The Dermott news., 1914-12-31

back down to his famous old friend, | Tom Dobbs, retired farrier. Shod. rested, well fed. well curried. at the end of a week decrepit old Fire | brand seemed to have taken a new lease of life Hitched up to the farm wagon and the wagon loaded with garden truck, the grateful animal whinnied at his kind young master as though anxious to show his willing ness to work for him.
 T declare," cried the delighted Mrs Tascott at the end of a week, as Ben ny handed her welliled purse. I'm proud of you. my boy,"
 She might we'll be. Diminutive as Benny was. he had solved the problem of the family necessities. His mother and two sisters loaded up the wagon and he drove to town and sold the stuff There was a stream of revenue now coming in. and life frightened more than little for the Tascotts
 oh, mother!a exclaimed Benny one day, coming in from the pasture, what C. you thiuh''
 .I am sure l cannot guess. replied Mrs Tascpu. smiling at his excite ment
 "A man came by and offered me $S0 for old Firebrand.'
 Better net tell Mr Woods that. Benny"
 T should say not And, say. wouldn't take eighty hundred dollars for the dear old fellow, The rascal, Look at him. He's getting so fat and jolly he's up to regular coltish tricks
 Benny ran out into the pasture again at a sight of Firebrand in the open. The horse had nosed back the gate that his young master had care lessly left unlocked As he saw Benny coming he kicked up his heels and stood viewing him as he approached. wasEing first one ear and then the other in gay frolic
 Here, you get back where you be long" ordered Benny
 Firebrand snorted playful defiance. ran down the road, Ieaped fence and made a bee line towards the river.
 Hes headed in the direction of the Woods place" ruminated Benny. Maybe he's proud to show that he's real horse once more. Well. I've got to put after him.
 Treading the bramble bush and com. ing just in sight of the river, Benny gave a great shout He broke into furious run.
 ~oh, dear!" he panted; its little Nellie Wood3"
 Directly in the middle current of the stream, elinging to a plank and screaming for help. was Mir Woods little child. Benny could figure out how. playing about the landing. the little tot had tipped one of the blanks into the water and had fallen i'll after it
 He could hear shouting up the shore, probably the voices of her friends. who had discovered her plight Benny threw off his coat as he ran Then In terror he saw Nellie let 20 the plank and disappear under the surface.
 I'm too late he fairly sobhcd out @0h. you glorious Firebraud''
 We'll might he say it. Either the sensible animal recognized it's former httle mistress CT II had great soul Straisht into the stream Fir,braud ran, then swan. caught in his jaws the fringe of Nelle's dress as she came to the surface and Waded ashore.
 "0h, my child my darling ehild's Tri4i Woods n breathless and terrified upon the scene. as he clasped hts rescued daughter safe in his arms
 The strong man wilted as he regard ed the brave old animal he had turned from his door to die
 Then his hand rested gently on the head of the little fellow who had made that rescue possible
 Benny" his tremulous tones sounded, I'll give you Sl .000 for Fire brand"
 Nor ten. nor twenty, Nothing can buy him" declared stanch Benny. I'll give him 10 dear little Nellie if had to. but hope she won't ask me
 An humble. contrite man. Jasper Woods appeared at the door of the Tascott home that evening,
 "Neishbor" he said to MT Tascott. extending folded paper, there's the release of your mortgage Money isn't everything in the world. I've found out, and little Benny has shown me the way to better things"
 Copyright. 1914. by W C. Chapman)