Part 24 (1/1)
Not long after, six boys were sent to prison; and, though every effort was made to obtain their release, it was for a tiiven up, and three were ordered to be executed
These latter were first tortured, then their arms were cut off; afterwards they were placed on a scaffold, under which a fire was h their agony, they were laughed at by the people, who asked the to help them
But the boys were undaunted; and, in spite of all their pain and suffering, sang hyues could utter noto Jesus, Sing my soul His praises due, All He does deserves our praises, And our deep devotion too
Little wonder that Mr Mackay should write: ”Our hearts are breaking” Yet what a triumph! One of the executioners, struck by the extraordinary fortitude of the lads, and their evident faith in another life, caht to pray
This a threatened to burn alive any who frequented the mission premises, or adopted the Christian faith, they continued to come; and the lads at the Court kept their teachers constantly infor's priation, he found the place so honey-combed by Christianity that he had to cease his inquisition, for fear of ienerally
A BOY HERO
THE STORY OF JOHN CLINTON
Lives of great men all re leave behind us Footprints on the sands of tifellow! Yet how difficult is it for most men and women to make their lives sublime, and how much more difficult for a child of ten years! Still it is possible
John Clinton was born on the 17th January, 1884, at Greek Street, Soho His father is a respectable carman, who, a year after little Johnnie's birth, moved to 4 Church Terrace, Waterloo Road, Lambeth
When three years old he was sent to the parish schools of St John's, Waterloo Road (Miss Towers being the mistress) While a scholar there hewith other children in the Waterloo Road, a heavy iron gate fell on him and fractured his skull terribly He was taken to the St Thomas's Hospital, where he remained for thirteen weeks At first the doctors said he would not get over it, then that if he got over it he would be an idiot; but finally their surgical skill and careful nursing were rewarded, and he ca one side of his head In due time he moved into the Boys'
School at St John's, Waterloo Road (Mr Davey, head in thealong over the save the child a violent push, at the risk of being run over hiot the little one to the side of the road in safety A big brother of the child, not understanding what had happened, gave John Clinton a blow on the nose for interfering with the child, whose life John Clinton had saved The bloas the cause of this act of bravery becoised for his hasty conduct How many accidents to children are caused by the larounds! 460 persons are yearly killed in the streets of London and over 2000 injured there,in the only place they have to play in
On Sunday, 26th February, 1893, Johnnie was at ho his temporary absence from the room the baby set itself on fire When he ca for help, he rolled the baby on the floor, and succeeded in putting the flames out The curtain nearest the cot had also taken fire Johnnie then, though badly burnt, pulled the curtains, valance, and all down on to the floor, and beat out the flames with his hands and feet The brave little fellow seriously hurt his catching fire, crowded as they are with other families
The family then moved to Walworth, 51 Brandon Street, and the boy attended the schools of St John's, Walworth (Mr Ward, headmaster)
On the 18th July, 1894, he came home from school, had his tea, and about 5:30 pm went out with a companion, Cae Here the two boys took off their shoes and stockings, and co in the streaot out of his depth, and the tide running strongly he disappeared in the muddy water Directly the boy ca at hih Morti hi the boy on shore, John Clinton slipped back, and, being exhausted with his exertions, the tide caught him and he disappeared beneath the surface, and was carried down streaed for hihtermen did all they could for some considerable time, but without success After fifteen ested that the boy must be under the pier He rowed his boat to the other end of the stage, and there saw the boy's hand upright in the water He soon got the body out, but life was extinct, and the doctor could only pronounce hiht to be proud, giving his life for his friend He was buried in a corave, at Manor Park Cemetery, after a funeral service in St John's Church, Walworth
[_For the above account I am indebted to the Rev Arthur W Jephson, MA, Vicar of St John's, Walworth_]
POSTSCRIPT
For those who desire to learn more of the characters mentioned in this work let me mention a few volumes In _Heroes of Every-day Life_ Miss Laura Lane has told briefly the story of Alice Ayres and other huotten Further particulars of the careers of Sir Colin Campbell, John Cassell, General Gordon, Sir Henry Havelock, Joseph Livesey, David Livingstone, Robert Moffat, George Moore, Florence Nightingale, Lord Shaftesbury, Agnes Weston, and other men and women whose example has benefited the country, will be found in an attractive series of books issued under the title of _The World's Workers_ Mr Archibald Forbes' _Life of Sir Henry Havelock_ is one of theworks of its kind; the Rev HCG Moule's _Life of the Rev Charles Sihtfully written and full of interest, and the Rev JH Overton's _Life of Wesley_ gives an adreat revival preacher Further particulars of the great and good Father Dainien can be gathered from Mr Edward Clifford's work; of Elizabeth Gilbert, froe Muller, froraphy he has written, which is worthy of the deepest attention John Howard's life has been well told by Mr Hepworth Dixon, Lord Shaftesbury's by Mr Edwin Hodder, and Mr Glaisher's career is set forth at large in _Travels in the Air_ Perhaps the largest and best collection of narratives of noble lives is contained in Mr Edwin Hodder's _Heroes of Britain in Peace and War_, now issued in two cheap voluathered In _The Mehtful picture of that devoted life; whilst in _The Life and Work of Jaiven of the martyr bishop of Central Africa _Ismailia_ affords a vivid picture of Sir Sareater pleasure to the reader than General Butler's _Life of General Gordon_
A Life of Mr WH Smith, by Sir H Maxwell, has been recently published in popular form _The Lives of Robert and Mary Moffat_, by JS Moffat, will afford e's _Life of Bishop Patteson_
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