Home › Coals of Fire › Coals of Fire: Osgood

Coals of Fire: Osgood

But he came home that night depresseć and a little gloomy. There had always They made dinner last as long as they been a sort of rivalry between him and could, and then they scattered here and Dick Osgood, and now the boys seemed there, some swinging in hammocks, some to have gone over to the stronger side, lounging on the grass, and a group standand he had that feeling of humiliation ing on the bridge a few hundred yards and disgrace which is as bitter to a boy above the falls and playing at fishing. as the sense of defeat ever is to a man. Among these latter were Dick Osgood The weeks went on, and the feeling and his sister. Guy Morgan was at a litwore away a little. Still that blow, una- tle distance with one of the teachers, pullvenged and unatoned, rankled in Guy's ing to pieces a curious flower, and talkmind, and made him unsocial and ill at ing botany. Suddenly a wild cry rose ease. His mother watched him with above the sultry stillness of the summer some anxiety, but she did not interfere. afternoon and the hum of quiet voices She had the true wisdom to leave him round-Dick Osgood's cry, "She's in, to learn some of the lessons of life alone. boys! Hetty's in the river, and I can't At length came the last day of school, swim! Oh, save her! save her! Will no succeeded next day by a picnic, in which one try?" all the scholars were to join, superin- Before the words were out of his lips, tended by their teachers. Guy Morgan they all saw Guy Morgan coming on with hesitated a little, then he settled to go. flying feet-a race for life. He unbut- The place selected was a lovely spot, toned coat and vest as he ran, and cast known in all the neighborhood as "The them off as he neared the bridge. He Old Mill." It was on the banks of the kicked off his summer shoes, and threw Quassit River, where the stream ran fast, himself over. They heard him strike the and the grass on its brink was green, and water. He went under, rose again, and great trees with drooping boughs shut then struck out toward the golden head away the garish July sunlight. which rose just then for the second time.

Every one who stood there lived moments which seemed like hours.

Among the rest were Dick Osgood and his little sister Hetty-the one human being whom he seemed really to love.

The boys and Mr. Sharp, the teacher The teacher's eyes were on him for this with whom Guy had been talking, got a one day, and he neither ventured to insult strong rope, and, running down the stream, the older scholars or bully the little ones. threw it out on the water just above the He and Guy kept apart as much as they falls, where Guy could reach it if he could conveniently could, and Guy entered into get so near the shore-if! The water was the spirit of the day, and really enjoyed very deep where Hetty had fallen in, and it more than he had enjoyed anything the river ran fast. It was sweeping the for the past two months. poor child on, and Dick Osgood threw Dinner was spread on the grass, and himself upon the bridge and sobbed and nothing taken at home on civilized black screamed like one gone mad. When she walnut, and from regulation dishes, was rose the third time she was near the falls. ever tasted with half the zest which went A moment more and she would go over, to the enjoyment of these viands, eaten down on the jagged, cruel rocks beneath. with pewter spoons out of crockery of But that third time Guy Morgan caught every hue and kind. her-caught her by her long, glistening, (296)