother chilled
their hearts, and dozen kindly hands
restrained the insane father from aim
lessly leaping from the opposite side. the
engine bells jingled furiously, and the
huge mass halted and then began slowly
to move outward again.
Hoping against hope, the coolest of
the passengers crowded to the rail with
boat hooks, until, after what seemed an
eternity of time to the white, watching
faces above, G. narrow streak of water
was revealed, which grew wider and
wider.
"Well, I'm -w said one of the
deck hands, who was peering under the
side, "if a wharf-rat hasn't got it"
But the shudder caused by this
strange remark was unnecessary, for
presently the eager eyes above beheld
swimming below them creature whose
close-cropped head and bead-like eyes
sufficiently resembled rats, but which
in reality belonged to an under-sized
boy swimmer, master OF the art withal.
Floating behind him with its fair head
upturned and resting upon the wiry lit
tie shoulders that struck ort so manfully
through the churning water was the
merchants little daughter. Towing the
insensible infant by means of her long
sunny curls passed over his shoulders,
and gripped firmly in his mouth, the
boy struggled on to the nearest pile, to
which he finally clung like the small,
amphibious animal he really was.
A boat-hook twisted in the garments
of the girl soon relieved him of his
charge, which was placed in the trem-
bling arms of its mother, whose heaven
raised eyes told plainly that she felt the
baby's heart still beating against her
own.
As they lowered the hooss again to
draw up the almost equally exhausted
rescuer the men noticed that the drops
that fell bacl; from his clothes made a
red stain on the water. As they lifted
him gently over the edge of the wharf
and laid him down on his back, terri
ble 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. "Hes all
broke up. Must have dived under the
wheel for her."
The lockers 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
bing of the reviying baby near by was
heard, ut which sound the wounded boy
slowly opened his eyes and smiled faint
ly.
"Wherc ia he?" said a 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 L do for you?" and then, in q
shocked tone. he added, "Why, he is
wounded. Some one fetch u doctor at
once -
"'Tain't no Use" whispered the boy,
family; and then, beckoning to the
merchant to bend closer, he said, in ir-
regular gasps. "Does yer savey the
mouse?"
The merchant looked perplexed.
eyer don't know HE, but l know'd
you and the little gal, too, as soon as L
seed her drop. I'm the boy what was
looked up"
"Yes, yes, 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 a lump that
protruded from 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
ly. 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 can't now I'm
a-goin', and I'm so cents short I"
And he said this with so earnest
look of distress and shame at his failure
that through the mind of his wet-eyed
creditor involuutarily passed thought
of the petty privations, the ceaseless lit
tie acts of self-denial, the half-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