The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-07-24

Don't drive over that bridge"
A man who lived near was calling
to him, making energetic gesticula-
tions.
II guess I'll try it" Sam called
back to him. In spite of the increas-
ingly violent remonstrance he drove
on.
His heart almost stood still as he
advanced. The bridge creaked and
swayed under the additional strain
of the load, and the ice arose as if
determined to crowd him into the
water which boiled and whirled be-
low. Before taking two wagon
lengths he had repented his daring.
But once on there was no turning
back. The horses became frightened
and little restless but he must urge
them on. The bridge took only about
two minutes to cross, but to Sam it
seemed hours as, with set lips and
reins tightly held, he gazed at the
shaking planks beneath him.
With a final cut at his horses he
hurried them over the last few feet
and was on blessed firm ground.
For a moment he felt half sick at
thought of the peril through which
he had passed, then glancing back
at the giver of the friendly warning,
who had followed him to the edge of
the brigde in dismayat his daring.
"Hellol" I'm over all right, you
see" he cried, waving his hand.
"I'm no coward" he added to him
self. "What a simpleton I should
have been if I'd gone clean round"
He drove on, rejoicing in the fool
hardness which he misnamed cour-
age.
And I'll try it again" he declared
to himself. eff I've done it once
with a load and no harm come, l
surely can do it with an empty
wagon"
Two hours later he again drew
near the bridge. But this time the
country road was not quiet and soil
tary except for the one warning
neighbor. Teams were drawn up
near the creek, and men were linger-
ing about with faces of grave con-
Germ.
Coming nearer Sam perceived that
the poor old bridge had at length
succumbed to the cruel attacks on it.
One pier had been carried away, leav
ing great gap fringed by splintered
timbers and planking.
"Ahl" It's gone at last, has it,"
said Sam.
Eyes, and that isn't the worst of it.
A boy and his team went with it."
"What" exclaimed Sam. The man
pointed little way down the stream
at one side of which Sam saw small
crowd of men.
They're trying to get that horse
out" said the informant. "The other
got swept down stream, poor beast,
but this one happened to make to-
wards shore-or perhaps the ice hap
pened to push him that way
"And where is the boy?' Sam asked
breathlessly.
They've carried him into that
house. He made brave fight for it
jumping from one cake of ice to the
other. But he slipped and got an
ugly whack on his head and would
have gone down if neighbor Forbes
hadn't been watching and managed
to get out and help him. His wagon
must be miles down 10y this time.
Forgetting his hurry to be home,
Sam went to the house where the in
jured boy still lay, still insensible
from the blow on his head. His
heart was filled with dismay at the
misfortune which had overtaken the
one who had practiced the same folly
with himself. And it sank lower as
he perceived that it was cousin of
his own, fair haired boy whose
mother was a widow. Sam found an
opportunity of sending news of his
whereabouts to his father and then
remained beside his cousin through
his long hours of Inconsistencies,
during which the doctor admitted
that there might be serious doubts
as to the result of his injuries.
"How came you to do such fool
ish thing as to try to cross that
bridget" some one asked as at length
he opened his eyes.
"Why-somebody told me Sam
had crossed" he said, gazing feebly
at his cousin.
And during the long season of ILL
ness and anxiety which followed
Sam had full time for meditation on
his responsibility for the results of
his actions on others as we'll as on
himself.-AdUdnce.