River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1893-04-13

fellers have brains enough to do IT, =
We accordingly acted on his sugges-
ton, and Jim at our head as pilot, we
commenced to walk around in a circle,
thraShing our hands and endeavorina
to force the blood into greater activity
through our stiffening bodies. Almost
from the minute we landed on the ice
Jim had an eye always on Walter, the
ships hoy, and now, as we commenced
our drcary rounds, he had him close be,
hind Oh, how cold and desolate il
was going round and round and round
lin that contracted space, moving like q
chain gang, with one hand on the
shoulder of the man in front, so as not
TO lose one another; for, small as that
space was, the night was black and
and the edge Of the floc was we knew
not how near One by one the mel
grew weary, aud Jim-almost over
looked aboard ship, our leader now
slackened his pace, to ease US Up lit
tie.
Walter was the first one TO give out
We heard him drop, the line stopped
and we closed around him. jim go'
down on his knees beside him and
spoke, not so gruffiy as usual:
.'Ie amt tuckered yet. are We. lad?'
Half drowsily and YEARLY came the
answer.
I'm dead beat, Jim, and sleepy
Don't mind me: let me sleep, and III
catch on TO the line again, soon"
We heard Jim mutter to himself:
Hell freeze, lying here" and ther
a movement on his part, and ne said
Here, Walter, lad, here's my pea
jacket: IL wrap this and my com
forter round We, and yell feel more
comfOrtab bic like
He was putt ing them on TO the al
ready sound asleep boy. when 1 laid
my hand on his shoulder and told him
he'd freeze to death without any pro-
lection. lie rose quickly, and, in a
savage tone. said:
What's that to We, doctor? Yer
never took any notice of me aboard
ship. and a-getting mighty tender o
me now"
spoke 10 him again, telling him be-
tween us we could keep Walter NOV.
ing round, and thus keep him alive,
and that he himself needed some pro-
lection. His mates joined me in my
entreaty and tried TO raise Walter to
his feeti but he shook their hands of
and, facing rs, spoke:
''Alr. Doctor and mates, | amt no
body, and il don't make no difference
whether die or not. All of We have
r,,,4lasa ~. cv.-aasI,.u-f. ,,..s4:-,s r.. -,
to come home. / amt got nobody; no
home. y vagabond. mates, be, with
nothing but the ship whose articles !
sign for home, and the sea'll be my
grave sooner or later; SO, We see, il
don make no difference whether !
freeze ter death here or so to the bot
tom across the line Walters got a
mother. lads, as is waitin' ter see him
soon; and if Jim can help her do it, he's
a-gOiug ter. ] thank We all, mates and
Mr.. Doctor, fer speaking ter me; and
If ugly Jim freezes ter death, don't
think too hard of him.
Again the line moves on, but the men
are getting disheartened and overcome.
and gradually. one 10y one, they lie
down ON the ice, ami, crawling closer
together, sleep, sweet but deadly.
holds them in its grasp. Jim and are
the only ones left now, and we walk.
walk, walk round and round the pros
trate forms like deathwatch.
Its no use, jim; I've got to join the
circle :
And l step toward it lie stops me
and says:
Cant We stick it out, doctor?"
NO" / say, despondently; II am too
weak and numb to keep it up Here
Jim. give me your hand"
"Good-by, DOCTOR" he says, anG
moves on again, n lonely sentinel
fighting death inch by inch, ana by his
pluck and dogged determination shall.
ing Oft its icy clutch.
II was a blank for me for know not
how long, and then | partly awolSe as
Jim, tired out and exhausted, dropped
beside me. / was in a dreamy state,
but | heard these words. the last he
ever spoke. He was wandering, knew,
and his voice was so gentle and soft
hardly knew it was his:
Mother he murmured several
times, and then: Our Father which
art and ugly Jim's lips bad moved
for the last time on this earth. ley
fingers closed them here, but where his
noble deed and last prayer reached,
warm, loving fingers shall bid the
dumb To speak and his first words
shall be his thanks for the Masters
plaudit: We'll done.1
Peace aud oblivion reign over all. :"
That was exactly my state; and on
awakening from my stupor, found it
hard TO realize it was but a dream.
Was It possible / was once more safe
aboard a vessel, not frozen stiff on the
desOlate drift-ice, but tenderly cared
for by rough but kind hands? Yes, il
was true; for wc-all that were left of
Us, ave, and the poor fellows whose
awalling was of another sort-were be-
ing carefully looked after on board the
American ship Yankee Tar, whose
lookout had sighted on the field-ice
black Specl5s which. through the glass,
he had made out TO be human beings.
\ boat was put out, and all hands
taken on board. Of our crew of fifteen.
but five remained, with Just a spark
of life in their stiff bodies. Walter
and ! were among the survivors, and
careful administration of restoratives
had brought us round. have stamped
upOn my mind, with the indeliblc ink
of undergraduates. the morning when,
for the last time, gazed on the fixed.
immOvable faces Of my companions of
that fatal voyage. All in their wind
of sail-cloth. shotted and
ready for the waters to cover them,
ranged in two rows along the deck, we
babe them each goOd-by. Last of all |
came TO Jim, not ugly" Jim, now, for
upon the SCARED face peaceful smile.
tranquil and happy, and his-last words:
Mother, mother seemed to play
upon the half-opened, smiling lips.
"All heads uncovered"
one 10y one, into the oceans bosom
they slid 10 rest, and, as poor Jim's
body lies poised upon the rail for its
final plunge. the captains voice shakes
and his eyes water, as he SAYS
Greater love hath no man than
this. that he lay down his life for his
friends - Russell Gardner, in " Y.
Ledger.
\ ShopkeePer with Two Prices.
! was buying pair of spectacles not
long ago from the man who has sold
me every pair l ever had. Several
people were standing at the counter /
laid down one dollar and fifty cents
and started TO 20. lie called me hack