News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1884-06-12

| seize poor little Tod ana sweep MIN away
down the swelling stream.
"John !' cried Jennie, speaking to the
largest boy in the flock, ''you stand here
ON the bank, while wade out to Tod. I
shall want you to take him from my arms
as soon as 1 have him safe. Some of the
larger girls must hold fast to your coat,
so that you do not fall into the stream.
Then Jennie drew her skirts close
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 way to-
ward the crying child, the waves rushing
up higher over his feet every moment.
The little flock on the shore huddled
together like frightened lambs, watching
| their teacher with wide, distended eyes
and sobbing out their fear and terror, as
she slowly forced her way against the
waves.
Another effort, another plunge and
she had him in her arms. Then she
tried to make her way back to shore, but
the waters were growing more furious
every moment, as if angered at the loss
of their prey. They almost swept her
from her feet-they dashed above her
shoulder, and her little burden screamed
and struggled with terror, making her
task tenfold more difficult.
"Just another step, teacher, and I'll
catch hold of him." cried John from the
shore, reaching out almost his whole
length over the waters, while two Sob
bing girls held fast to the skirts of his
coat.
1t was an exciting scene, wild mo-
ment of suspense. Jennie's face was
white as chiseled marble; her long black
hair had fallen from its fastenings and
Aoated back over the pillows like a dark
mantle; her eyes were large with fear,
her mouth drawn with pain, and her
slender form swayed as if her strength
were well nigh exhausted.
With one last mighty effort she laid
her burden in Johns outstretched arms.
Tod was saved
a wild shout of JOY and triumph rose
from the excited band on shore, and
they flocked about the PROSTATE form of
the almost inanimate child.
Just then a great wave swept down
upon Jennie, lifted her from her feet,
just as she was about to grasp the shore,
and bore her rapidly down the stream
80. :.
As she was whirled away the whole
events of her past life arose before her;
that life, which only an hour before
seemed so poor and mean and dull to
her. All, now how precious and bright
and beautiful it became She remem-
bered her rash wish, that she might be
given some one heroic act to perform
and then die. The act had been granted
her almost instantly, and she had per-
formed it heroicalIy. But now must
she carry out the remainder of her
thought, and die Oh, death was so
dark so cold the unknown seemed so
terrible she was so young, and lie was
so sweet
She thought of Jack, her lover, and
the haIf-completed house. Life with
him there, that an hour before had
seemed a dreary, monotonous waste,
shone upon her like the departing
shores of some lost paradise. Oh: to
see his dear eyes smiling fondlY upon
her, once more to hear his voice; hfe'
youth, love, how precious they all were
Then all grew blank. Jack, Jack, l
am so cold. Oh, God save me--plty-
forgive" she cried, and then sank away
| into unconsciousness.
Two miles below the school-house
they found her tossed on shore with q
mass of driftwood. Quite dead they
! pronounced her at first, and the old VII
lage doctor confirmed the assertion.
But Jack Kellogg would not listen tx
any of them.
.s.She is not Dead he cried. "HoV
dare YOU tell me such a thing She Ii
alive, and will look up and smile IN M!
face before the day passes.
They shook their heads, and though
the poor boy had gone mad, as he set t
work over her. But they all lent help
ing hand, and every restorative know
to them was applied to the pall1d hgur
of the young girl.
It was hours before they saw an
signs of returning life. Then she dre'
a deep, quivering sigh, opened her eye
and smiled, even as Jack had said sn
! would, into his loving face bent anxious
: ly above her.
1 'Is this heaven ?' she asked In a Will
: per. ST thought died y
r "You went out clear to the vel
threshold of death" Jack answered,
g he clasped her in his arms, "but lo'
, was strong enough to bring you back.
:, | The Wisconsin,