The Delaware register, or, Farmers', manufacturers' & mechanics' advocate. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1828-1829, 1829-01-24
1902


the hills, had swollen the mill-brook into deep and
rapid stream, and it now rushed by them with the
sound of many waters, bearing on its turbd bosom
marks of the devastation il had already wrought in its
course The young birches and alders that had sha-
ded its green banks the preceding summer, torn up by
the roots, were whirled along with the current and
amid the white foam Mary deserted the wet, black
planks which told the destruction of old mill Of
her fathers, higher up the stream. The bridge and
the new mill Just below it, yet standing, but the
waters rose furously against them, and both shook
and tottered Sounds came up every moment amid
the tumult which told that something unseen had Civ
en- way and Mary looked around in vain for help or
counsel. There not human being in sight
ahe did not try conceal from Henry their situation
and though the hand she held did not trembe with the
natural fear of young and helpless, she saw by
his countenance that he was awed. A short but fer
vent prayer in her mind There no time
TO be lost. She grew weaker every moment and
summoning up all her strength for effort, with
quick, firm step, looked neither to the right the
left, she fastened upon the bridge, leading her blind
brother They had already half crossed it, when
Henry, bewdered by the noise and the shaking under
his feet, shrunk back involuntarily. Mary flung
arm around him, and feebly stroye to drag him for
ward, when with tremendous crash the main supper
tiers of the bridge gave way under them, and in in
slant they were precpitated amid its wrecks into the
raging waters.
mere were ulOSe WHO DeHelu ullS SpeCtdCle, anu
wild cry of agony amid the din of destruction, butt
not from the lips ofthe struggling sufferers. Will
diam Halleck had forth to look for his children,
and to warn them of the freshet Just as he had
reached the top of the rising ground opposite the
they had descended he beheld them with horror at
tempting to the lettering bridge 1t was but
moment as he sprung forward at the sight, fearful
sound broke his ear, and in another moment they
snatched from his gaze.
There was short interval of confusion, shouts
and cries. Friends and neighbors came running
the hill to the scene of destruction, and there were
PALE dismayed faces, hasty suggestions and wild eff
forts to discover and the drowning victims but
all in vain. Suddenly the frantic father discovered his
Henry sitting apparently in security upon of the
wrecks of the bridge, which had become damned to-
gether and arrested in their progress the
mill. AT the same time the whole group caught
sight of Mary carried alive and struggling over the
ml-dam. With one impulse they rushed down the
banks and round the mill to her rescue. The father
followed his neighbors with hurried steps and trem-
bling knees, casting single glance to ascertain that
Henry indeed safe, and calling to him, as he pas
sed, not to stir till his return Henry seemed not to
hear. He sat motionless, and crouched down in the
extremity of his terror, uering quick low shrieks.--
They were lost in the tumut and he was left alone.
The father came down to the fiat rocks below the
MILL just the bruised, dripping, and liteess body of
his daughter was drawn out of the water. With sad
laid her pale corpse-for such it was--on board,
and carried it hastily up to the village with vain
hope of resusctation The father followed it few