The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1896-07-22
OUR BOYS AND GIRLS.
A Fight with GrayitatiOn,

lOUtV 8 companion Dy hODbTb beverly Ildle
the youngest son of Rev. Dr. Edward Ever
EFT Hale of Boston, whose recent DEATH
just as he was entering upon promising
literary career, caused grief to many
friends.]
Slow at his books Tom Gordon GER
tainly was, yet he had good mind. 1t
took him long time 10 learn lesson;
but, when he had once learned it, he
never had to look at it again. In ath-
letic sports, too, he was not brilliant;
but he could be relied upon. He was
like stone-wsll at first base, though
he was not so successful as batter.
In football he was not aggressive
enough to suit his school-fellows; but
he was fearless, and he could carry an
indefinite number of opponents on his
back. In the tug-of-war he was un-
conquerable.
There was story that when Mr..
Browns school, with Tom for anchor,
pulled the "Normal Stars" Toms
three ropemen, after having, with
Toms assistance, secured an extra foot
or two, went off and got drink of soda
water, leaving Tom to mind the rope
alone. Tom always denied this story,
and 1 must confess that it sounds un-
likely. l think the probability is that,
if they went away at all, they went
away one at time.
That day Tom pulled anchor, but
generally he pulled on the rope. He
was captain, of course; and his thun-
deriDg " Ready! Heavel" was enough
of itself TO take away the strength of
the other side. 1t was & great disap-
pointmeAt to Tom when Mr.. Brown
forbade the tug of-war on the ground
that it injured the boys.
81 suppose it is bad for you," Tom
was heard to say; "but boy ought
to learn how to keep his back straight
and put his strength to thing. He
may have to lift something heavy some
day."
For the rest, Tom was tender-hearted
fellow, who could not bear to hurt any
one. When he was little boy in the
sixth class, one of his fellow class
mates, mistaking gentleness for cow
ardice, forced Tom into fight. Tom
hit out so quickly that one knock set
tied the other fellow, and then he fell
to crying because the blood came out Of
the little rascals nose.
One evening after supper Tom took
the electric cars and went down town
on an errand for his father. His BUSH
ness accomplished, he set out TO walk
home; for, although few flakes of
snow had fallen, the night was fine,
and he wanted to get some good fresh
air into his lungs before sitting down
to spend an evening with Cicero.
He had reached a deserted part of
the street, and was walking up long
hill not far from home, when he saw
coming toward him heavy two
wheeled coal-cart drawn by one horse.
The wheels were on the tracks, the
drivers head had fallen over on his
shoulder, and he was fast asleep.
Meanwhile the brave old horse plodded
on, with the contentment of veteran
in the coal business who has left his
load of coal, whose driver is asleep, and
who is going down hill on his way
home.
From out of sight far along the street
came the singing of wires, which means
that an electric car is approaching. A
moment later the car, coming on like
mad, hove in sight some distance be-
hind the coal cart. AS it reached the
summit of the hill, and began the de-
scent, its speed did not abate.
Nearer and nearer it came, but the
motorman did not seem to have any
fear of running into the coal cart. He
even turned round and said something
to the conductor, who was standing be-
hind him. Then he turned back again,
but he turned too late. He was nearer
than he thought. He jammed on the
brake, and reversed the power just as
the old horse turned aside to draw the
cart out of danger; but the tracks were
covered with little layer of snow, and
the car wheels slid over them like the
runners of a sleigh.
The whole weight of the car struck
the corner of the coal cart, and flung it
from the tracks. The wagon fairly
surged up in the air, and came down
on its side, with the man underneath it
and the horse still in the shafts. Neither
man nor horse stirred after they fell.
The conductor and driver were both
unhurt. "This is bad business, Phil,
an we'd better git out!" the driver
said.
The conductor nodded, and pulled
the bell twice, and the Car swept away.
The only passengers were three ladies',
who probably did not know what had
happened.
Tom was not a hundred feet away
when the thing happened. His horror
at the sight itself was not greater than
his establishment and anger when the
car moved on. For the first time in
his life he would have liked to have
some one by the throat.
He rushed up to the cart excitedly
1t had been thrown to the right of the
track. The drivers leg was underneath
one OF the great wheels; and he hat
evidently tainted, for he did not move
nor speak. Tom seized him by the
shoulder and shook him roughly. The
man reused up little.
"Pull your leg out when | lift
Tom shouted; and then he stopped
down and got hold of the edge of tn,
wheel.
He Strengthened back, bent hi
knees and gripped the wheel tight
Then, with a great effort, he funs
back his head and Strengthened hi