Telegram-herald., 1889-11-20
A RACE FOR LIFE.
How Tom Took Care OF HIS Father
Regardless o. Danger

Tom Ely's face wore a troubled look
a. be glanced uueaslly toward tie doos-
Hs vas sitting by blazing IRE IN the
rough room of ilTaherman' = log shahty
unon me shore ot one % the large
AsIrondacE lakes. Beside the rough
nre-rlare. a. t1e bead az pile Of skias
a. coarse. waolen blankets. stood Toms
sun. bis Christmas present from his
father on the other side, with the
polished sfeels Elis-ening In the nre-
lrht. hung his skates, Tor this active
lal % nfteen aas the champion skater
o. The Saranac region, There VAS hard
IL anv tning which Ton could no, DO on
iee Tie could 20 forward or backward.
wheeling and clrcling With al the ease
Of swallow in mit-air. So swiftly
could he skim along the ice that bis
father used laughing.Y 20 boast that
while any otLer skater was going one
rod. Ton could easily skate around him
talce'
TIE lumbering-camp had broken up
that very day. After weeks Of hard
work the great trees had been cut down
snd The logs dragged % the waters
edge, waiting for the yearly spring
rise in the rivers 70 foat them % the
raIus There was nothing more % be
dons until tho breaking up Of the ice.
Most % the men had gone directly
- their homes Ia the settlements. Ten
OF twelve OF them. however, had spoken
OF stayinz for day or two AZ a shanty
on the second lake below, with The hope
OF securing some deer. and Toms father
concluded % stay behind az the main
camp for a few days, thinking that IL he
should set his traps be might succeed IN
getting a few skins 20 make warm tip
pets and NUTS for Toms mother and
little sister
soon after dinner, leaving Tom 20
cook the supper and gather some fire.
wood. the father shouldered his rife and
started out for tramp. By sunset Tom
had piled up the wood in one corner OF
the cabin and then he set % work 20
prepare supper He placed the big tin
. plates and cups on the rough, pine table.
and. taking down p ham which was
hanging from the ceiling, cut of a few
slices and put them in the frying-pan,
and very soon an appetizing hot meal
vas smoking on the hearth; but still his
father did not come.
Tom vas a little homesick, sitting
there all alone. He thought OF his snug
home In the settlement and fancied just
how his mother and little sister looked
As they stood in the doorway watching
him and his father setting out for the
lumbering-camp. Even now his moth-
er's parting words rang in his ears:
Tom. nv boy. take good care of your
father" What II any thing had hap
pened 70 his father,
Tom started 20 his feet and. running
T. the door. opened IL and stepped outin
the bright moonlight. It was a clear,
cold night. and the full moon was just
rising above tho dark line Of forest. He
stood listening for moment, and was
turning 20 enter the cabin when he
heard 4 footstep. fIa -aised a whistle
to his lips and sounded = sh-ill piercing
no-o. It VAS the camp signal. and after
brief pause came tho answering
whistle. Bgtfs sounded strangely faint
ard quivr-ing Tom wondered az this,
ard wondered s1u more as no heard \
haIdn-. uncertain step on the frozcn
ground 3 step utterly unlike his "a
ther's long. steady stride
The next m0ueuta tail figure tottered
down -he bank behind the sbanty and.
bv tho light of tho moon. Tom saw his
f1she-'s pole. baCrard face. Don't be
f-f-htcrrd. said tha wounded man IN a
hoar-e whisper as tne boy darted up the
bank ard saw tho scorrhod and blood
So rcd .a-Set-sloeve and .he strong arm
-rn~f0- Euo 1nd helpless. Ny foot
.rrl tba rfo was loaded ard
vrrt of-tho bali shattered my arm
ard lodged IN my slio thought
h.erl nrrr- 1o- hcue
Torn managed - lead his father into
fr-al.n. where hc sank down on -he pile
,fssins i1 a sort ~ stuoor After rub
ring the cold hand and forcing a few
roorf1fs OF hos coffee between the
rh.to lirs Tou hai the satisfaction -
efnr the sufferer opcn his eyes and
,k I'D with sn attempt az a smile.
.r.s pretty hard for 7ou. Tom he
,,nof ~T Peel betto- now The -
trod made me- dizzy What s-e you
ny to do-"
Going for help. replied Tom. prompt
Tie -ose. PM or thirS. woolsn
reta and took up his fur Gag.
h- fa-her shook his bead. No, no;
e0- 5o my son.
grtr masf. fsther Don't look 81
rf r+s only strp 20 tho river,
down -ho steam. over the pond ard
t,e river arain-then whiz' across
aya 20 SO shautT where the
-e rh1-s
tff tbe men shouldn't ~ thera7"