The Forrest City times. [volume] (Forrest City, Ark.) 1871-1919, 1899-09-15

~ HhfNtiNs DOIltIlTntS 4
quick flush would pass over his face.
and his lips would quiver, but no word
escaped him.
L thought best to appear not TO know
what was going on between them.
thinking it woud soon wear itself out.
and perhaps Joe would feel better to
think l did not know, but kept him
with me as much as could and grew to
like him very much.
He made rapid progress in his studies,
and his everyday life showed strength
of character. =
1 could always depend on him to tell
the truth on every occasion, and look.
ing into his earnest face, 1 would for.
get the baggy clothes, the fiery red hair,
and the ragged hat.
Not far from the schoolhouse was
wide, deep stream of water, which rar
dank and turbid in the spring. 1t was
crossed by footbridge with railing
on both sides. Nearly half the children
crossed this bridge to get to school.
On pleasant days we often sat on the
bank to eat our dinner, which we
Will
One lovely day in early June, we were
seated there, after eating our dinner. !
was reading a book, and the children
were amusing themselves in various
| ways.
Pearl Atherton strolled alone acros.
the bridge. to look for violets, which
sometimes grew on the opposite side.
In coming back, she stopped in the
middle of the bridge. threw some leaves
into the water, and leaned against the
railing, watching them as they foated
| away.
| The railing was old and in some man
ner had become so loosened that it gave
way with her weight, and, with pierc
ing cry, she went down and out of sight
Tom stood upon the bank, white and
| speechless, with look of agony shall
| never forget. He could not swim, and
so could never reach her.
But at the first cry Joe had stripped
off his coat, and in minute plunged in
and swan steadily toward the spot
where the little golden head went down
| He grasped her as she rose to the
surface the second time, raised her
head out of the water, and slowly swan
with her to the bank.
When / took her from his arms, and
laid her upon the grass, the beautiful
face was white and still. but she had
been in the water such short time that
vigorous rubbing soon made her open
her eyes and speak to us, and she was
| soon TALKING in her usual manner.
| We wrapped her up as wen as we
could, and sent her home with a neigh.
Dor who was passing in wagon.
Joe ran home, changed his clothes,
and came back none the worse for his
wetting.
After the bell rang l missed Joe and
Tom from their seats.
The back door was ajar and looked
out.
There stood Tom with tears in his
eyes, holding both Joe's hands.
"Can you ever forgive me?" he was
| saying. Il have been too hateful for
anything, but I'm awfully sorry, Joe.
If you'll forgive me i IL be better fell
low after this. If Pearl had been
drowned / don't know what 1 would
have done. Oh, Joe! l thought would
die when saw her go under the water.
l can't ever thank you uenough."
| II don't want any thanks" said Joe,
| putting his hand on Toms shoulder.
1T is all right. / was glad to do it.
Don't say anything more about it,
please
f.xx ,{.e. l1, hat
/ did not hear what they were saying.
Then they remembered that the bell
had rung, and they came into the
schoolhouse.
From that day Tom was a different
| boy. He was quiet and kind with the
other pupils, and he and Joe were fast
friends. He grew earnest and manly
| from seeing Joe's honest, upright life.
| When the term closed, came to my
eastern home. and after few years en-
tirely lost track of my pupils. ! Ibid not
know whittier they had drifted, or what
they were doing, though often won.
| dered.
In the fall of 1890 took trip along
the Pacific coast, and one Sunday morn
ing in company with a friend, went to
one of the finest churches had seen in
that locality.
As the minister began to speak,
thought / saw something familiar in
his face and manner, but could not
place him. He gave one of the most ear
nest, eloquent sermons to which l ever
| listened.
/ sat and wondered where I could
have seen that man before. Suddenly ii
came to. met was the look and man.
ner of my pupil of years ago, Joe Nor
| ton.
l waited to speak to him, and was in
| vited to call at his home next day. And
| there | found him the same Joe in
heart, nobly, tenderly caring for his
| feeble, white-haired mother and in
valid father.
| He has made for himself a name not
soon to be forgotten in the state in
which he lives; he is a strength and in
spirat ton to his friends; he has written
several books that stand high in the