Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1894-07-05

done it. There was no life preserver
| on the boy; he was dashed to no spar,
and no tender hands had received him
| from the surf, to roll him, to breathe
into his lungs, and rekindle the spark
| of life. He had Weakened quite alone,
| lying on the shore, snug and warm,
| and his clothes were neither damp nor
torn Do you wonder l did not care to
tell this till now that more than year
has passed, and 1 have had time to
| think it over, and make sure that there
| is no mistake?
"Must have walked on the sea, like
| st. Peter" said old Brad Standish, per-
| haps half in fun, certainly half in awe.
There was nothing to be done, and
the men were needed on the shore.
81 will take care of the boy. You go
| join your mates said to them. They
started off.
'Please, sir, are we to chant some
morsr' asked the boy in my arms
why, are you not cold or wet? You
do not seem to be. But are you not
hungry"
mo, indeed, sir! And hope you will
not be thinking l need be carried, sir
I am a strong lad"
$50 you are, and a brave one, too. I
ought to turn you over to some good
mother, but your jacket is warm and
dry, and maybe you ought to see me
bury your ships people,"
Now that was a cruel, thoughtless
speech, but the boy never WINGED.
Then said, more tenderly:
Had you father or mother on the
ship"
Neither" he replied. ST loved
them all, though, except the steward,
who beat my monkey; but 1 do not
know them now, they are changed so.
But should like to be with you at the
burials. 1t is like when 1 used to sing,
SIR"
So L took him with me. That day
and the next we went, l walking, he
mostly on my shoulders, from one to
another of the graveyards of four
towns, saying the service together.
The story of my companion was ahead
of us, and everybody came out to look
at him. Brad Standish's remark had
got abroad, too, and the name little
ST. Peter was bestowed spontaneous
ly and universally upon the lad. Many
of the people did not believe he had
been on the Jason at all; many do not
believe it now; and, though 1 know
they are mistaken, 1 do not blame
them.
Well, that is all. I took st. Peter
home with me. He has lived with me
ever since, and will have it no other
than that he shall always live with
me. He is ten years old, and in some
regards is as simple and innocent as
he is beautiful; in others he is aston
ishingly well informed and keen. He
told me the particulars of the wreck
as L have given them, but he simply
does not know what miracle saved
him. 1 do not know what he was do
ing on the Jason; he does not know
himself. He knows much about Eng
land and about India, but he does not
recollect ever having been in either.
A mental scientist would say that the
events of that night effaced m UGH from
his memory. 1 have another theory,
SO sacred that 1 will not write it
down.
He will say to me: 81 am sure
have no father or mother. I think FL
did not have any name. l remember
all about the long, long voyage, and
my monkey. and the captain, and our
touching at a place they called
Mauritius. When l remember any
thing else will tell you, but I am
!, sure that there isn't anything else.
Won't just the name the village folk
call me do? And may I call you father
dear, kind, good father-at least
when you have your cassock on?"
Ofcourse don't allow the adjectives,
but am as much of a father out of a
cassoc1 as in one. During the day he
is in my study, and he reads the books
1 have long ago given up trying to
understand. In the evening sit at
J the window and watch the sun, drop
, mir nj he STN1a Sh ha
and crimson-a lad so contented with
: the present that he has no wish for a
past, and a man SO happy in it that he
wants no future if it must be differ
ent.
, Yesterday st. Peter and I, he holding
/ my hand, walked on the beach. When
, we reached the spot where he had
t slept under the juUe bale, we stopped
/ and looked at the Jason's broken hulk.
A little of the bow is above the water,
and the foremost stands intact. It's
, shrouds are as taut as harp strings,
: while the head-stays sway idly with
the motion of the sea.
Now think said to little st. Peter;
t that terrible night, did no one carry
, you from the ship, and somehow get
, you safe to shore?"
He seemed trying to remember. Then
ne spoke very Slowly, dS II ne were
talking to himself.
, Yes, some one did carry me. Jesus"
, said little st. Peter.-William B. Hale,
} in Harper's Weekly.
English Lawyers Smart Speeches.
OF wit or humor, Scarlet had little
or none. He was not the man to in
vent on the spur of the moment tell
ing nickname for his client, as Erskine
did for a client named Bolt, whose
character having been traduced by the
other side. Ersl1ine confidently assured
the jury that he was known among his
neigh oors as Bolt upright" Nor
could Scarlet tickle the fancy of
judge and jury by such fash of wit
as that with which he opened GER
tain coach accident case. ''Gentleme n
of the jury, my client is a respectable
Liverpool merchant, and the defend
ant, Mr.. Wilson. keeps The Swan with
Two Necks' in Lad lane. sign seem
ingly emblematic of the number of