Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1884-09-02

4
door. He vas . man Of splendid Pss.
snce. and that always "tslls" more OF lees
Tall. finely formed. With the step. the
carriage Of the head. the glance Of the eye.
Of thoss born TO command. he passed
through their midst usdsan,ed. There
Vas no cir Of reckless bravsdo aboat him.
He vs amply rssd , for anything. "fssr'
Ing not whss man could do unto him"
and they felt Il. Co~dins us, yet msh'
ing way for nc. threatening him With
eye and voice and death dealing hand.
yet only threatening. we passed through
them to the street They vent With us,
and the very cir Of heaven seemed to give
them new wrath. Bn~ny arms were
stretched TO snatch me from him but |
had heard the woman's voice and the
mans words. and knew veil Vas his
protection eluns the closer. and
knew I gave back from my baby eyes the
proud scorn Of my fathers spirit 0ns Of
them sworv . hoane oath ,hs, vas "a
placky little devil. and then they eheered
me and cursed my father. Still he vent on
and gave no sign. Il Vas bu, few steps
to the Long Wharf and the waiting boat.
There wss . swell and sway Of the crowd.
I mw through . gap the blue waters OF
the bay. and. eloss S hand. the we'll
Known. dsrh-blus fsg. vhi,e.erosscd and
vd.csn,srsd. which Vas our ships sasign.
The nexi instant familiar faces ross about
u, the young merchants from the Offices
vs bad recently lsit pushed their vsy to
us. and cheery voices cried Ou,
"Hers. captain ! veil s,and BY you
The commiiiss 10 on, -
The mob gave ~ild roar. and sursed
in frenzy. Ny father spoke fOr the hn,
time;
"Rsmssy. take my girl. These devils
may no, bold of long vill never run
from them :"
The neri insisn, I vn in ,h, boat,
and ssw my father spring into full vis-
Of the crowd. and In bold relief sgsins,
the elOudl.ss sky. upon pile Of msrehsn.
eiss. my lads" he cried. in . voice
trained 10 surmount the storms Of the
deep. my lads : ! am an unsrmed man.
You are hundred to one. Shoot. II you
will. bu, give me chance to speak"
II vu % brave . defiance they vere
impressed BY it. easily s~syed |. they
yer, in the reckless disregard Of time Or
life o. pain. which their s.lf-oaaswed sI.
is,sncs bad sngsadsed. They we're sud-
denly hsshed and quis,ed-
go IL. old buck" ;alled on, shrill.
youthful voice. Thsse Vas . srowl of
Assent from ooaner tones. Ny father took
advantage Of the permission. he made
q speech worthy Of the occasion. A man
With truth to back him nigh. well speak
o. one inspired fancy such death lie
told the story Of Johnny Carter from his
mothers aide. lie spoke Of his in,sres, In
him on her account. Of the search for
him, Of the future from which he sought
10 hold him bsek-"s future you know.
my lads. better than I can tell H." He
referred them 10 his own record ~ ship
master, and called on his boats crew to
witness lie truth. In short the tide OF
wrath was s,emmed. Hosrss nurmus
Of sssen, greeted bis closing questions {"
10 the wisdom and justice OF bis conduct
toward the boy. Rough sekno~lsdss-
nsnu Of hss,y action on their part rolled
fourth. and finally, cries Of "Bdns ou, the
you sss.ss and ssnd him aboard" :" Tie
him up. captain, and cut the l'es out Of
him :" "Hh notAsf's veil nd Of him
anyhow :" gave proof ths, Johnny. lihs
many Of his bs,,sp. vu szPerisneins the
fatal change Of the peoples hehls favor.
Ba, Johnny bad visdom bsyond his yssrs
| He had waited foe no favorable or un.
fsvorsbls ending. lie Vas gone. and
heaven alone Knows where. From that
day until this ws have never heard oi
Johnny Carter. "msrksd man" - hs is 10
the rtrospect Of my yssn.
Ny father stood upon his imProvissd
stage, the triumphsn, star Of this briei
play. The men were esowdins around
him In sood.fsllovship - HILARIOUS 81
their wrath bad been. One Of the youna
merchants sddsd . jolly speech More ol
his friends gathered around Aim(,hs Wig
lance Commi,tss of duty), the boat rock
Cd idly few yaFds from ths wharf, the
sua srssmsd brilliantly upon the lovely
earvins shores, upon the opposite portal
Of the majestic 'ooldsn Gate" upon the
crowd Of shipping. upon our own trin'
perfect, floating home The dark hour
bad passsd like bad dream.
THANK you, my nsa !" cried my "a
ther "You have given me fair play,
LIKE honest fellows. Ths next time any
Of you Are In trouble. wish you good
luck, and well out Of III"
I'VE know . man whom vs 80 him,
captain 7" shoutsd the same shrill voice
had beard once before.
That's % :" rosrsd another. "Thrs'
chssn fof brave man J"
Thsy gave them With swill Ny H.
ther had taken his place In the boat,
which had drawn In st . sign fron him
and had sprung into his Arms. overcome
A Ia bv ths strsiu upoa nv child heart.