Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1885-10-03
"Where is Tod Brown ?" she ask


years old, who was placed in her
charge not so much 10 learn as to
keep him ont of his mothers way.
She was burdened with two smaller
than he, besides q babe in the cradle.
81 left Tod down by the creek"
answered Tommy, "playin' throwin'
pebbles into the water. / told him
school was called"
"You should have brought him
along. Tod is only a child" said
Flora, reprovingly. "But go and
bring him now, and hurry, for your
lesson in arithmetic comes up di-
rectly."
Tommy came back in a brief space
of time, white and frightened.
"Tod is standin' on a stone and
cryin' and the waters all round him.
| Icouldn't get near him at ALL
The whole school rose en- mosse
and Flora, at the head of the small
army, led on to the rescue Of Tod.
Yes; there he stood on a 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 any one
in that little group.
"Mamma! Mamma ~ he called, in
piteous tones. "Come to Tod. Tod
is 'fraid. Come, mamma, come"
Flora 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 attempted 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 Flora, speaking to
the largest boy in the flock, "you
stand here on the bank while I wade
out to Tod. I shall want you to
take him from my arms as soon as |
have him safe. Some of the larger
girls must hold fast to your coat, so
that you do not fall into the stream"
Then Flora drew her skirts close
about her slight figure, and plunged
bravely into the cold waters, sinking
almost to the waist at the first step.
Slowly, slowly she made her way
toward the crying child, the waves
rushing up higher over his feet every
moment.
The little flock on the shore hud-
died together like frightened lambs,
watching their teacher with wide dis
tended 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
and 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 ten-fold more difficult.
"Just another step, teacher, and III
catch hold of him." cried John from
the shore, reaching out almost his
whole length over the waters, while
two sobbing girls held fast to the
skirts of his coat.
1t was an exciting scene, Il wild
moment of suspense. Fiora's face
was white as chiseled marble; her
eyes were large with fear, her mouth
drawn with pain, and her slender
form swayed as if her strength were
we'll night exhausted.
With one mighty effort she laid her
burden in Johns outstretched arms.
A wild shout of joy md triumph
rose from the excited band on shore.
Just then great wave caught Flora
and bore her rapidly down the stream
like a light piece of drift-wood.
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 remembered her rash wish that
she might be gwen some one heroic
act to perform, and then die. That
act had been granted her almost in.