Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1883-10-26
A HUMBLE HERO.
BY VIM.

Nv kh'' HiN 40 L at, W utII
he so humbly asked 'or work of one
Of our botel proprietors; he was
ragged, irty. half drunk, and alto
gether a poor specimen of humanity.
The hotel proprietor sleek. sub
stantial looking gentleman of forty
OF thereabouts gazed at him for a
moment in disgust.
You've been drinking, SIR" he ex-
claimed. i'll sorrowful tone. do
you suppose l want a drunken beast
about my premises?"
Only dhrop, yer honor; an if
yell take me on thrial Ill lave off
drinking intireIy.' replied the man.
earnestly. "Ye see, when l lost
Noruh il made me dumb like. an
TUX to whisky to make me forget my
throubles. ] am nayther drnnkard
nor rogue, sir, naturally; give me
a job to keep me from the likes of
begging bad cess to it an Ill see
that ye are no loser by it."
"That'll dow exclaimed the propri-
etor, sternly. when a drunken sot
like you tries to play the sentimental
dodge, I'll have no more of him. Get
along with you!"
Without a word the vagrant
slouched ont of the yard, and after
wandering lis:lessly about the village
for some time, threw himself upon
one OF the benches fronting the
bathing houses, where he could watch
the gay crowd Of bathers enjoy them
selves. As he did SO one could but
compare the two elements in society;
he and his rags belonging to the low
est. and they and their silks and
broadcloths to the highest; fit repre-
sent atives not only of education and
ignorance, but of vice and vanity.
Pat, after watching the bathers for
few moments, began to nod his
head, then to sway from side to side,
and finally fell at full length on the
bench. where he commenced series
Of such prolonged and deafening
snores as soon drew an admiring
crowd around his not very comfort
able couch.
Suddenly the grinning spectators
were startled, and Pa, aroused from
his Slumber, by an egonized shrek
from one OF the bathers 1t took but
moment for them to ascertain the
cause: one OF the ladies had taken
her child with her-a little girl of
thee or four summers-and had
placed her on one of the many planks
that were fleating about for the use
OF amateur swimmers. She had
turned to say something to one OF
her companions. when a receding
wave snatched the plank from her
grasp and bore it far out beyond her
reach.
Without moments hesitation the
mother plunged IN after her child
and being a fair swimmer seemed
likely to succeed; but her strengt.
was not equal to her courage, md al
last. when the wind was bearing the
plank with its precious burden far
ther and farther from her grasp. she
gave up the struggle with a piercing
shrek.
With the loss Of her child she
seemed to give up all hope, for she
made no effort to save herself, but
struggled fcebly onward. not appear
ing to be aware of anything save her
self, but struggled feebly onward, no,
appearing to be aware of anything
save the little arms Outstretched to
ward her from the distant plank.
1t was at this moment that Pat ap
peared on the scene; for an instant
he gazcd curiously at the gentlemen
who were looking stupidity about, al
though he wondered why they die
not lend helping hand to the i'm
perilled lady and her child.
| Then kicking off his tattered boots
be swan fearlessly toward the poin
where the body was just disappearing
beneath the waves; but. thanks to tn,
hardy training he had received anon;
the bogs Of Ireland, he managed t,
reach tine drowning body as she wa
about to disappear for the last time
Then began the return trip, rendered
doubly difficult by the burden he hat
to sustain; nevertheless, he at lengtl
reached the shore. where he was i'm
mediately surrounded by the crow,
who had witnessed his brave exploit
Shake hands, my brave fellow.
exclaimed tall, foreign-lookin gen
tleman with faultless side whisker
and cane.
Got chew o tobaccer about ye?
inquired Pat. ignoring the hand ez
tended to him.
NO. have not" returned the gen
tleman. retiring in disgust.