THE GOOD SAMARITAN.

Dunstan Times, Issue 789, 1 June 1877, Page 4

THE GOOD SAMARITAN.

A. noov unfortunate Dunedin cabman, during the kite inclement weather, essayed to cross Trotter’s Creek on his return home, after having carried a passenger as far as Uloeraki from Dunedin. The stream, which had become terribly swollen, as is invariably the case after p, heavy rainfall, was too swift and deep for the hmses, 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 come in his way. The cab was upset and considerably damaged ; but the horses, having turned their heads towards the hank, 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 hefel this unfortunate cabby. There are two men atMoeraki who could very creditably represent the characters in the parable of the good Samaritan. We will tell our story, and leave our readers to draw their own conclusions. Poor cabby had just been rescued from his, to say the least of it, uncomfortable position in the creek, where he was for dear life clinging to a flaxbush, when he made the best of hi-; way to the man, who, of all others, ho thought would assist hr such an emergency. He asked him whether he would help him to save his horses and Dap. Of course he would, and, as the shivering, half-drowned individual standing before him added to his petition, to give it additional force, the fact that he was poor, his bowels of compassion were moved, and lie said that ho expected no payment for his trouble. How good ! Here was the milk of human kindness dispensed within the four walls of an up-country accommodation house. Cabby bad certainly paid for bis board and lodging, and for the feed usually supposed to lie given to horses in such places, and his having been a rather profitable customer may account for the refreshing liberality we have just chronicled. They adjourned to the scene of operations. Now. the second person previously referred to had arrived, and had brought with him a powerful horse to enab'c him to render assistance in case it should he needed. He set to work, and with the assistance of cabby, succeeded in rescuing what were almost all cabby’s worldly possessions, It must not bo supposed that the first assistant mentioned was a disinterested beholder of the operation. He was good enough to countenance and give his advice, which was to the effect that the other man’s horse was better than his, and he gazed in anxious suspense, and Dole a deep sigli of relief when the job was finished, and also another 15s from cabby for his trouble. The other man (a farmer) could searcely bo prevailed upon to take anything, and when cabby’s last half-sovereign was thrust into his had, ho insisted on returning sufficient to enable him to pay tolls on his road homo, in addition to giving him a hag of feed for Lis horses. Every allowance, of course, should he made for the other assistant, whoso

nerve was doubtless affected at the awkward plight of a man and brother; and as is generally acknowledged biain work should bo well p lid for, the sweat of intellect he suffered, and which was so severe as to suspend all his power of volition, with the exception of his tongue, when beholding the shattered trap drawn forth from the water, was poorly indeed compensated for by the receipt of 15s.