The Lehi banner. [volume] (Lehi, Utah) 1891-1917, 1896-04-02
The Hero of Beaver
Head.

mother sobbcd with her face pressed
against the pillow.
Then the boat lurched." the man
wont on, huslSily, Fan il followed the
current past the island. and ! see him
struggle M an hoard him calm oh,
fnthcr. done my bcstl | tried TO
bring yc back! Mcbby some shipll
save yc, an II yo ever reach home an
never como, tell mother | died inner
cent Il died innerccntr Then | couldn't
hear him no more, an / watched the
boat go further an further, an ! sec
another island way OFF % the west but
jest aforc he reached it the boat struck
something's bar. I gucss-an' sunk,
an fell forrcd an didn't know no
more, only sort of drcamin' move
mcnt OF sights and faces, till Eric laid
me down there ON the sand an your
calm reused me To life again"
His voice failed, AMI they sat n long
time weeping together In silence; and
all that might ever have been said of
praise or blame. of sorrow and love, of
regret and new resolve, was spoken in
that sound of falling tears.
The next day was n Sabbath and all
was quiet ia Redwood town. The
saws rested from their snarling hum,
the milliacn. clad in fresh clothing, sat
on the doo,sills of the cottages smok-
ing their pipes and looking idly out ut
the blue fields of the sea, or down
among the fragrant stnclSs of lumber
sat whiting and talking. Some, when
the little cracked bell In the steeplc Of
the church upon the shady hillside
called them, had gone with the chill
dren to hear what love could do in
saving men--cvcn the love of % wronged
and crippled boy. Surely all their hearts
were better for having heard from the
minister's lips the story Of Paul Ar
mor's victory, though they knew 1t well
before.
Over on the head the day broke beau
tifully, yet with little cheer, for sorrow
and heavy poverty were there. The
children felt it, and the mother went
sadly to and fro, longing for her lame,
I lost boy. Near noon she stood in the
doorway looking out 10 sea. \ big
yacht. with all its white sails spread,
blew into the little harbor but she did
not geo il, for her eyes were wet. She
was thinking of that island. somewhere
| to west OF the blue horizon line,
/ upo those cruel bar her boy went
| down. She thought of him rs he uscd
20 lie upon her breast when child, and
| agnin she ssrnlcd 20 see him, az she had
so mlny time, coming up the path to
the door where She stood, his straw hat
/ In his hand. his light curls blown about
| his fraal, blu, eyes. And yet when she
turned from thcae farcies there was
something sweet II the bottom Of her
heart. She could not tell whence IL
came. Was it because the sky was 80
beautiful with its fioclss of snowy
clouds, the sea so blac, the air 50 crys-
tai clear. the sunshine so pretty on the
trce-tops? She saw, too, that the chill
dren seemed happier than for many
days, and when che went into the sick
mans room he met her with q emile.
Presently footsteps came to the door,
and Erie and his comradc, with their
swecthenrts, entered, Behind them
were others bearing bags and baskets,
and the children leapcd with Joy,
Armor arose and came out. His step
was slow but steady and his face was
clear The children, with Gale among
them, shouted and danced with glee TO
see him grown so strong and the big
mans eyes were filed with blessed
tears as he looked around upon the
faces OF his friends.
The shadow seemed lifted: even the
mother smiled; something strange and
sweet was in the air.
Suddenly there rose the noise Of many
,l,na..fv,rr
ing in the sunshine. Eric sprang up,
and all stood still and hardened. The
singing and the voices came nearer
\ great light came into the mothers
cyeg. She held her hand hard against
her leGping heart aud listened. Sud
denly Eric lcapcd out the door with an
answering shout. They all followed
him, and along the top of the green
bluf crowd poured into view, aud
there, borne upon the shoulders of the
cheering men, sat Paul Armorl
lie was pale and weak and his poor
hands, swathed in white bandages, hung
down over the mems shoulders, but his
face was almost like "A star. All. there
was his old mother with her face
wreathcd in light and fearful smiles,
and his father, looking rs il Heaven had
opened. In Il moment they had come
together, and there was kissing and
crying and handshalsing and happy
laughter. Then Eric noticed that little
Gale was crying for happiness in the
arms Of lady he had not seen before,
and as soon as Paul could get his
breath he cried;
"Mother! Father this is the little
things nanny! She was on the
steamer that took me off the leland
where was washed ashore after the
boat sunk! She took care of me till we
reached San Francisco, an ! brought
Der herel She had my knees fixed in
tho city an, oh, motherl / ant lame
any morel"
Then the hnndshalSing and cries Of
surprise and gladness were renewed,
and the millmen and wharfmen swung
their hats again and gave three mighty
cheers for "The Hero of Beaver Head"
and went back 10 she town.
Trave Armor Is an old man now, but
since that day he has never tasted rum.
Paul is merchant in San Francisco.
SNNA 49, .''---zssEE1s-,I