Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1883-10-02

by. Then lashing them with the whiE
he started swiftly in the direction Nellie,
pony had taken.
Far ahead they dimly saw her dashing
madly along, having apparently lost all
control of the infuriated beast. Her fa-
ther groaned, while her mothers lips
moved as though in prayer. All, if any
thing should happen to their darling
the only child that heaven had given to
them-what would they dos And then
they saw the runaway career Of the
pony brought to an abrupt close, while
Nellie was jerked headlong from the sad :
die. Was she hurt," They strained
their eyes in vain to see. 1t seemed an
age to them, during which they were
plunged into an agony Of mingled hope
and fear, before they came up to the
crowd that surrounded very penitent
pony aud a fearful aud frightened little
girl. who, thank God, was unipjured,
with the exception Of few cuts and
bruises.
1t happened this way.
There was boy, ragged and hungry
looking who was gazing wis,fully at the
tempting things displayed in grocers
window. When he heard the gallop.
ing of hoofs and the dismayed cries Of pc.
destrians, he looked quickly up. As he
did so he noticed the empty barrels and
boxes that Uttered the edge OF the pave
ment. Like fash an idea entered his
brain. Realizing there was no time TO
lose, he energe,ically rolled several bar
rels into the middle OF the street. As
the pony came on he saw them and
swerved TO one side. This the boy took
advantage of by leaping forward and
grasping the bride, to which he clung
with dogged determination. He was
dragged some distance before the pony
came TO stop, so sudden that Nellie was
thrown TO the ground. When the boy re-
linquished his hold, his hands were bleed
ing and he WINGED with pain.
Nellie was wildly seized by her parents
and literally smothered with kisses. When
her father was at last assured that she
vas safe, he looked at her youthful res.
cuer. II was Jack
Jack" he cried, amazed.
The boys face flushed with shame at
the recognition.
"Oh, sir, don't think meant to cheat
you ou. of that money" he implored 81
couldn't help It, he took my box again
and sold it. And I-T"-his voice broke
completely down and he sobbed as if his
heart would break.
Mr.. Brett patted him tenderly on the
shoulder.
Jack" he said, softly, "look up !!
You have paid me back thousand
times. God bless you, my boy! what
are riches compared to the child who
might have perished were it not for
YOU
He led him gently to the carriage,
where Mrs. Brett. much to his surprise,
planted several hearty kisses upon his
not over-clean cheek. Then a man was
instructed to care for the pony and they
drove homeward.
That night. Jack told the pathetic
story Of his life-how. when his father
died, he went with his mother from the
simple country home to the over-crowded
city; how, shortly after she died, poor
woman. in her desperate efforts to keep
the wolf from the door; and how, weighed
down by a drunken uncle, he took to the
streets for living. his dissolute relative
having been killed in brawl with boon
companion only a very few days before.
But better days were now in store for
him.
Better days, All, yes! This was
long ago. Mr.. Brett took him into his
Office and he went up the ladder with
rapid strides. Every moment Of his
spare time he devoted to study, and at
this present moment, he is recognized As
one of New York's most promising young
men. l was passing down Broad Street,
the other day. and I saw painter put
ting up q sign that read, Z" Brett &
Brown, Ship Merchants. And I have
heard he is engaged to his partners charm
ing daughter, but this may only be an
idle rumor.