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Page 28
Suddenly there was a shriek, then another, and several in rapid
succession. The voice was that of a woman, and seemed to proceed from
the other side of a dense thicket. At the first scream, the youth
turned his head in the direction of the sound. When it was repeated,
he pushed aside the undergrowth and, quickening his footsteps, he soon
dashed into an open space on the bank of the stream, where stood a rude
log cabin.
It was but the work of a moment for the young man to make his way
through the crowd and confront the woman. The instant her eye fell on
him, she exclaimed: "Oh, sir, you will do something for me. Make them
release me, for the love of God. My boy, my poor boy is drowning, and
they will not let me go." "It would be madness; she will jump into the
river," said one, "and the rapids would dash her to pieces in a moment."
The youth scarcely waited for these words, for he recollected the
child, a fine little boy of four years old, who was a favorite with all
who knew him. He had been accustomed to play in the little inclosure
before the cabin, but the gate having been left open, he had stolen
out, reached the edge of the bank, and was in the act of looking over,
when his mother saw him.
The shriek she uttered only hastened the catastrophe she feared; for
the child lost its balance, and fell into the stream. Scream now
followed scream in rapid succession, as the agonized mother rushed to
the bank.
One glance at the situation was enough. To take off his coat and
plunge in after the drowning child were but the actions of a moment.
On went the youth and child; and it was miraculous how each escaped
being dashed to pieces against the rocks. Twice the boy went out of
sight, and a suppressed shriek escaped the mother's lips; but twice he
reappeared, and with great anxiety she followed his progress, as his
tiny form was hurried onward with the current.
The youth now appeared to redouble his exertions, for they were
approaching the most dangerous part of the river. The rush of the
waters at this spot was tremendous, and no one ventured to approach,
even in a canoe, lest he should be dashed in pieces. What, then, would
be the youth's fate, unless he soon overtook the child? He urged his
way through the foaming current with desperate strength.
Three times he was on the point of grasping the child, when the waters
whirled the prize from him. The third effort was made above the fall;
and when it failed, the mother groaned, fully expecting the youth to
give up his task. But no; he only pressed forward the more eagerly.
And now, like an arrow from the bow, pursuer and pursued shot to the
brink of the precipice. An instant they hung there, distinctly visible
amid the foaming waters. Every brain grew dizzy at the sight. But a
shout of exultation burst from the spectators, when they saw the boy
held aloft by the right arm of the young hero. And thus he brought the
child back to the distracted mother.
With a most fervent blessing, she thanked the young man for his heroic
deed. And was this blessing heard? Most assuredly; for the
self-sacrificing spirit which characterized the life of this youth was
none other than that of George Washington, the First President of the
United States.
LESSON XLI
AUTUMN
September has come. The fierce heat of summer is gone. Men are at
work in the fields cutting down the yellow grain, and binding it up
into sheaves. The fields of corn stand in thick ranks, heavy with ears.
The boughs of the orchard hang low with the red and golden fruit.
Laughing boys are picking up the purple plums and the red-cheeked
peaches that have fallen in the high grass. Large, rich melons are on
the garden vines, and sweet grapes hang in clusters by the wall.
The larks with their black and yellow breasts stand watching you on the
close-mown meadow. As you come near, they spring up, fly a little
distance, and light again. The robins, that long ago left the gardens,
feed in flocks upon the red berries of the sumac, and the soft-eyed
pigeons are with them to claim their share. The lazy blackbirds follow
the cows and pick up crickets and other insects.
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