Horatio Alger

“ Paul was roused from a train of despondent reflections by seeing the horses coming up the street. He instantly comprehended the whole danger of the lady's situation.
Most boys would have thought of nothing but getting out of the way, and leaving the carriage and its inmate to their fate. What, indeed, could a boy do against a pair of powerful horses, almost beside themselves with fright? ”

“ Are you the brave boy who stopped the horses?"
Paul modestly answered in the affirmative.
"And how did you do it? I was so terrified that I was hardly conscious of what was passing, till the horses stopped.
Paul modestly related his agency in the matter.
The lady gazed at his flushed face admiringly.
"How could you have so much courage?" she asked. "You might have been trampled to death under the hoofs of the horses."
"I didn't think of that. I only thought of stopping the horses."
"You are a brave boy. I shudder when I think of your danger and mine. ”

“ I shall not dare to get into the carriage again this afternoon."
"Allow me to accompany you home?" said Paul, politely.
"Thank you; I will trouble you to go with me as far as Broadway, and then I can get into an omnibus."
She turned and addressed some words to the coachman, directing him to drive home as soon as the horses were quieted, adding that she would trust herself to the escort of the young hero, who had rescued her from the late peril.
"You're a lucky boy," thought John, the coachman. "My mistress is one that never does anything by halves. ”