The morning call., 1893-06-25
THE HEART OF A BOY.
A. Sketch From Life.


a few weeks, and had finally gone to work
for one of the neigh boring farmers. he
had been blowing in the field below, when
the storm came up. and had stupidity taken
refuge III the cump of trees on the hill
side, leaving his pillow in the furrOw and
his horse still inspanned to brave the
storm alone.
The tree under which he stood had been
struck by lightning and had fallen upon
him. 1t was smoking a little where the
branches forked-only the dampness keep
ing IL from burning. Get it off! get 1t
off" the poor fellow shrieked as he saw
Jared. The boy was old for his years, and
uneommonly quick OF wit, but his strength
was wholly inadequate to move the tree.
He pondered an instant, amid the roar of
the storm and the screams of the tortured
man, and then rushed down the hill and
across the half-plowed field, with its
muddy burrows. to where the patient,
head down, and his low set, mongrel tail
turned to the storm. To unspan him from
the pillow and lead him up the hill was but
the work of minute. The reins had been
heightened with rope, and taking this
Jared twisted it and looped it firmly about
the tree, hooking the singletree into it,.
Sam saw tile idea and It's dangers. IF
you drag that tree across me-" he groaned,
you'll kill me. 1t must be lifted"
Jared saw that his words were only too
true. Something, however, must be done.
Sans shrieks had ceased, but he was still
moaning in agony. only failing strength
hushing his cries. Down on his hands and
knees Jared got putting his puny shoulder
against the trunk of the tree. Had his
boys body but been half as stout as his
heart how ne would have lifted! When
all was ready he gave the old white horse
the word to go forward. The chain tight
ened, and with strength born of his eX-
tremty the boy raised his back. fairly
forcing himself beneath the tres. giving il
an upward impetus as the horse dragged it
forward. lie was not able TO lift it, save
for single instant. but that served to
carry it free from Sans chest and head.
and when it fell from the mans body
Jared. too, fell forward with strange,
suffocatng sense of oppression in his
chest. After a minute he rallied and
staggered 10 his feet. Sam was uncon-
scious and lay upon his back, the rain
beating down upon his face and mingling
with the blood that flowed from dread
full wound in his breast. 1t was plain,
even to Jared, that he would die if help
was not quickly brought. 1t was a mile to
the village. and he felt sick to death him.
self, but gathering his little strength he
pulled the harness and tugs from the
horses shoulders-the collar was beyond
his ability TO move-tied up the reins ana
clambered upon his back
The awkward creature was unused to
DciIIB iiQuSI. anu Il0 sldItSG, SWlTIlDR anu
plunglng. Jared tucked one arm under
the big collar, seized the rens in the other
hand and dug his heels furiously into the
horses sides. A sharp fash came just
then, and the quickly following thunder
clap added to the animals terror. The
big. numbering brute sprang forward with
lunglng attempt at run, which finally
settled into laundering three-cornered
galloD as he tore down the hill, sending
the damn earth up behind him in great
clods frOti ms enormous hoOfs. At every
rise Jared had all he could do to keep
from going over the animals great
chuckle-head; at every impact of the
shovel-like feet upon the ground the
breath seemed about to leave the boys
BODY, but he chung grimly, urging his
uDgainly steed on as though death followed
behind. One by one the familiar land
marks were passed on the road to to
village. Straight down the single street
he rode and pulled rein in front of the one
store that was tradin g-place, postoffice,
clu broom and general lUunging-s stand for
the whole neighborhood.
There's that young imp, the Simplex
boy on my. old Bill" shouted Farmer
Briggs as Jared fairly threw himself to
the ground, while the still frightened
brute rushed on again relieved of his rider
"Drat the boy! Look at that He'd orter
have every hone in his blamed body broke
fer lettin' that boss run off, and he
LUZ tu6 uOOT Just as
Jared entered.
Something's wrong here" crisd DR..
Barton, who was one of the rain bound
loiterers within the store, as he saw the
boys pale. strained face. What's I'D,
Bub? The effort to speak was almost
beyond Jared's remaining strength. He
made two or three inartculate gasps and
finally managed to calculate: "Sam
Baker-dying-Mil Creek fails. I amt
hurt Bill. Mr. Briggs-I-" Again that
fearful, suffocatng pressure on the chest.
The little face darkened. There was a
blind reaching out of the torn, bleeding
hands, then a sharp cry of deadly pain,
and Jared fell forward, the blood starting
from his mouth, his boyish doubts, hoyish
perplexities ami boyish life going gu: to-
gether with the rapture OF the over
strained, b0yish heart.
The doctor bent over him anxiously, ten
derly-the words of blame died from the
pale lips OF Briggs-the men crowded
round, GREATNESS. watching the physician
as he made his examination. At last, with
plying sigh, he Strengthened up. Moth
ing can be done. Some one carry him
home while we go and find Baker," and
the tall, burly doctor bent over and kissed
the boys blue. blood-stained lips.
"Is was stout heart" he said, land a
brave one. but only the heart of boy
after all; it could not stand the strain"
ADELINE E. KNAPP.