Year: 1874

Bill Stubbs had been reading The Starry
Flag, and was seized with a great desire to
initiate the hero of that thrilling tale.


Bill was not exactly the boy you would Sc
lect as the hero of story. He wasn't one of
your bright-eyed, curly headed boys, with a
frank, manly face, incapable of mean action
No Bills hair was of fiery hue; and his
freckled face, ornamented with pug nose and
weak eyes, was not one to ispire you with con-
fidence in it's owner. And, as for honesty, the
fishermen all swear there was not a greater
thief or rascal on the Cape


Bill didn' live with a miserly uncle who kept
all his money from him, and nearly starved
him. Bill hadn't any money. His father was
dead, and the "od woman" as he irreverently
called his mother, took in washing; and little
help she got from her hopeful son. He didn't
pass his time in fishing, and spend the money
he received in books Bill wasn't such q fiat
as that He used to play hockey from school,
and loaf around the wharves to see the fishing
boats come in; and, if he did get any money,
he spent it for cheap cigars.


Bill didn't see why he shouldn' rescue some
rich man daughter from a watery grave, and
be we'll rewarded and received into his family,
as we'll as those fellows in books


Bill used to loaf around the docks more than
usual, after this; and one morning his atten-
ton was attracted by pearcing screams. Rush
ing to the spot Bill saw that they came from
the daughter of Squire Wilson, who was
boarding at the "big honse" on the hill.


Her golden head was just visible as she
tossed about on the angry waves. Bill saw
that here was his chance, and he struck out
for the young lady. Her screams were re-
doubled as she saw Bill approaching; but he
valiantly grasped her, and dragged her ashore,
where her frantic father was waiting to re-
ceive her.


He didn't embrace Bill and call him his dear
son.and offer him a check for thousand dol
lars, or the beautiful yacht on which Bill had
long looked with yearning eyes and sighed for
her possession.


No! He hit Bill clip over the head that
nearly stunned him, and asked him, in rough
tone, what he meant by attacking his daughter
when che was bathing, and insinuated that be
had better leave before he broke every bone il
his body Bill didn't go home that noon, with
Joy depicted on his face, and announce to hit
delighted mother that they were raised from
poverty to affluence /; but he skunk in by thu
back way, and was caught by the old lady anC
most awfully tanned for playing hockey anC
getting his clothes wet


Bill vowed that the boys who saved ricl
girls in the story-books were frauds, and h'
didn't believe such thing ever happened


This evidently had bad effect on Bill, for b,
went to the bad; and instead of growing VI
an honest man, and entering business, house
and working his way up from under-clerk Z


partner, and marrying the old gentleman
! Daughter, and living to green old age, be
loved by all who knew him, he joined gam
of thieves, and was caught cracking bank
He now resides 10 an elegant stone building
} supported by the State He employs his tim
in breaking stone and often he thinks wha
} he might have been if he had never read thos
pernicious books i Yankee Blade.