The Yale expositor., 1895-05-17

|
am sure"
ga remarkable case of what, Doc
tor?" inquired Mr.. Formula.
81 believe it is clear case of double
life" responded the doctor. "Up to
the time of his drowning and resusci-
tation l believe Joe was bright and
intelligent boy; everything about the
boy shows that. And / think his young
life was covered up by that catastrophe
probably never again to be revealed.
"Do you mean, Doctor, that he lost
his senses in the water?"
81 mean that his self-consciousness
and all memory of his previous life
were extinguished together and he
began life anew, like an infant"
"Why, Doctor, does that ever hap
penn
Eyes, it has sometimes happened be-
fore; and am quite convinced it has
happened to Little Joe. When Mr..
Gust poured the water out OF the boys
lungs and started his respiration. he
could say but two or three words
Mother and Little joe"
''lIe says but little more now," re-
sponded Mr.. Formula, except parrot
like, to repeat what others say"
"But he is learning" replied DR..
Ross, "and his words are not ILL
formed like those of an idiot. They
are distinctly uttered in well assured
tones, indicating trained organs of
speech. There is surely an interest
ing history behind that boy, if we
| knew what it is. lie has once been
the pet of some fond mother; and the
| first word he uttered after coming to
himself in the storm was 'Mother!'
THAT is certainly very sad" said
Mr.. Formula. Some gentleman was
drowned in the same storm when the
boy was saved, l believe; how was
| that?'
at was his father who was drowned;
| it was terrible affair. l had been
out to the Four mile house to visit n
patient, and as l stepped into my gig
to return / saw down toward the
mouth of Mill creek n remarkable
phenomenon. A heavy, black-look-
ing cloud sent down long,
slender neck, which widened at the
earth like funnel. ] at once knew it
must be tornado. Quick as possible
l took its bearings and drove rapidly
out of its path. 1t was moving up the
stream, with n noise like distant thun-
der, the neck between the cloud and
the earth swaying in gentle curves
from side TO side. II passed me within
half mile, carrying destruction be-
fore it. At the old mill it tore the
south end out, shattered the water
wheel, and actually scoopcd the water
out the dam and carried il out onto the
land beyond. Just at the moment
| when the tornado struck the mill, a
gentleman having Little Joe with him,
was fording the creek in a little two
| horse carriage. The wind dashed the
carriage and horses into the water,
destroyed the vehicle and drowned its
occupant and both horses. Mr.. Gust
was returning from the country. where
he had been making n survey, and saw
the whole scene, though himself I'M
hurt, and fastening to the spot, sue
ceeded in drawing the boy from the
water, and resuscitated him But the boy
was almost lifeless; and less cool and
slxillful man than Mr. Gust must have
failed to restore him. Shortly after
the boy began to breathe, drove up
to the scene, gave the poor fellow a
stimulant, and presently he looked
dreamily about and said in
frightened tone: 'Mother-Oh,
mother!' But that was all. The man S
body was afterward recovered; but he
was dead
"And was there no clue TO the mans
IDENTIFY" inquired Mr.. Formula.
mo shadow of clue has ever been
found; and it is now three years since
the storm. Accounts of the catastro-
phe were published in the papers, but
they elected no response"
Glow did they come to call the boy
Little Joe?'"
"Well-they did lind a clue to the
bows name. When Mr.. Gust was
working TO restore him he found about
the boys neck n silver chain TO which
was appended silver medal the size
of q half dollar, on which was en-.
graved Little Joe: June 20, is 8.
When first saw that, l spoke kindly
to the reviving boy and called him Joe
He would start in a responsive kind OF
way, his lips would move as if he
strove to reply; but he said nothing.
Presently he said mother several
times plainly, but not another word.
Mr.. Gust took the boy home with h m
and that good wife of his undertook to
care for the boy until he should find
his kindred"
While DIR. Ross was relating
this touching story of Little
Joe's" advent into his new homo
in the house of kind hearted strangers
the boy had passed up Sycamore street
J nearly 20 Lower Market, where he en-
tered dooryard gate walked up to {
front window, listened momen
J with his ear TO the glass, and theI
counted, as he heard the clock STRIKE