The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1893-08-26

| WV 90, "hSh SFSi}OO huOWS THAI
they make 4 ! My lad, you must study,
) very solemnly.
| am studying all the time. spoke up
Mast Will, suddenly and hotly. But
how can keep my eyes on my lesson
when between the book and me com e
such sad and queer and funny faces,
such troops of men and horses, such
cities, such kings and queens and
forests and riversP And the birds and
their songs! They are always with
me.
Master Clopton glared at Willy for a
moment in astonishment, then he strobe
toward the door. At the door he paused
long enough to say:
You will never be of any use in this
world, mark that, William Shakespeare
And then the door opened and banged
after him, as Willy, at word from his
mother, snatched up lantern, lighted
it, put on his cap and followed Master
Clopton out into the wild, black night.
He hadn't gone 800 yards before he
found Master Clopton foundering IN a
ditch. He helped him out and piloted
him to his home, where he received
a gruff "Re a better boy" for his
trouble.
The next morning there was great
excitement in the town of Stratford,
for the long, low, wooden bridge below
Clopton's Bridge had been suddenly
carried away by the swollen, angry
waters of the Avon, all but the center
section of it, and on the section was a
little girl and little lamb
She was the daughter of Grover
Carter, and had ventured with her
little flock across the the old wooden |
bridge. Just as she reached the middle
of it there was a great crashs and away
went the bridge, pigs and sheep, down
the rapid and dangerous stream. leav
ing her and one little lamb on what
was left of the first structure, with the
boiling waters all around them.
The entire town gathered on the
Avon's bank and stupidity watched the
child In her perilous position. Nobody
seemed able to devise plan of rescue.
No man could swim out to her, and no
boat could be rowed, for the river was
like race horse, carrying trees, logs
and boxes before it. II log or tree
struck what remained ofthe wooden
bridge, it meant death for Molly Carter
and her lamb. The rain came down IN
cataracts.
I've got plan! Get long rope
cried little Willy Shakespeare, pressing
his way in among the men and women.
One end OF the rope he tied around
his waist, the other end he instructed
the crowd on the bank to hold on to,
and pay out when necessity demanded.
But, lad, you cannot swim out there
shrieked the now fearfully excited
crowd.
No, but can swim down and he
dashed up toward Clopton's Bridge,
halt mile away, the rope dragging out
behind his waist and the crowd at his
nibble heels.
Reaching the bridge, he ran TO the
middle arch, threw his cap off, pulled
off his Jacket, stood one instant on the
parapet, and then plunged over into the
boiling desperate waters
Down he went-up he came-a tre-
menacns shout reaching him from the
shore
Steadily, en- and on, down the stream
he went, his objective point being what
was left OF the old bridge in the center
of the river. 1t was swaying fearfully.
He expected every moment to see it
fall. He could see little Molly kneel-
ing with white face turned toward him,
still clinging lovally to her little lamb.
Willy was good swimmer, but a
huge log at his side was better, and
they were both aiming for the bridge.
If the log got there first it would de-
stroy bridge, lamb and Molly; that
Willy Shakespeare knew.
But the log didn't get there first, for,
for one full minute, it encountered a
lot of brush, which enabled Willy to
forge ahead, reach the bridge, pull off
Molly and her lamb, and Just as they
were we'll away-crash and the
gigantic log hit the structure with all its
force and destroyed it.
Willy, Mollle and the lamb were
pulled ashore, and as Willy, wet and
growing red, was folded to his mothers
heart, Master William Clopton said to
her.
am sorry for what | said. The lad
is a good boy.