Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1894-10-06
HE SAVED THE GAME.

A proud, stern man was Mr.. Mcleod,
rarely seen to smile, and rated unpopu-
lar with the business men among whom
he had made his money. In his family
he was feared, and his little boy had
grown to be 10 years old without know
ing what it was to have his father kiss
him-a Slight slip of boy, with a
handsome face. The father knew the
lad was handsome like himself, and he
boasted of it in his secret heart, and also
of the fact that the boy was so shrewd
in his studies; but never word OF this
to the boy, not look or nod to show
that his father was noting his little
triumphs and saying work of praise
for them. For one such nod or. word
the boy would have gone down on his
knees and wept for happiness
That day they were eating the noon
hour meal in the usual silence, when
Mr.. Mcleod spoke with sudden sharp
ness.
Harold" he said, "a little while ago
l looked out of the window and saw
you running from another boy. Don't
YOU ever let me see or hear of such q
thing as that again"
"He-he was good deal bigger boy
than me papa" pleaded the little
fellow, with timid catching in his
breath.
II don't care if he was" cried the
father, his face reddening angrily, Il
want to see no boy of mine finch and
turn tail and fly like coward. Better
be beaten to jelly than show the white
feather. l despise coward.
Then he put on his hat and went
back to the office, and the hard set look
and the angry flush sat upon his cour-
tenance, so that the clerks knew it were
better not to be near him.
By and by a man with pale face
and a painting breath rushed into the
office and called out: "Mr. Mcleod,
there's been an accident up at the base
ball ground, and your boy isis hurt.
They've Just carried him home"
Not answering, the proud merchant
took down his hat. The clerks noticed
that the flush was gone from his face,
and he made one uncertain step as he
went through the door. Otherwise he
was the same cold, unmoved man they
had always known.
On the little bed in his chamber room
lay the boy, breathing lightly. In one
hand that rested on the white coverlet
he held battered base ball.
81 fear it is fatal,n the doctor had
said, in answer to the fathers inquiry.
"a severe blow on the heart"
The handsome face was white, the
eyes closed. Presently they opened
and rested upon the merchant. A lit
tie smile slipped into the boys counte-
nance.
'I-1 didn't finch, papa" he said
family.
"What-what was it, Harold 2" the
father said with sob in his voice
Don't look so white and still like that
my boy-tell your father about it,"
''You see, papa" the boy family ar.
swered, "we-we were playing tt G
grammar school nine, ever so mu(h
bigger fellows than us, and it was their
last innings, and we was one ahead
and the bases was full, with two out.
was playing short stop, you-you
| know
No; he did not know. Grown hard
and cold at his desk, he understood
nothing of the bit of graphic descrip-
ton the faint lips were giving utterance
| to.
"And then,n the childish voice went
on, 'then their heaviest batter, an aw-
full big fellow, papa, struck grounder,
right--right at me. couldn't get my
hands on it, but you see, if it got by me
it meant we lost the game, and / re-
membered what-wAat you said, papa,
about not flinching, you know, and L
l jumped right down on my knees and
let it hit-hit me-and the third base
got the ball and put the runner out,
and-everybody cheered, papa, and
said saved the-the-"
The poor, proud merchant groaned
heavily. His wife had never seen him
in agony before, and it frightened her
But such things pass away.
The battered old base ball lies on the
sitting room mantel in the quiet house
Often the gray haired merchant takes
it into his hand and gazes at it long aud
earnestly. Then his hand trembles
He puts the old baseball down and goes
back to his Office.