TOM'S SACRIFICE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2293, 10 February 1898, Page 51

TOM'S SACRIFICE.

By K. M. Park (aged 13£ years).

Nellie wslked steadily oh, and in about half an hoar arrived a(s the brook. Brays•wiok road was rafeheff a long and lonely walk for a small girl scarcely seven years old ; but Nellie was an independent little personage and sever baited till she reached her destination. It had been raining heavily the day before, cooseqaently the stream was very much swollen and deeper than usual. Nellie stood lo*klog at it for awhile; then she picked up a stick and turned to Larry, who, seeiag what was coming, announced himself ready by means of several esger whines and batks.

" Oa«, two, three, and away 1 " shouted the litfcla girl, aed she fiaag the stick right into tha Ittrabilsg, foaming mass of water. Larry immediately b&uiided in and swam after it. Owfasg te ths turbulence of the water he took longer than, usual to recover the slick, so Nellie drew nearer to watch his movemeate. Sie^ fey step &h& advanced, never noticing how Beta shs wa* to the edga as her eyes were fixed on Larry, when suddenly her toot slipped and splash, splash, th© JiWle girl was stonggiteg ia the water, uttering shrill cries for hslp, juafe a^a boy (none other than Tom) appeew&d a 6 the top of the hill. He heard cries, foa saw somebody struggling in the wate*, aad without waiting a moment longer he ohaageti hia leisurely walk to a headlong rush asd dashed madly down the hill. In lees tbsa a second he had Hang off his coat and plaaged in to the rescue. The brav&dog had tike chad's frock in Ms mouth and was eßde*v««riGg to reach the bank,- though bis eff»rtes seamed nseless. The cold, dashing water almost took away Tom's breath, bat he masogwi to struggle to where tbe dog waa swimHsiHgwfth Disburden. He threw Ms anas aroos'i the child, fought his way back to thebaak, scrambled up somehow, and dropped dowa breathless and exhausted on the greea swar^. The», and oely the», did he recognise &bs& tho UDcoßscions child he held waa his nsaaster'& little daughter and that th& dog now capsriitg r*uod him wibh every sign of d«ligh« and recognition was Larry. Daliglitsd fts he waa at seeing Larry, aad dismayed at seeing NelKe in snob a condition, he knew it was no time for delay.

" Homo, Larry, home! " he gasped. •' JBricg help — home I " And the sagacious creature, aftor beait&ting a moment, bounded away iv the direction of Brayswick. Tom immediately turned bis atteation to Nellie. Sho was c*ld and white aa marble, bub feeling her hears beating hs knew s Jie waa aliv?, so he exerted all hid powers to bring her round. He chafed her band?, wrung cue her hair, and wrapped his eoaf; ronnd her, in the hope that the warmth would restore her to consciousness ; but in spits of al! his effurta her eyes remained fasb closed, and JKsb then Mr Somerp, with Lairy followiag, came running along the road and ovor fche bridge. Tba n&x& Instant he was bsslde Tor», and with a look of terror in his eyes raised his little daughter in his anna.

" Why, Tom, Tom, how did this happen ? " he asked in an agitated tons. " What has jhebeen doing?"

Then as Tom attempted to explain ha addad hurriedly : " Never mind telling me just now. Tbß best thing is to get her home as quickly as poaMble— and you too," he went oa, glancing •at Tom's dripping garments. Luckily just then they espied a trap driving over the meadows towards the road on the other side of the stream. Tom hailed the driver, who stopped, and on seeing what bad happened, made them all squeeze into the trap, and in a short time pub them down at Mr Somers's door. Nellie's father carried her into the house, where she was put to bed, and consciousness &oon returned to her. Meanwhile Tom, after divesting himself of his wet garments, and dressed out in some odds and ends of clothing, gave Mr Somers a full description of the accident, as far aa he had been concerned in it. " You are a brave boy, Tom," said Mr Somers heartily when Torn had finished his recital, " and I cannot tell you how much I am indebted to you. All I can say is that I thank yon exceedingly, and I think you have been truly heroic." Tom felt proud and happy zt hearing these words, and thought tbat a kinder man than his master could never have lived. "What I can't understand," said Mr Somers a few minutes lafcer, "is how the little one came to be at the stream at all. I had forbidden her so maßy times not to go alone." Bat shortly afterwards he was eclightened on that point by Nellie, who, amid sobs and tears, furnished the missing details of the sfcory. " I went all b — b — by mys — s — self," she sobbed, clinging to her father. " I t — told myself tbat — fcfaab you bada'fc told me to-day cob to go, but somefing said to me tbab you had told m — m — me be — before, and I knew you had, too. But I went; and when I'd frown in the stick Larry w — was a long time getting it, so I weufc closer to see him better, and I slipped ; then I felb cold and swishy in my ears, and then it got all black. Bat you'll forgive rue, won't yon, daddy, 'cause I'm very sorry I went when you told me not to 1 " " Of course I forgive ycu," her father said, " but I hope you will remember this le o srn, Nellie ; and here's Tom — he pulled you out. Aren't you going to tbank him ? " "Is it Tom?" said the mice, raising her head — " that nice Tom that brought Larry." ' Yea, it's the same Tona." Nellie's delight knew no bounds, and she insisted on kissing Tom, whereat Mr Somers was intensely amuss-d. Altogether they were a very happy party, and you may be sure Larry wsss not forgotten, but received his fall shpre of praise aud pettiag for the way ia wbich he had brought his master to the scene of the accident. When. Tom's clothes were dry he set out for his own home, but Mr Sonsera stopped him just as he was goicg. " Look here, Tooo," be said, " yoa've saved my little daughter's life, and I want to give you some reward. Now I shall be ready on Monday mormng to listen to any request you | ha7e to make, sncl I will do my best to { gratify -it so long ss ib is reasonable. No, | don't waste any time in thanking me, bat go ■ home and think what thing yoa would like beat to have. You have the rest of to-day and the whole of to-mor/ow to decide, and c&me and tell tae your wish oa Monday morning. Good-bya for the present." " Good-bye, sir," said Tom ; then slowly and thoughtfully he walked home. " What would I like best?" he Baid to himself. " Well, there are so many this: g* I'd like. Let me- see. I'd like a good story-book for one thing, or a watcb, or a nev? suit," he added, with a glarca at hia suit, which, though neat and well mended, was very threadbare. He repeated all the things he had often wished for, but he could not come to a decision,, and when, he reached his home he was still undecided. •' Wfay, Tom, where have you been ? " cried May, skipping down the path to meet him. " I'v© been in the water fishing out a little girl jaafc like you," answered her brother, catching her up in his arms and walking into the kitchen. " What were you saying, dear ? " said his mother with rather a startled look. " It's perfectly true,' replied the boy. "Let's sit down and I'll tell you all about

Then he acquainted them with the details of the accident;, and underwent a round of pettiDg, praisitg, kissing, hugging, and excited admiratioß, till he made a laughiog remoia&lranca. " Don't saaother me, chicks," he said to the two little girls, who were hanging round his

neck ; " come and have some tea."

S& Daisy and May went to their eea<s and contented themselves with awed whimpers to t each other as they gazed upon their wocderi ful brother. Tcm went to bed that night feeling v*ry happy. It seemed es though things were getting brighter for him, and he wondered anew what he should <?sk Mr Somers for. The whole of the nest day he thought and wondered, acd by the evening he had decided upon a watch. Ths only thiisg that stood in the way was the fear thqt. ifc would be too expensive a fchinc? to ask for. However, he determined to make this sc quest. Accordingly he presented himself tha nexo morning at Mr S&m«ra's office. '• Well, Tom," said Mr Sorners, " have yon decided ? " " Yes, &ir," regllsd the boy. " I should like, it ib wasn't coo much to ask of yeu — I should like a WArch." Mr Somers looked at him for a moment, then smiled. Tom misinterpreted the look, and was beginning to make a harfiy apology, but Mr Sorners interrupted him. '• No, no, Tom," he s»id, " I wasn't, thinking about the watch. You shall have that by all meape. The fact is, I have a proposal to make to you." Tom was all eyes and ears in a minute, and Mr Somers continued : " 1 have been having great trouble with housekeepers. Nearly all those I eagsge s»re thoroughly incompetent. New, I want you to ask /our mother if she will corns and oe my housekeeper, bringing you and your sisters with her, of cour?e. I saw her, you know, when I engaged you, and I thir.k "&he will be the very perron to take care of my hcuse. Your sisters would be nice companions for my little daughter, and you, I think, woold like it too." " Oh, sir," was all Torn coulrl say, but. his ! expression told hew delighted ho was. ' " Well, go to your work now," Sciid Mr

Somers, smiling sgain, " but ask your mother to-night."

" Ye?, sir," said Tom, and he went to his work.

When Tom returnad home in tbe evening be told the plan to his mother. After some thought she accepted the offer, and the two Httle girls were then told. Though sorry to leave the pretty little village where they had been born and bred, the children were pleased at the idea of town life and a new home and companion, while their mother was thankful for tbe cbauce of seenring a comfortable home for herself and her children. In less than a fortnight the Gibson family were accordingly settled in their new horns. Nellie oon graw very fond of Daisy and May, and they of her, while Tom was quite happy with Larry as his pet and companion. So let u3 leave them now, a happy and contented party, with all prospects of a bright future.