FATHER’S SACRIFICE.

Waipawa Mail, Volume L, Issue 43, 28 December 1928, Page 3

FATHER’S SACRIFICE.

GRATIFYING SON’S WISH. A FATAL FALL. SYDNEY, December (i. Our is accustomed to hearing pathetic stories told before Coroners, those officials who are brought into such close touch with the many tragedies of the world. At AVoolongong, a South Coast town, the other day, the local Coroner was toll! of the sacrifice of a father intent on gratifying' the very simple wish of his eight-year-old sou.

One afternoon not long ago little Jimmy Lyon was sent to bring in the family cow. Of course, boy like, he dawdled on the way, especially at a, disused quarry, which had always been a favorite playground of his. On a rock some distance up the face of the quarry he espied a pigeon that had apparently been wounded, for it was unable to fly away and seemed to be in great pain. This was too much for the boy, so he climbed the quarry faee in an effort to reach the bird. Half-way up be slipped and rolled to the bottom. When he picked himself up he was bruised and battered, and his clothes were torn and ripped. He went home without the cow, saddened not so much at his own misfortune, but at the misfortune of the helpless pigeon. He told his father that the pigeon would starve or die of thirst, and ho pleaded with his parents to allow him t*make another attempt at ~ " ,r t<A e ' They would not hear of P-f> bllt , little chap contin^ 0 ahow S' reilt C °During - tirief delirium the boy laved <*® out t ' le woun d e( l Pigeon, to the concern of his parents, and when he recovered from his dazed condition, thclboy’s face bright-

mod wlkmi liis father said: “T will jet that, pigeon for you, son.” So the father set off on his errand of mercy, and when he kissed his little 'On ‘ ‘Good-bye,” it was his last farewell. The father was not again seen nlive. The night crept on, and hr failed to return. His wife became so anxious that she informed the neighbors. A search party was at once organised, and within an hour the (lead body of the father was found at the foot of the quarry. From the marks that were found on the ■' nc '’ of the cliff it was clear ™ reached within a 1V- nf , Ih !‘ pigeon when a ™' k ,m w l hl !' l ' ! ..mg heciinie loose, and hr J-i" ‘precipitated to the bottom, u-ri'ere he was found, terribly injured.