CHILDREN'S COLUMN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10046, 5 February 1896, Page 3

CHILDREN'S COLUMN.

PAYING A DEBT. " Please, miss, will you give me Borne cold tittles ?" The tramp from whom issued these words stood ab the back door of the residence of Captain Day. Ho was a man of powerful frame, bat attenuated from wanb and exposure. His full attiro was the extremity of rags, and his shoes scarcely encased hisfceb for lack of material. His unshaven face and long, unkempb hair rendered him an object either to draw human pity or disgust, Miss Margery Day, the only child of Captain Day, a maiden of 17, of rarest beauty, had opened the door at his summons. She had nothing of hauteur or conceit, which added much to her loveliness, but was amiable, heroic, and generous. _ Tho tramp hesitated and stammered in his interrogation, as he gazed upon the beautiful girl. She did nob repulse him or ask him why he did nob work, as ho evidently expected. A great look of pity stole into her dark eyes as she bade him enter the kitchen, and ordered the servant to place before him the best viands the house afforded. When the monster of hunger was satisfied ho turned to the young lady, who lingered near, and said, " May God bless ye, miss; ye're a good gal. Ef I could pay yo I'd bo mighty glad, but the world goes hard on tho likes er me; nomoney.nowork, nobody, nothin'." And a dark shadow seemed to fall on his hardened visage. "Are theso all tho clothes you have!" asked Margery, turning kindly toward him, " Yes, miss, and sorry rags they're gittin' to be." " Be seated a moment," and Margery ran away, and in a twinkling returned with a full suit which her father had discarded, and gave them to him ; also, deducting a , bill from her shining little purse, she added to his gift, saying, "Now, mister, you won't go and drink, will you, please? Remember I give it to you to buy you food and make you good." The human wretch gazed alternately from his possessions to his benefactress. His voice trembled as he said, " I've hoaru tell of angels, but, by lioky, I never seen one afore. I'm a bad man, miss; I don't deny it. I can't help bein' bad, and I've laid in the gutter many and many a time, and I fight and steal, but, by all tho powers, nob a cinb of that money shall get me grog, Ye're a lady, miss, and I never'U forgit ye nor yer words." The tramp went away, and Margery thoughb of him no more, for she was kind to everyone, and sang merrily at her duties. Months sped happily on, for Margery had a lover, Carl Mennon, who was all the world to her. Her mother had died in her infancy, and Captain Day made long voyages over the water. Ono night in March, Margery awoke from a blissful dream to listen to tho howling of an oncoming storm. The house shivered and shook, and the roar of the ocean not fardistaub was ominous. Her blood went flying to her brain as she proaned aloud, " Oh, Carl is on the water. He was to be in this very morning from thab excursion. Oh, the storm is growing terrible. I know tho schooner will bo wrecked." At daybreak the form of the maiden, well shielded, was pacing up and down tho beach, scarcely able to stand against tho terrific winds. The fearful hours dragged slowly on to afternoon, and the storm continued to increase. The waves rolled mountain high, and great seas rose and broke with tho din of a thousand mad fiends. A few sailors and strong men watched with their glasses trying to comfort the agonised girl. At last a vessel hove in sight, sailing with difficulty through tho awfulness of tha storm. Slowly it camo nearer to the vision of the excited persons on shore. A threemasted schooner. " Yes," cried Margery, " I know it is Carl's vessel; but will it evet reach shore?" The sailors shook their heads and said little. Still watching, they soon saw the vessel fall off from her direct course, making strange circles. She was nob fat from land, but, oh horrors, a blast carried away her foretopmast, her sails were in shreds, and ship gear was flaunting in the wild winds, The crow wero seen waving signals of distress; but who could swim The life-saving station was miles away, and no ordinary man could combab with the demon of such a storm. " Who will swim to tho wreck and 6avo the life of Carl Mennon? A thousand dollars, yes, ten thousand to tho man who will go." Ib was Margery's voice rising above the din that sounded these words to the ears of the shrinking men. No one moved, and again her words carno clear above the tumultuous elements, " Who will go ?" A strong man who had nob been noticed came forward rope in hand, and plunged into the waters. Rising and sinking, lost for a moment in tho great seas, then rising above with almost superhuman effort, he made his way toward the wreck. "He never'll do it," said half a dozen terrorstricken men. Margery's frail form was swaying with the winds, and over her face was spread the spectre of terror. But the swimmer was an expert, and 'boldly rode the waves, defying the mocking winds. " He's gone," Raid someone, as a huge sea rolled over him. Margery clenched her hands in agony, but hopo came back as he appeared again. The brave man was aided, for clinging to a floating timber ha found Carl Mention ere ho reached the wreck, facing a watery grave. Throwing him the rope, Carl secured it around his waist, and tho struggle camo for the life of two. Within a four yards of shore both sunk to rise no more. But the sailors" pub out" and brought them in, apparently lifeless. But the work of resuscitation brought them back, and whon Margery had tenderly cared for her lover, she turned to the brave man who had risked his life for her, and said, " Tell me, sir, oh, tell me to whom I am indebted for this. The ton thousand is yours, but tell mo first who you are." "I'll take no money from yer hands, miss. I did it to pay a debt I owed yo. I'm— tho tramp you fed and clothed." The dobt was paid. Tho tramp was a tramp no longer, and the bitter moan saying, "I have nobody uor nothing," was heard no more, for ho whistles merrily ab his labour, knowing he has somebody and BOinethiug.—Polly Patch, in Yankee Blade. OWNEY, THE AMERICAN POST OFFICE DOG. To the list of famous dogs has to bo added an American specimon named Owney, who is a great traveller, and who likes nothing so woll as going on the trains with the mailbags north and south and easb and west in the United States. From an accounb of the animal in the currenb St. Nicholas we gather that he has travelled from Alaska to Toxas, from Nova Scotia to Florida, from Pennsylvania to Missouri—making such "side journeys and stop overs" as pleasod him, either for resb or feeding. Ho firsb joined the Posb Office Department ab Albany, New York. He eithor wandered in or was left there by some boy who came on an errand. Not being a letter, ho waß never advertised and never called for. Finding the quarters comfortable, ho stayed. He is known as tho "Albany Post Office Dog," and is a popular member of tho department. Owney knows a postal car as well as any postal clerk. When the mail is sent to the station Owney jumps on tho waggon, and stays there until the last bag is thrown into the car. If ho feels like taking a journey he then jumps aboard the car, barks good-bye, and away ho goes. Once on the train he is tho guest of bho clerks ab tho offices along the road. Ho wears a fine silver collar, marked " Owney P. 0., Albany, N.Y.," and with him is often forwarded a book in which is kept a record of places he visits; and a very interesting story the book tolls. Postal clerks everywhere are loud in their praises of tho dog. One of them writes Owney is excellent company. When wo arrive ab stations where the train stops ' 20 minutes for refreshments' the dog walks into the station and barks for bones. When the boll rings ' All aboard!' he is tho firsb one on tho train, He can tell the difference between a whistle for a crossing and that for a station; while he ignores the first, he is up and ready when the station whistle blows. He takes his place on the platform and waits until the mail is thrown off, and then goes back to bed on tho mailbags." The little dog is a faithful friend and companion. It is said thab several times a sleepy and worn-oub postal clerk who had fallon asleep, forgetful of the stations, has been awakened by Owney'a barking, aud has thus been \ reminded to throw ,cff tha mallbag,