The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1831-11-08

though he struggled with the impression and
seemed to forget il in the athletic sports Of
which he was extrsvsgantly fond,& in which
he and were constant companions.
left school and lost sight Of Carl, until
year or two afterwards, when | visited iIol
land and we met again. ! found him the idol
Of the circle in which he moved. The win
ter before we met, he had distinguished hlm
self in q manner which attracted public at,en
ton, and won for him many hearts. lie and
a companion had been proceeded one fine
frosty day, with their skates, to a small lake
nt some distance from his residence, to enjoy
the exercise of which the Dutch are so fond.
They were still halfa mile from the spot, when
loud cry of distress struck their ear. Carl
instantly threw his cloak from him and dart.
ed forward towards the lake. lie soon out
stripped his companion-fo he was ihc fleet.
est runner | ever knew-and found a crowd
assembled on the bank, some ringing their
hands, and others wildly running 10 and fro
without an apparent object. He hastily de.
manded the cause, and they pointed to large
opening in the ice, in which at that moment
The body ofa young woman rose TO the sur
face. "'Tis the third time she has risen,"
said onc of the spectators "and it will be the
last. Heaven help her"
Carl was the child Of impulse, and his
blood boiled, and his passions were reused,
at the sight. "Cowards, dastards !" he cried,
"will yc stand here, and leave her to per.
ish ?"-and he tore off his outer garme ents, Ind
was rushing on the ice.
"Stop, stop" cried the first speaker, as he
held him back by main force; 'the ice can.
not bear you. You will lose your own life,
and cannot save hers"
| Carl shook himself loose from the mans
grasp in an instant. "Curse on their chick.
en- heartedness !" he cried, as he shot down
the bank, and along the yielding surface, TO
the open spot. While he was yet at twelve
or fifteen feet distance, the ice gave way be.
meath him. But for this he was prepared.
Extending his arms as he fell, he prevented
his sinking; and by dint of main strength, he
At last broke his way to the opening. BY
this time, The young woman had again disap-
pearcd below the water, and Carl was oblig
I'D to pause for breath, ere he attempted to
dive. lie was by no means an expert sw i'm
mer, and nothing but his generous spirit
could have induced him to volunteer such O
rescue a. this. At last, he dived in about
fifteen feet water, caught the girls dress and
raised her to the surface. lie held her there
for some seconds. but his strength was go
grasp and sank a second time. The specta :.
tors called TO him to save himself lie repli.
ed, by bidding them push a ladder which
they had a, last obtained, towards him; and
Immediately dvcd q second time. and a sec
ond time brought up the apparently inani.
animate body 10 the edge of the ice. Here
he held himself for some moments, and at
last making desperate effort raised the body
| M hn nj an at hn
shore by the assistants.
By this time, he discovered that the first
object Of his care was not the only sufferer
A lad, her younger brother, had fallen in a.
long with her and, unable to swim, he too,
had sunk and risen several times. Carl
watched him as he rose to the surface, caught
and held him there till the ladder could be a.
gain extended; and he, like his sister, was
brought safely on shore.
But nature was now exhausted (; and Carl,
after saving the lives Of two of his fellow
creatures, seemed in imminent danger Of for
feiting his own. Several efforts TO raise him.
self on the ice were Intellectual, and it was
apparent that he could not hold out much
longer. In this extremity, those on shore
contrived to break an opening to him, through
the ice, and he reached the land at last be-
numbed and almost insensible.
The fame of this exploit spread throughout
the country the municipal government pre-.
sented TO Carl medal bearing a fattering
inscription and accompanied with a public
vote of thanks; and all We'd with each other
in tesiifying their admiral ton his noble dis.
interesicdness. The young woman whose
life he had saved, was the daughter Of sub.
stuntial farmer; one Of those small anood
proprietors who form, in Holland, the most
numerous class in society, and who, every
where, perhaps, form the most useful and
most happy class; being equally removed from
depcn lance and from extravaganza, from lux
ury and from want. He g. all his neighbors
welcomed the prcserver of his children as
their own son; and Carl had difficulty in es
Gaping from the opportunities of their honest
hospitality, without a total sacrifice of his
own time and pursuits.
One would have thought that an incident so
honorable as this, was well calculated to dis.
pei, in the mind Of the youth any thing like
gloomy forhodings. And truly ! marvelled
to find him, as did, dcsponding and occupi
ed only by dark aDiicipations OF the future.
VISITED, with him, the scene Of his exploit,
and accompanied him TO the house Of her
whose life he had saved. He received more
than q sons welcome from the father, and
more than brothers. from the pretty, inter.
es,ing daughter. Had been ever so given
to melancholy, il seemed to me, I mus, have
forgotten it in the honest joy and overflow.
ing gratitude Of these good people. And so.
for the moment, it appeared to be with Carl.
Ills expressive counienance lighted I'D, and
he looked pleased and almost happy but the
impression was evancscent, and he soon rc.
lapsed into his former sombre thoughtful.
ness.
lie communicated TO me more of his pri.
va,e history than ] had before known. AL.
most every member Of his family had ha
their share of misfortune. His father had
been absent for several years on an expedi