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

presently Tie eager eyes above DeNelu
swimming below them creature whose
close-cropped head and bead-like eyes
sufficiently resembled rats, but which
in reality belonged to an understood
| boy swimmer, q master of the art withal.
Floating behind him with it's fair head
upturned and resting upon the wiry lit.
tie shoulders that struck out so manfully
through the churning water was the
merchants little daughter. Towing the
| lnsensible infant by means of her long
sunny curls passed over his shoulders.
and grippad firmly in his mouth, the
boy struggled on to the nearest pile, to
which be finally chung 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 il the trerl-
bling arms of its mother, whose heaven
raised eyes told plainly that she felt the
baby's heart still beating against her
OWL.
=! A. thay lowered the hooks again to
draw ny the almost equally exhausted
rescu~r che men noIcod that the drops
that fell back from his clothes made a
red STAIN Oh the water. As they lifted
hin ynt!y over the edge OF the wharf
and laid him down on his back, a terri
bic wound, extending around his side
and cutting clear through two Of his
j ribs, was exposed.
"Stand back y said one of the men to
! the crowding bystanders. Giles all
broke up. Must have Owed under the
| wheel for her.
The lockers on drew back aghast from
the puny wet form lying there on the
slowly-expandipg 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 bow
slowly opened his eyes and smiled faint
~.
'"Vhere is hep 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 do for you ?" and then, in q
shocked tone, he added, "Why, he is
wounded. Some one fetch a doctor at
once p
"'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
mouse"
The merchant looked perplexed.
eyer don't know me, but I know'd
You and the little gal, too, as soon as
seed her drop. I'm the boy what was
tccl,c1 np."
"Y,s, yes, I remember; but YOU
uylsi..'.. Tx until the doctor comes, my
-, s,r W"
faint no use, I'm go;n'," 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 lot of
silver.
"Count it, persisted the lad, earnest
ly. The man wonderingly obeyed, and
then said there were just $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 I'm 60 cents short Z"
And he said this with SO earnest a
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-deniai, 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
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 q sudden thought dimly bright
ened the eyes of the battered little
tradesman. Accustomed as he was from,
bis earliest moments to fight the despe.
rate batt,e Of existence with his hunger
sharpeneI facuities on the alert for every
advantage aud offset in his pigmy bar.
gains, he asked
&c Is gals worth arything?"
Ii was evident that saving another
Life, or losing his own, was small mat
ter beside his anxiety to pay the debt ol
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 SC
mnch," 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 1 have p
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. edo you wish for nothing
The little black eyes opened DULY a
moment, pondered, and then closed
again.
- should like Skinny Smith to have
my corner" The murmur came family
aad far off. And then, having made his
brief will. he choked, and as the blood
COED tiiniy from his little drawn mouth
lie whispered but one word more:
S 'uare W
cts beginning to rain" said one nj