New-York tribune., 1907-01-13

as | remember him, once wrapped
a hairy arm about my neck, we sat
near an unfinished grave, and told
me things calculated to discourage lament
"You've lost your knife. have you: he
well well. tain't no excuse for tears, boy
one OF the Joys OF hvin to lose things, though
folks don't know it. I'm astonished to Sc
weepin YOU bcin a bOV, pretty nigh man.
a knife that anyone should mourn its loss
Mine was a bone handled one, ! whim
with two whole blades and one busted one ~
Mr. Danks was evidently taken aback. For
reason II seemed that he had not expected per
practical reply to his question. No true phllos
does Blessed be them that mourn. ht
whispered. after an interval " Well maybe; b
easy ovcrdone He Winked at the grave, as If
was some pleasantly understood between him
Mighty few things as bad as they seen
Colors appear different IN different lights.
There's no way OF tellin a blessing by its
looks. Twas Just such a day aS tins thirty
years ago this month OF June when a great
food Of water came down the valley yonder
I've heard my father tell OF it, | SAID.
He came near BEN drowned that day.
And then | went on under the stimulus OF
an expression of astonishmcnt which showed
upon Mr.. Danks's wrinkled, kindly old face.
MY father was hvin' here then with my
grandpa and grandma. Maybe II was my
father YOU meant when you told about
the boy with curly hair who nearly got
drowned ! suggested. We heard he was
q bov once
Like as not twas, now" chuckled Ny
Danks smitng his thigh. "'Twould have
been Just like him, wouldn't it? Anyway,
the boy, whoever he was, out on the
rivcr IN a boat that day, fishin He shouldn't
have been there but | reckon he saw the
boat, and just simply couldn't resist takin
. voyage into deep water. And maybe there
was man who wanted some nice gravel 10
make a driveway with, and he was gcttIn II
on the rlVcT bank while the boy was fiShin
on HIM, known that most anything was
liable to happen under such circumstances
Probably he was lust baCkin his wagon down
for another load, when the waters come
sWoopin along like ten million starved cats
altcr fresh meat. The man hit his horses a
hex, probably, and they started for home
hckcty split, shakin the box of the wagon at
the top of the high bank Likely when he
got 10 the top of the bank the man turned to
loo; back. The boy boat had been dashed
into a tree, and had gone on down the stream
bottom up. lcavin the boy hangin' to a limb
OF the tree, his legs in the water 10 ms knees
and the water pullin' and tuggin 70 break
him loose
1T was my father" I cried exultautlv.
Il know the story. He was hanging TO a
limb OF the tree, and ne was almost ready
10 drop into the water and be carried away
htelcss, when he was rescued 10y man in a
wagon box.
Sho exclaimed M Daaks You don't
say
Yes, and when the man put his arm
around him 70 take him from the limb. nv
father tainted away, and when he got unfaintcd
he was lying upon the river bank with a ere
Young men and women around him. and he
found out who twas that saved MS life"
MIR. Danks was silent for a moment. staring
grave. L suppose now, he sand musingy,
the man who rescued Your pa just tied one en-
long rope 10 the wagon box and the other en
tree, and then skinned of his clothes and
long pole and pushed himself out 10 where vC
was dangln', and picked your pa off the limb
/ suppose he found, when ne got back with yc