The National tribune., 1882-12-07

( had already reached the channel.
Aitor that first shout whisper might have
T been heard in the crowd on the bank. Tha
. haroism Of the poor boys attempt awcd the
9a"'a.ors, and the momentary expectation
,la. he would disappear forever amid the
crushing ice-feids made them hold their
/ breath i'm ankle tv and terror.
lis greatest danger was from the smaller
cakes Of ice. When it became necessary for
| 'im TO step upon one of these, his weight wa~
efficient to make it tilt and his footing wa
very insecure. After awhile as he was nearing
me island, he camo into large collection oi
sosc smaller ice-ca5es. For awhile he waited
hoping that a larger field would drift near
Ifm; but after minutes delay ne saw that he
ras rapidly floating past the island, and thai
81" must either trust himself to the treacher-
.1s broken ice, or fail in his attempt to saw
ne woman and child.
Choosing the best of the foes, he laid hi
plank and passed across successfully. In tn.
reTt passage, however. the cake tilted up, and
Toe Lambert went down into the water! )
hudder passed through the crowd on shore.
Poor fclIow!' exclaimed some tender
!carted spectator; 1T is all over with hin
now.
g. No; look, look" shouted another "He's
.rvin% to climb upon the ice. Hurrah he's OF
his feet again!" With that the whole com
gaay Of spectators shouted for Joy.
Joe had managed to regain his plank as well
as to climb upon a cake Of ice before the field
around could crush him, and now moving eau
'"uaIy, he made his way, little by little toward
me island.
Iurrah. Hurrah! he's there at last
shoutad the people on the shore.
3" But VIII he get bacI, again ?" was the qucs-
lion each one asked himself moment later
Having reached the island, Joe very well
knew that the more difficult part Of his task
was still before hiu, for it was one thing for an
active boy to work his way over floating ice,
and quite another TO carry child and lead
woman upon similar Journey
But Joe Lambert was quick-witted and
"long-hcaded,' as we'll as brave. and he meant
to do all that he could to save these poor crea-
lures for whom he had risked his life so heroic
ally. Taking out his knife ne made the wo-
man cut her skirts oil at the knees, SO that she
might walk and leap more freely. Then
placing the baby in the basket which was
strapped upon his black, he cautioned the
woman against giving way to fright, and in
structcd 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 conse-
quencc, and hence when no large field of ice
was at hand, ne could wait for one to approach,
IS
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.
The hero was barely able to stand, however.
Drenchcd as he had been in the icy river, the
sharp March wind had chilled MIN to the mar
row, and one Of the village doctors speedily
ifted 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 o strong, healthy fellow, and under
the doctors treatment of hot 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 bat Joe Lambert's heroic deed, and
the feeling was general that they had never
done their duty toward the poor orphan boy
There was an 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
accept charity at all. Four years earlier, as 1
have already said, he had refused to 90 to the
poorhouse or to be "bound out" declaring
that he could take care of himself and when
some thoughtless person had said in his hear
inc that he would have TO live on charity, Joe's
reply had been:
"TII never eat mouthful in this town that
Ihavn' worked for if l starve." And he had
kent his word Now that he was fifteen years
old he was not willing to begin receiving
charity even in the form Of a reward for his
good deed.
One day when some of the most prominent
men of the village were talking to him on the
subject Joe said:
q don't want anything except chance to
work, but III tell you what you may do for me
if YOU viii. Now that poor Martin is dead the
ferry privilege viii be to lease again, and I'd
like to get it fora good long term. Maybe can
make some hing out of it by being always ready
to row people across, and may even be able to
put on something better than q skif after
awhile. I'll pay the village what Martin paid"
The gentlemen were glad enough Of chance
to do Joe even this small favor, and there was
no difficulty in the way The authorities
Gladly granted Joe a lease of the ferry priyi-
lege for twenty years, at twenty dollars a year
rent. which was the rate Martin had paid.
At first Joe rowed people back and forth,
saving what money he got very carefully. This
WAS all that could be required Of him, but it
occurred to Joe that if he had ferry boat big
enough, good many horses and cattle and
good deal of freight would he sent across the
river, for he was "long-htaded fellow as I
have said.
One day n chance offered, and be bought for
twenty-five dollars a large old wood boat, which
was simply square barge forty feet long and
fifteen feet wide, with beveled bow and stern,
made to hold cord wood for the steamboats,.
With his own hands he laid q stout deck on