Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-05-28

indicated that the afternoon session OF
school was now in order
Then she ran her eye over the. room
to see that no pupils were missing.
"Where is Tod Brown" she asked,
81 do not see him here?'
Tod was the smallest child in the
school; a little boy scarcely 5years old,
who was placed in her charge not 50
much to learn his primer, as to keep
him out of his mothers way. She was
burdened with two smaller than he be-
sides babe in the cradle.
81 left Tod down by the creek" an
swered Tommy Smith, "playin' throw
pebbles into the water. told him
school was called"
"You should have brought him along
Tod is only child" Je nne said re-
provingly. "But go and bring him
now; and hurry, for your lesson in
arithmetic comes on directly"
Tommy came back in brief space
of time, white and frightened.
"Tod is stannin' on stone and
cryin', and the waters all round him."
he said, 81 couldn't get near him at all
The whole school rose en- masse, and
Jennie at the head of tn small army
led on to the rescue of Tod.
Yes, there he stood on stone which
a little time before had been on the
Shore, but now, alas! was in the midst
of the rapidly swelling stream, beyond
the reach of anyone in that little group
Mamma. mamma" he called in
piteous tones, Come and take Tod.
Tod is 'fraid. Come, mamma, GOMEZ.
Jennie looked over her little flock of
pupils who crowded about her. Not
one of them was large enough to wade
out and rescue Tod. The only boy in
her school who might safely have at
tempted this, had remained at home
that day to assist his father.
The water was rising higher every
moment. What was to be done, must
be done quickly, or the angry waves
would seize poor little Tod, and sweep
him away down the swelling stream.
"John," cried Jennie, speaking tt
the largest boy in the flock, "you stand
here on the bank, while | wade out tc
Tod. | shall want you to take hin
from my arms as soon as have him
safe. Some of the larger girls must
hold fast to your coat, 50 that you dc
not fall into the stream"
Then Jennie drew her skirts clost
about her slight figure and plunged
bravely into the cold waters, sinking
almost to her waist at the first step.
Slowly, slowly, she made her wa.
toward the crying child, the wave:
rushing up higher over his feet every
moment.
The little flock on the shore huddlet
together like frightened lambs, watch
ing their teacher with wide, distendeC
ewes, and sobbing out their fear and ter
ror, as she slowly forced her way
against the waves.
Another effort, another plunge, anC
she had him in her arms. Then sh,
tried to make her way back to shore
but the waters were growing NOR,
furious every moment, as if angered Il
the loss of their prey. They almos
swept her from her feet they daSheC
above her shoulder, and her little bur
den screamed and struggled with ter
ror, making her task tenfold more diff
cult.
"Just another step, teacher, and II
catch hold of him." cried John from tn
shore, reaching out almost his who'll
length over the waters, while two sob
bing girls held fast to the skirts of hi
coat.
1t was an exciting scene, wild me
ment of suspense. Jennie's face wa
white as chi6eled marble; her long, blacl
hair had fallen from its fastenings an,
noated back over the pillows like q darI
mantle; her eyes were large with feal
her mouth drawn with pain, and he
slender form swayed as if her strengtI
were well nigh exhausted.
With one last mighty effort she lai
her burden in Johns outstretched arms
Tod was saved!
A wild shout of joy and triumph ros
rom the excited band on shore, an
they nOcked about the PROSTATE forl
of the almost inanimate child.
Just then great wave swept dow
upon Jennie, lifted her from her feet
Just as she was about tograsp the shor,
and bore her rapidly down the straar
like light piece of drift-wood.
AS she was whiried away the whOl
events of her past life rose before hel
, that life which only an hour before ha
, seemed so poor, and mean, and dull {
her. All, now how precious and brign
and beautiful it became. She rC
memEered her rash wish, that she Nigh
be given some ono heroic act to pei
form and then die. That act hal bee
granted her, almost instantly, and sh