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 select as the hero of a story.


He wasn't one of your bfight-eyed,
curly-headed boys, with a frank, man.
ly face, incapable of a mean action.
No! Bills hair was of a frey hue
and his freckled face ornamented
with pug nose, and weak eyes, was
not to inspire you with confidence in
its owner. Aud, as for honesty, the
| fishermen all swear there was not a
greater thief or rascal on the Cape!


Bill didn't live with a misefly cid
| uncle, who kept all his money from
him, and nearly starved him. Bill
dead, and Etthe old woman" as he ir-
reyerently 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 fiat as that. He used to play
hockey from school, and loaf around
the wharVes to see the fishing boats
come III; and if he did get any money
he spent it for cheap cigars.


Bill didn't see why he shouldn't res
cue some rich mans daughter from a
watery grave, and be well rewarded
and received into the family as well
as those fellows in books.


Bill used to loaf around the docks
more than usual after this ; and one
morning his attention was arrested by
piercing scream. Rushing to the
spot, Bill saw it came from the daugh-
ter of Squire Wilson, who was board
ing at the 8. big house" on the hill.


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


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


Mol tie hit Bill a clip over the
head that nearly stunned him, aud
asked him in q rough tone, what he
meant by attacking his daughter when
she was bathing, and insinaated that
he had better leave before he broke
every bone in his body. Bill didn't
go home that noon with joy depicted
on his face, and announce TO his de-
lighted mother that they were raised.
from poverty to- affiuenee; but hel
skunk in by the back way, and was
caught by the old lady and most aw-.I
fully tanned for playing hockey and
getting his clothes wet.


Bill vowed that the boys that saved
rich girls in the story books were
frauds, aud he didn't believe such
things ever happened. This evident
ly had bad effect on Bill, for he went
to the bad aud, instead of growing
up an honest man, aud entering bus
mess house, aud working his way up
from under-clerk to partner. and mar
rying the old gentleman's daughter,
and living to green old age, beloved |
by all who knew him, he Joined gang |
of thieves, and was caught cracking !
a bank. lie now resides in an elegant
stone building, supported by the State
He employs his leisure time in break
ing stone and often he thiuks what
he might haue been if he had never
read those pernicious books.