The National tribune., 1882-03-25
PART II.
SIXTY CENTS WORTH.

lion had reversed the fable by gnawing the
net for the mouse to escape. That morning
the merchant, who, for some inscrutable
reason, resided in that corporate cemetery
known as Oakland, had fired the imagina-
ton of his little daughter by reading at the
breakfast table the inspiring news that two
baby tigers had just been born at Wood
wards Gardens. AS a necessary sequence
he had finally yielded to the mandate of
the domestic despot that she should be con-
veyed forthwith to that realm CT juvenile
delight. So papa, mamma, and the golden
haired midget in the family lead took an
early boat for the city-the grown folks
gravely pretending, for some ridiculous rea-
son peculiar TO grown folks everywhere,
that they did not themselves care to look at
the animals, but that it wouldn't do to trust
the nurse altogether in such place
| As the ferry-boat neared the wharf on the
city side the mother was in the cabin en-
gagged in the discussion of nursery myster
les with some neighbOring matron, while the
merchant, who had descended to the lower
deck with the child, was head over ears in
political disquisitiOn regarding the new
| Cabinet. 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 re-
minded her of so many soldiers on parade.
As the steamers bow crunched againt the
! piles with a more than unusually violent
preliminary JAR sudden inarticulate shout
of terror rose from the passengers. The little
bundle of chubby prettiness had tottered
and disappeared over the side.
"Jiy GOdt" shriel,ed the paralyzed IA
ther, as the crowding of the boat againt the
slip shut the drowning child from sight and
rendered help impossible. she aUiH be
crushed so death uRder the wheeI!'
"Back! back" shouted the passengers
to the pilot, and, while the frantic screams
of the hysterical mother chilled their hearts,
and dozen kindly hands restrained the
insane father from aimlessly leaping from
the oppisite 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
narrow streak of water was revealed,
which grew wider and wider.
"Well, I'm ID" said one of the deck
hands, who was peering under the sides, " if
q wharf rat hasn'tgot it,"
But the shudder,, caused by this strange
remark was unnecessary, for presently the
eager eyes above beheId swimming below
them a creature whose close cropped head
and bead like eyes sufficiently resembled a
rats, but which in reality belonged to an
under-sized boy swimmer, amaster of the art
withall.
Floating behind him, with it's fair head
upturned and resting upon the wiry little
shoulders that struck out 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.
4 boat-hook twisted in the garments of
the girl soon relieved him of his charge,
which was placed in the trembling 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 hook again to draw
up the almost equally exhausted rescuer,
the men noticed that the drops that fell from
his clothes made red stain on the water
AS they lifted him gently over the edge of
the wharf and laid him down on his back, a
terrible wound extending around his side
and cutting through two of his ribs was ex-
posed
"Stand back! said one of the men to the
crowding bystanders, "he's 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 that throbbed
from its mangled side.
In the awe-struck silence the low sobbing
of the reviving baby near by was heard at
which sound the wounded boy slowly opened
his eyes and SMILED family.
"Where is hep" said strong voice, shaken
with emotion, and the merchant pushed his
way through the ring and knelt tenderly by
the pitiful figure
"God bless you, my little man. What can
do for you?" and then, in a shocked tone,
he added, "Why, he is wounded. Some one
fetch doctor at once!"
"Tain't no use,D whispered the boy, family;
and then beckoning the merchant to bend
closer, he said in irregular gasps, Does yer
savey the mOuse?"
The merchant looked perplexed.
eyer don't know me, but I know'd you,
and the little gal, too, as soon as l seed her
drop. I'm the boy what was took up"
ayes, yes, 1 remember; but you mustn't
talk until the doctor comes my poor fellow"
"Taint no use, I'm agoin'," said the small
mouth; "here, take that out and count it,"
and he indicated a lump that protruded from
a pocket of his wet clothes. The merchant
gently withdrew a rag in which was rolled
lot of small silver.
"Count it" persisted the lad," earnestly.
The man wonderingly Obeyed, and then said
there were just nine dollars and forty cents
in the bundle