Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-03-26
A ouIly boat ana captain TOO;
Row, Mollie; row, gal!

handsome mate and jolly crew;
Row, Mollie; row, gall
OF course the words were ALWAYS made to
suit the particular boat upon which they
were being sung.
Mr.. and Mrs. Simpson had passed
through the cabin and out on to the cabin
deck, taking little Mile with them. They
had taken position near the stern of the
boat, so that they might see and be seen by
their friends on the wharf as long as pos
slble. and were waving their handkerchiefs.
As the Mollie was just opposite the wharf
boat Mile was raised to a standing DO
sition on the guard rail by her mother,
who passed one arm around the child while
employing the other in waving goodbyes.
Suddenly Mile threw out her hands, as
If in imitation Of her mother. The latter
was unprepared for such movement. The
child broke from her light clasp and fell
into the river, just far enough from the
boats side to be out of reach of its big
wheels suction. Mrs. Simpsons wild crv
was heard high above the beating of the
Moll1e's wheel and the singing of her jolly
crew, and only her husbands strong arm
restrained her from plunging madly in
after the child. We on the wharf boat saw
the little one jump, and the faces that were
smiling at her efforts to wave adieu paled
and the mothers anguish had an echo in
every heart
/ felt and heard something rush by me.
and the old landing dock settled down as
If wave rocked as the figure of a man shot
out into the deep water ten feet beyond.
He was coatless and bareheaded, and there
could be no mistaking, by one who had
seen it, that head of bushy hair 1t was
freddy" Morgan. Before the boats of
f1cers knew what was the matter and had
rung down her engines Freddy" was more
than half way from the dock to the spot
where Mile had first disappeared The
holder of three championship medals
should have had one more, for he could
swim with a motion as speedy" as that
he used in setting long primer.
FARTHER down streaml' shouted a man
on the shore. Freddy" raised his body
half out OF the water, gave quick glance
off to his right and struck out again. Once
more he seemed to stand upright, and then
plunge head first under the water. He
was down half minute, which seemed an
hour to the anxious watchers, then up he
came with rush as if shot from a spring,
and high on his shoulder was a something
which we knew intuitively was the child
By this time two men in a skiff were
pulling from the wharf to "Reddy's" as
sfsuance. The Mollie had slowed down anG
was preparing to land. The skiff was soon
by "Reddy's" side, and we heard him
blurt out, as if short of breath:
cpl carry the-little one-boys; but you
must tOw-us in"
He grasped the stern of the small boat
as it swung around within reach, and the
boatman carefully pulled for a point on
the shore just below the wharf boat.
'Give me something to lay her on said
Freddy" as he hurried out into the gravel
beach. In an instant half a dozen coats
were spread out upon the beach and the
unconscious child was placed upon them.
After carefully removing her shoes and
stockings and tearing open her dress, Nor
gan began to roll her about and to slap her
back with his open hand. She showed
signs of recovering, and the tramp, who
seemed to know just what to do, said, Zone
of you rub her hands and another slap her
feet"
He got on to his feet, and, drawing Il
black bottle from his hip pocket, pulled its
cork with his teeth and sat down again.
Taking the little girl in his arms he gently
forced the mouth of the flask between her
lips She swallowed something with a
shudder, and "Reddy" passed the bottle to
me and pointed to the cork between his
teeth. understood him. Then he took
up one of the dryest coats and wrapped it
about the child as she lay in his arms.
''She'll be all right now" he said.
Just then the Mollie rubbed against the
wharf boat, and white faced woman ran
toward us, followed by hal / a dozen men,
the foremost of whom was er husband.
'My child! My Mile! Where is she?"
"She is here, and is uninjured, Mrs
Simpson," said several at once.
"Reddy" arose easily, and without say
ing word gently laid little Mile in her
mothers arms. Then he stopped, picked
something from the ground and hurriedly
thrust it inside his shirt. | alone observed
this movement as | handed him his bottle,
saying, "You had better take some of this
stuff yourself, old man."
mot now," he replied, and put the bot
tie in his pocket. AS he turned to move
away Mr.. Simpson came up to him, and
speaking with considerable emotion said:
my good man, | am your debtor for
more than | can ever pay. What can /
say What can I do to in part show how
deeply grateful / amp
"Nothingl' answered ''Reddy'' rather
GROSSLY, and without changing his position.
But, sir, | insist. You do not look like
one who has all he could use of this worlds
goods. I hope you will accept a small
token of my gratitude" and Mr.. Simpson
took from HI, wallet a twenty-dollar bill
and held it out.
''Fll take nothing from you. AS you
say, am not overburdened with worldly
goods, and I've seen the time-and not long
ago-when didn't have a cent and was
hungry; but I don't want any of your
money. I'd advise you to take that saw
buck and buy new padlocks for the Gala
boose with it,"
freddy" turned, and the man who had
treated him SO unfeeling1y twenty-rour
hours before saw to whom he was in
debted for saving his child's life. His face
flushed and he looked very uncomfortable,
but he said:
Il was hasty yesterday, my good man,
and | ask your forgiveness. l promise you
that no man shall again be turned away
from my door hungry. Pardon the wrong
did you, and accept something from me
for the service you have done me and mine
today
NO" said "Reddy" in softer tone than
his former abrupt refusal. 'Pm willing
to call it even, and let bygones be bygones,
but all the reward l want for bringing the
little girl out Pva got here" and he placed
his hand upon his breast.
Every one present, excepting myself,
thought he referred only to a conscious
ness of duty done; but had not forgot
ten his act Of secreting something between
his shirt and that breast as | stepped up
to return his flask. knew his words had
other meaning. He went over to the
wharf boat, picked up his coat, and put
ting it on as he walked, passed up the
I'd r a nj go