THE GOOD SAMARITAN.
A poor unfortunate Dunedin cabman, during the late inclement weather, essayed to cross Trotter's Creek on his return home, after having carried a passenger as far as Moeraki from Dunedin. The stream, which had become terribly swollen, as is invariably the case after a heavy rainfall, wa3 too swift and deep for the horses, and when they arrived at the most difficult point, the driver, seeing the peril in which he was placed, turned their heads down the current, and jumping from his seat, grasped the first friendly flax-bush that came in his way. The cab was upset and considerably damaged ; but the horses, I having turned their heads towards the bank, were ultimately rescued from their dangerous position in the manner which we shall hereinafter relate, and which tended to develope the characters of two men. Indeed, as we are indebted for our acquaintance with the good Samaritan to the fact that a man had fallen amongst thieves, was ill-treated, and left half dead, so do we attribute our additional knowledge of human nature to the accident that befel this unfortunate cabby. There are two men at Moeraki wbfo could very creditably represent the characters in the parable of the good Samaritan. We Trill.
tell our story, and leave our readers t draw their own conclusions. Poor cabb had just been rescued by the roadim from his, to say the least of it, uncomfort able position in the creek, where ho w a for dear life clinging to a flax-bush, whe he made the best of his way to the tnaa who, of all others, lie expected wo«| assist in such an emergency. He aakc him whether he would help him to save hi horses and trap. Of course ho would, and as the shivering, half-drowned individui standing before him added to his petition to give it additional force, the fact tin he was poor, his bowels of compassioi were moved, and he said that ho expecte no payment for his trouble. How good Here was the milk of human kinduci dispensed within the four walls of an \i] country accommodation house. Cabb had certainly paid for his board an lodging, and for the feed usually suj posed to be given to horses in such placet and his having been a rather proiitab! customer may account for the refreshin liberality we have just chronicled. The adjourned to the scene of operation Now, the second person previously rt ferred to had arrived, and had brougli with him a powerful horse to enable hii to render assistance in case it should I needed. He set to work, and with tli co-operation of cabby, succeeded in rescu ing what were almost all cabby's world] possessions. It must not be suppose that the first assistant mentioned was disinterested beholder of the operation He was good enough to countenance am give his advice, which was to the eflec that the other man's horse was bottt adapted for the work than his, and li gazed in anxious suspense, and took deep sigh of relief when the job \va finished, and also another 15s. fron cabby for his trouble. The other man ( farmer) could scarcely be prevailed upo to take anything, and when cabby's las half-sovereign was thrust into his hand he insisted on returning sufficient to en able him to pay tolls on his road home, ii addition to giving him a bag of feed fo his horses. Every allowance, of course should be made for the other assistant Avhose nerve was doubtless affected at tli awkward plight of a man and a brother and as it is generally acknowledged brail work should be well paid for, the swea of intellect he suffered, and which was sJ severe as to suspend all his power o| volition, with the exception of hi tongue, when beholding the shatters trap drawn forth from the water, woi poorly indeed compensated for by tin receipt of 15s.
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Bibliographic details
Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 336, 22 May 1877, Page 2
Word Count
660THE GOOD SAMARITAN. Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 336, 22 May 1877, Page 2
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