Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-10-22

| and had ignited the dry shingles. The
servant girl who had been responsible
for the accident, having built too
fierce fire In the kitchen stove, had
gone to the market on an errand for
her mistress and there was not soul
about the place to put out the fire.
! The neighbors had not even heard the
call for help, and only John Chinaman
came to her assistance till after the
! fire had been extinguished.
| The first thing that John did was to
grab a bucket of water and toss it up
over the place beside the chimney
where the slight flame was seen. Then
he brought some boxes from an out
house and climbed upon them to the
low roof. Then he called to the lady to
hand him pals of water as fast as she
could do So
| After some five minutes fast work
John had the fire in the roof entirely
extingutshied AS he was descending
heard the call for help (for the mis-
tress OF the place had kept on calling
Fire! Help!" while she handed up
water to the Chinaman) came quickly
into the yard, asking excited questions.
And Immediately behind them came
running three boys, whom the China
man recognized as his tormentors. The
leader was Arthur, and his face was
full Of frightened surprise. Whats
up, Mammal" he grasped, addressing
the mistress of the place.
Nancy made too hot fire In the
summer kitchen stove and 1t caught
in the roof through defective place
in the chimney" explained the lady.
who proved to be none other than
Arthur's mother. "And-just think Of
| it!-this good Chinaman came at once
to my assistance. 1t seems / was so
frightened could not call loudly
enough at first to attract anyoue's at
tention. But he heard me and came
And he has saved the place. The roof
lis as dry as finder, and in another
minute the whole thing would have
ben one flame. Then 1T would have
spread to the main part Of the house.
Oh and turning to her son, Mrs
Graves continued: "How | was fright
ened! | didn't know which way TO
turn. In trice the good fellow was
on the roof taking up water which
1 managed to hand him. And IN
short time he had every spark put out.
You may all say what you please about
Cinnamon, but this one Is hero.
And Mrs Graves advanced to shake
Johns hand warmly as she expire sse !.
her deep gratitude to him for the SER
vice he had rendered.
! When Arthur became calm enough
to grasp the situation blush OF
shame spread over his face. eve
been a dog. pup he said In
determined way, speaking to his COM
panions. We've all been as mean as
dirt to that poor washee man, and
was the ringleader. I'm going to TESS
I'm to him and ask his forgiveness.
too" And before his companions IN
mischief could pat him on the back and
saw. "That's the right thing to do,
Art" he had stepped to the Chinaman's
side and taken his hand.
AS Arthur feelingly begged the
ilaun ryman's pardon, confessing TO MS
own wrongdoings, his mother stood q
surprised listner. And after the neigh
|bors and John Chinaman had departed
she asked her son what it all meant.
1 Arthur honestly told her of his wicked
mess toward the Chinaman. and de-
cIared he had not realized lnat
.chink' was really human being till
that very hour.
"Ah. nv son. said Mrs. Graves,
.syou have indeed acted very. very
wfckedly. and sec how the poor abused
/. Chinaman has repaid your treatment
Of him! Ho has given good for evil.
He's brave fellow, and may teach
his superiors in station many noble
things ),
"Well, he has taught me something,
said Arthur. 81 now know that q
staunch heart and brave nature are
ia be found inside Chinaman's breast
az well as in that OF one OF our own
people. shall make it point to stop
at Johns shop Of evenings and offer
to teach him anything in our language
that. he may wish to know we all
owe him debt of gratitude which
hone we shall never forget.
II STORIES AND LETTERS.