Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1882-12-29

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No sooner did Joe clearly understand
how matters stood than he ran away
from the crowd, nobody paying any at
tention TO what he did. Half an hour
later, somebody cried out: Look
there! Who's that, and what's ho go
ing TO dop pointing up tho stream.
Looking In that direction, the people
saw some one three quarters OF mile
away standing on floating field of
ice in the river. He had n large farm.
basket strapped upon his shoulders,
while in his hands he held plank.
As the icc.licld upon which he stood
neared another, the youth ran forward,
threw his plank down, making bridge
of 1t, and crossed to the farther field.
Then picking up his plank, he waited
Tor chance TO repeat the process.
As he thus drifted down the river,
every eye was strained in his direction.
Presently some one cried out: 1T s
Joe Lambert; and he's trying to cross
to the islandp'
There was shout rs the people un-
dcrstood the nature of Joe's heroic at
tempt, and then hush rs its extreme
danger became apparent.
Joe had laid his plaEs wisely and well,
but 1t seemed impossible that he should
succeed. His purpose was, with the aid
OF the plank to cross from one icc-field
to another until he should reach the
island; but as that would require good
deal of time, and the ice was moving
down stream pretty rapidly, it was nec-
essary to start at point above the
town. Joe had gone about mile up
the river before going on the ice, and
/ when first seen from the town he had
already reached the channel.
After that first shout whisper might
have been heard in the crowd on the
bank. The heroism OF the poor boys
attempt awed the spectators, and the
momentary expectation that he would
disappear forever amid the crushing
ice-fields made them hold their breath
in anxiety and terror
His greatest danger was from the
smaller cakes of ice. When it became
necessary for him to step upon one of
these, his weight was sufficient to make
it tilt, and his footing was very inse-
cure. After awhile as he was nearing
the island. he came into a large collec-
tion of these smaller ice-cakes. For
awhile he waited. hoping that larger
field would drift near him; but after
minutes delay he saw that he was rap
idly floating past the island, and that
he must either trust himself to the
treacherous broken ice, or fail in his at
tempt to save the woman and child
Choosing the best OF the foes, he laid
his plank and passed across successful
ly. In the next passage, however, the
cake tilted up, and Joe Lambert went
down into the water! A shudder passed
through the crowd ON shore.
Poor fellow' exclaimed some ten
der-hearted spectator; sit is all over
with him now."
mo; look, look!' shouted another.
"He's trying to climb upon the ice.
Hurrah! he's on his feet again!' With
that the whole company of spectators
shouted for joy.
Joe had managed to regain his plank
rs well as to climb upon n cake of ice
before the fields around could crush
him, and now moving cautiously. he
made his way little by little toward the
island.
"Hurrah! Hurrah! he's there at
last!" shouted the people on the shore.
But will he get back again?' was
the question each one asked himself q
moment later.
Having reached the island, Joe very
well knew that the more difficult part
of his task was still before him, for il
was one thing for an active boy TO work
his way over floating ice, and quite an
other to carry child and lead woman
upon Il similar journey.
But Joe Lambert was quick -witted
and long headed" as well as brave,
and he meant to do all that he could TO
save these poor creatures for whom he
had risked his life so heroically. TAX
ing out his knife he made the woman
cut her skirts off ut the knees, SO that
she might walk and leap more freely.
Then placing the baby in the basket
which was strapped upon his back. he
cautioned the woman against gi' ing way
to fright, and instructed her carefully
about the method of crossing.
On the return journey Joe was able
to avoid one great risk As it was not
necessary to land at any particular
point, time was of little consequence,
and hence when no large field of ice
was at hand, he could wait for one to
approach without attempting TO make
use of the smaller ones. Leading the
woman wherever that was necessary, he
slowly made his way toward shore.
drifting down the river. of course, while
all the people of the town marched along
the bank.
When at last Joe leaped ashore in
company with the woman, and bearing
her babe in the basket on his back, the
people seemed ready to trample upon
each other in their eagerness to shake
hands with their hero.
Their hero was barely able to stand,
however. Drenched rs he had been in
the icy water, the sharp March wind
had chilled him to to the marrow, and
one of the village doctors speedily lifted
him into his carriage, which he had
brought for that purpose, and drove
rapidly away, while the other physician
took charge of Mrs. Martin and the
baby.
Joe was q strong, healthy fellow, and
under the Doctors treatment of lot
brandy and vigorous rubbing with
coarse towels, he soon warmed. Then
he wanted to saw enough wood for the
doctor to pay for his treatment, and
thereupon the doctor threatened to
poison him if he should ever venture to
mention pay to him again.
Naturally enough the village people
talked of nothing but Joe Lambert $
heroic deed, and the feeling was gen
eral that they had never done their
duty toward the poor orphan boy.
There was IN eager wish to help
him now, and many offers were made
to him; but these all took the form of
charity, and. Joe would not accent
charity at all. -Four years earlier as |
have already said, he had refused to 90
to the poor-house or TO he "bound out"
declaring that he co'ld take care of
himself; and when some thoughtless
person had said in his hearing that he
would have to live on charity, Joe's re-
ply had been:
I'm never eat mouthful in this
town that / haven't worked for if |
starve." And he had kept his word.
Now that he was fifteen years old he
was not willing to beoin 10 receive