The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1891-04-29
THE BRAVE APPRENTICE.

thS5S, A@' - o@o oiNiiOuo anu DIluSco,
make it vastly different city to
what it was one and two hundred
years ago, in the time of the Stuarts
and the Georges. The student OF
English history is well acquainted
thanks to the introduction of that
great entertainer, the historian
with the London of olden times, a
mere collection ofrickety old houses,
set in narrow, crooked, ill-lighted
streets. Very few of the fine public
buildings and splendid bridges
which adorn the worlds metropolis
were seen in London one and two
hundred years ago. Instead of the
many splendid bridges which span
the river Thames to-day, affording
easy reach to all portions of the
great city, in olden times there was
only one Bridge crazy, old struc-
ture famed in song and story. Old
London Bridget
What queer old bridge it was.
A rickety old structure on which
were built strange looking houses,
three and four stories high. An
arched roadway ran underneath the
houses, at the enterance to which
was an immense, grim-looking gate,
on tho top of which was stuck lot
of poles, surmounted by the skulls
of deceased persons-traitors to the
State. A picturesque structure was
old London Bridge, and very quaint
it's representations look to modern
ages; and / suppose in olden times
its quaintness was its only redeem
ing feature, for it must have been a
very disagreeable place to live,
especially in the winter time. New
ertheless, many great men of the
period had their abodes in the old
houses on London Bridge-wealthy,
prosperous merchants of all kinds.
One of the most famous of these
was Sir William Hewitt, rich cloth
worker and alderman, who had his
shop and abode on London Bridge
in the year 1886. Alderman Hewitt
did large business, keeping three
apprentices to assist him, the chief
of whom was youth named Ed
ward Osborne. Worthy Master
Hewitt also possessed q beautiful
little daughter, who was no doubt,
his chief treasure. Her name was
Annie, and she was in her fifth year
when the adventure which forms
the subject of our story befell her.
This accident shaped the whole
course of her life and was the means
of embalming her name forever in
history. Little Annie was one day
playing near the open easement OF
her fathers house when, making Il
quick dive to grasp a wandering
butterfly, she over-balanced herself
and fell out of the window into the
river beneath. 1t was an exciting
moment. The only person in the
shop at the time was Edward Os-
borne, the apprentice, although
there were plenty of people on the
bridge.
But like all such, these could only
stand and stare in helpless confusion,
without dreaming of anything in the
shape of a rescue. So little Annie
was in imminent danger of drown.
ing and drown she certainly would,
were it not for her fathers appren-
tice, brave young Osborne, who see-
ing the child's peril gallantly leap
into the water to save her.
1t was high water at the time,
and the current was running very
swift and strong, and the spectators
on the bridge thought that both
would surely be drowned.
But it was not SO, for young Os-
borne was strong, active lad and
an expert swimmer and it was but
a moments time for him to reach
the drowning child and grasp her
as she was going under water for
the second time. Grasping little
Annie by the hair, the brave ap-
prentice swan with her to a boat of
which there were many anchored
around the supports of the bridge,
and soon she was safe and sound in
her fathers house. Young Osborne
was showered with plaudits, and
when his employer returned and
heard of his apprentices heroism,
he was overjoyed and profuse in his
expressions ofgratitude to the youth.
He made the boy a fine present of
money as a substantial token of his
gratitude, and for ever after had the
the highest regard for him.
But the brave apprentices reward