Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1834-11-20

- p'Su nm, III passing lloiH Oiie Heio W
another. He jumped but surely no
jump was ever taken so completely IN, or
at least INTO the dark, as this. The con-
cussion given to his person in descend
ing, caused the helmet to become hood;
the pot slipped down over his face, and
resting with the rim upon his n eek stuck
fast there +; enclosing his head as COM
pletely as could well be imagined.-
What was worst Of all, the nose, which
had permitted the pot to slip down over
it, withstood every desperate attempt, on
the part of its proprietor, 10 make it slip
back again the coptracted part, or
neck, of the patera, being of such a pc
culiar formation as to cling fast to the
base Of the nose, although it had found
no difficulty in gliding along its hypo-
thenuse. Was there ever :ontretempt so
unlucky Did ever any man-did ever
any minister, so effectually hoodwink
himself, or SO thoroughly shut his eyes,
to the plain light of nature What was
to be done ? The place was lonely the
way difficult and dangerous /: human re.
lief was remote, almost beyond reach
1t was impossible even to cry help; or, if
cry could be uttered, it might reach, in
deaiening reverberation, the ear Of the
utterer, but it would not travel twelve
inches farther in any direction. To add
to the distresses of the case, the unhap-
py sufferer soon found great difficulty in
breathing What with the heat occa-
stoned by the beating of the sun on the
metal, and what with the frequent return
of the same heated air to his lungs, he
was in the utmost danger of suffocation.
Every thing considered, it seemed likely
that, if he did not chance to be relieved
by some accidental way-farer, there
would soon be death in the pot!
The instructive love of life, however,
is omni-prevalent and even very stupid
people have been found, when put to the
push by strong and imminent peril, 10
exhibit degree Of presence Of mind,
and exert degree ofenergy, far above
what might have been expected from
them, or what they ever were known to
exhibit, or exert, under ordinary circum-
stances. So it was with the pot enscon-
ced minister. Pressed by the urgency
OF his distresses, he fortunately recollect-
ed that there was Smiths shop at the
distance Of about mile across the fields,
where, if he could reach it before the
period of suliocaton, he might possibly
find men of feeling, and went on as eau
tiously as he could, with his hat in his
hand. Half crawling, half sliding, over
ridge and furrow, ditch and hedge some
what like Satan foundering over chaos,
the unhappy minister travelled with all
possible speed, as nearly as he could
guess, in the direction Of the place of
refuge. ! leave it TO the reader to con-
ceive the surprise, the mirtb, the infinite
amusement Of the Smith, and all the
hangers-on of the smiddy, when, at
length, torn and worn, faint and exhaust.
ed, blind and breathless, the unfortunate
man arrived at the place, and let them
know (rather by signs than by words, J
the circumstances Of his case. In the
words Of an old Scottish song
"out cam the gudeman, and high he shouted;
Out cam the gudewife, and low she louted;
And "a the town neighbos were gathered about it
And there was he, trow."
The merriment Of the company, how
ever, soon gave way 10 considerations ol
humanity. Ludicrous as was the minis.