Press enter after choosing selection

Saved By A Circus Rider

Saved By A Circus Rider image
Parent Issue
Day
10
Month
February
Year
1881
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

Broadway, brilliant and gay, as if there weranothing of poverty or human suffering in the world - as if none in tlie great city" were familiar with hunger and sickness; as if there were never to be anyawakeningfrom agoldin dream of luxury and pleasure. -Ah. thoughfless wealth and fashion !" munnured Toni Orton, bitterly, as lic saw fur-clad forms, and paanpered steeds, and richly mounted harnesa, and gilded sleighs, and costly robes dasli along. "How mneh you will have to answer for in the day oí Bnal rêckowingj (or neglecting your poor, toiling, sujffering brothers and sisters!" Sniidenly a confuseÉI cry, a wild tumult, the drawing away of teams on éitHer side, ór dashing intoside streets, startled hiin and he knew something unusual was taking placa Thenoame the shont, of "Bunawayl runawayl" and he feit that life or property, or both, were bebag whirled onto destruction. ■Are yon inadV" asfeedmany, asthey ran feo a' place of safety, and he standing on the curbslone. He gave no lieed to tlie warning. He had braved death far too of ten to shrink from it in any event, and most certandy wiicn at sueh a distanoe. Ilis eyes were flxed up the street on a team oL noble bays, that were tearing along, inad with fright and surgingthe sleigh from side to side - running at their utmost speed, each striving to undo tlie other, straining every nerve - running iway driverless. Had that been all he would not have troubled liimself, deep as was bis affection for blooded steeds, f or he was not at that moment particularly in sywpatliy with wealtli. It was quite another matter that ehained him. Atllic tiist outcry he lias sprung to and hall' elinibed a lamp-post; and so ofotalnedaclearerview - onethat thrillbA bis hêart to the veiy core, eaused hisbreathto be more deeply drawn, and bis pulse almost to cease to beat. In the Bleigh was a young and beautiíul woman, palo with terror, aud claspine two children to her lireast. Orton thought of hi.s Jenny and their little (mes, and resolved to save them. The impulse was noble, but how was it to be accomplished ? Far bevond any human control were tlie frantic horses. To attempt to seize the reina as they dashed past would be maáness. He saw this - saw that the course of the horses would bring them direct ly upon him, and, though the crowd furiously warned him of bis danger, he stirred not - only braced mu seles and nérvea, and set his teeth with determination. "My üod !"' exclaimed a man, who, bolder than the rest, sprang forward and woiild have drawn him away. "You will be instantly killed!" l'.ini Orton shook him off just as the horses reaolied him, watched his opportunity, seized upon the harneas as they were" Bweeping past, sprung ligbtly upon the back of the nearest horse, grasping the reins, and, turning to the affrigMea woman andscreamlng ehildren. shouted: "Keep quid ! I willsave yon !" And save them he did. Before a blóck had been traversed the horses were made to realizethat he was their master, and the nharp curb cutting dfcjily into their mouthsbrought them to a slaiKlstill. The orowd cheered lustily - the pólice assisted the woman and children ont and canied them to a neighboring store, and, as soon as the fornier had ím a mensure fecovered her senses, she aeked for her preserver, thatshe niiglit thank and reward him. J5at lie was not to be found. All tliat coiüd be [earned was, that as soon as the trembling steeds had heen taken charge of !i others he had disappeared. "Who could it have beenV" questioned the lady, wifcb still ghastly face and bloodless lips. 'Cainwt. say," answered apolieeman, "hut he wus a brave fellow, anyhow. I would not liave taken the risk he did for thousands." "A brave fellov, indeed," was the response.'- and 1 would likeverymuchto know liis name and where he is to bfl found." But the lady departed without taining the desired uiionnation, and the sensitiveness of Tom Orton cause! him to lose the 011e opportunity of Ma life to have risen above iron-handed paverty. Meanwhile he was hurrying to business, more time had been Occupied in the rescue than fee thoóght possible; and though applawse was'dear to liim (as toall), yet he wmid ïiot stay to listen, and as 'lor risking his life for mone,y, lie had not even dïeamed of such a thiiiLr. Out of breath he oahed into the dreesln g-room, and was igeeived witli reprooi for being late. "Cannoi help it," heTépld; "I saw a pair of fiery horaee runn]fr away, witb a sleigh and a womau and two children, and had to stop i s;lV(; thein." He told liis story very brifl a,„i piodestly while getting ready, ara soon was ctashing down the arena upon a spirited steed, arg "ching tlie world with wondrous horsemanship." ■ The audience applauded to the eclio, and, carried away by the excitement, tie rashly determined to execute his most daring acts, forgetting that the horse he rode had nut been trained to them- was young and wild. The residu was si plainly apparent. Though some were accomplished in safety, yet, when he attempted leaping over a banner, thefluttering frightenel the horse, he bolted suddenly, and Torn Orton was hurled heavily to the ground ! He endeavpred to rise and make ] i glit of pain, bnt a strang thicknescame over liim, the light flickered and grew dim, lie fasped for air and knew nothing more until somewase revived, in the dit'ssing-rooni, he heardf amiliar voices, "O, God ! what will become of Jenny and the babies?" he gasped, faintly. "I ain done for, ana - uul - " his tears and sobs choked him. "Do not fear forthem, Torn," said a dozen hearty voices, and as many grasped his hand as could obtain hold, "we will see tliat tbey are taken cave of." Many senselessly and carelessly condemn ring and state bu etin the law of want and sufferingtheir' hearts shine upon the surface, and such eharity is shown tliat none upon the earth is brighter. Ah, if all humanity was true as the brother and sisterhood, whose lives are given for the amusenient and instruction of others, there would be far less of trial and suffering in the world. It is acharlty tliat lasts bevond the sad scènes at the "Little church around the corner." "Thanks, thanks." murmured the injured man; "but teil me the worst." "A broken leg is all tliat appears sci'ious," answers a gray-headed man - a strang physicián whohad been sum, moned; "though I cannot account for the marks upon your side, niy man." "Probably he hurt hirhsëlf whèn he stopped the runaway horsees," wassuiggested, and the story told. "ITump ! a very dangerons business - next to foolhardy; not one in ten thousand would have escaped alivel" replied the physician, witli pressed lips and Bashing eyës. "Well, all that can be done now is to get him home. ïhen I will make a more minute exaniination," Very teaderly was the ftoble-hearted IVllow taken to liis humble atjode. The scène, when he was laid upon the bed, side by side with his sick wilc and ehildren, causedeveryeye tooverflow with tears. "Torn, dear Torn," said Jenn 'y as well as she could for her pitiföl sobbing whal will becohie of hs - of the chiidrenV We will starve anddie together 1" "Not while we have hands," replied his associatcs, cvcry heart tonehed and every arm nervedto the utmost toward relief. They all löoked aroundanxiously for the physiciari. Buthe was not fo be seen, and tlieir grinnbling became loud and deep. "1 can bear inythiiig," saidTom' ■luit for you, Jèfiny, and the children, and he entirely bmkedown. "And I eonM curse the doctor for ;m unfeeling wrotcb," blurted out one of the most passionate. "But it is ever tlms. We give our lives freely to [ilease the public, and when aiiything happens they care notbing for us." Tom groaned heavily. TIn; sound woke his little girl. Sho raised up in bed, clapped her tiny haiuls and shoutad, in true childish glee and wonder: "Mamma! papa! sec! an angel!" All eyes were turned in the direetion pointed, and in the doorway stood a beautiful wóman, leaning upon the arm of the physician. Yes; an angel had come to Uiem. Tom Orion liad risked liis life to save that one daughterof J)r. Armitage and liis grand-childien, and the merest chance had giren them the knowledge who it was. But never was an equestrian feat better rewarded, and never a more eharitable ángel appeard upon earth' even ujxm the day wlicn, alike upon the hill-top and valley, it proclaiincd "Peace upon earth, good will to men."

Article

Subjects
Old News
Ann Arbor Democrat