Massachusetts spy and Worcester advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1823-1825, 1825-01-26

CROWDED towards the unfortunate mans
who lay shattered upon the pavement
without assign Of life. In the mean time
the father continued to ascend, perform
ed his task, descended with sang froid,
and appeared with melancholy but COM
posed air before the spectators, who irn-
mediately surrounded him.-All endeav-
ored TO console him; but they soon
learned with horror that the fall of his
son was not accidental, for he himself
had precipitated him from the top of the
steeple. "Heavens !" exclaimed they,
is it possible! What fury what mad
-" Listen to me-" replied the
father without emotion:
10 our mode there are certain rules
and customs. The oldest and most ex-
perlenced ventures into danger the first
the younger follows. According, as one
ladder is secured by cords another IL
raised, which is at first fastened at the
bottom to the top part ofthe other. Then
the eldest ascends this ladder which is
only steadied at the bottom; and assist
ed by his companion, who supplies him
with cord, he proceeds to fasten it at
the top.-This is the work of greatest
danger. As was occupied at the high
est extremity of the ladder, suddenly
heard my son exclaim below me, Faith
er, father, there's a cloud before my
eyes; | know not where am" in-
stantly raised my right foot and gave
him kick, which struck him in the
forehead, and he fell without uttering
word"
Infamous wretch! monster! what
demon could have urged you to such
crime" "Softly gentleman am as-
suredly to be pitied; but am far from
believing myself guilty. In our trade it
is well known if the head turns giddy in
dangerous position, where there is no
means Of assisting ones self and of talk
ing time to recover, that man is ire
trievably lost. Now such was the case
of my son. From the moment that
his sight was gone, there was no hope
for him! 10 two or three seconds more.
he must necessarily have fallen; but
before that, and in his last agonies, he.
would have undoubtedly grasped at the
tottering ladder on which was placed;
he would have dragged it away, and we
should have both fallen. In an instant /
foresaw the inevitable result, and pre-
vented it by dealing him the blow which
precipitated him, and which---sayed
me, as you see. Now tell me, you who
call me monster, if had killed NY
self at the time, who would have sup
ported his unfortunate wife and children.
who henceforward have nothing to
look for but by my labour? To die for
him would perhaps have been the duty
of father; but TO die along with him
without any utility, is, | believe, what
neither religion or justice require.o
During some moments profound ST.
lence reigned throughout the assembled
crowd; but the clamor RECOMMENDED !;
the mason was arrested and delivered
over TO the tribunals. He there dis
played the same irmness he had shewn
before the people. The Judges, like
the multitude, could not resist first iaa-
pulse of horror; but upon rejecting ON
the situation in which he was placed,
and the motive he had assigned for bis
conduct, they acknowledged that his
reasoning, however horriGc, was just,
and exhibited a presence of mind to
which, though with shuddering, they
could not refuse their admiration.
From the Medical EnteHigeneer.1
We copy from the Trenton Emporium the fol.
lowing remarks, which, though not on a
medical subject, yet, from their title, can
not but suggest an idea which may be use.
fully examined by both physicians and pa