Madison Whig advocate. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1839-1841, 1840-03-07

that her own death was certain if she
admitted the assailanf, and she knew her
master would be robbed. She had no
reason to hope that even the life Of the
infant would be spared by her compii-
ance. 1t was to risk all against nothing.
Like a discreet girl, she consequently
held fast in her resolve to abide as she
was while life remained, or until assist
ance should reach her.
'.An' ye open not the door," shouted the
villain from without, accompanying his
words with the yiiest a buse, AID the fer
cest imprecations, '.I'll hack this wheIp 's
limbs to pieces with my knife, and then
burn the mill over thy head. Twill be
merry blaze, trow"
Il put my trust in Cod replied the
dauntless girl; ''never shall ye set your
foot within these walls, whilst have life
to prevent ye."
The ruffian laid the infant for a mo-
ment on the sward as he sought for COM
bustible wherewjtb to execute his latter
threat. In This search, he espied, per-
haps the only clandestine entrance 10 the
building. II was large aperture in the
wall communicating with the great wheel
and the other machinery Of the mill, and
was a point entirely unprotected, for the
reason that the simple occupants had new
er supposed it feasible for any one 10 seek
admission through 50 dangerous an inlet.
EIated with his discovery, the rufian re-
turned 10 The infant, and tying the hands
Of the child threw it on the ground even
as butcher will fling a lamb destined
for the slaughter TO await his time for
clio 81,
erture by which he hoped 10 effect an en-
trance. all this unseen by the daunt-
less girl within.
In the meanwhile her mind was busted
with a thousand cogitations. She clear
" perceived that no means would be left
untried to affect an entrance, and she
knew that on the exclusion Of her foe de-
pended her own existence. A thought
struck her.
''ll is Sunday" said she TO herself s.the
mill never works on the Sabbath; sup
pose set the mill agoing now? It can
be seen afar of; and haply my master
and some Of his neighbors, wondering a
the sight, may haste hither to know the
cause. 4 lucky thought she exclaim-
ed, otis God sent it TO me -
No sooner said than done. Being all
her life accustomed to mill gear, it was
but the work Of a moment for her to set
the machinery in motion. A brisk breeze
y hich sprung up. as il were by the spe-
cial interpretation Of Providence, at once
set the sails flying. The arms of the
huge engine whlrled around with fearful
rapdity; the great wheel slowly revolv-
ed on lis axle; the smaller gear turned.
and creaked and groaned accordingly as
they came into action; the mill was IN
full action.
Ii was in that very instant that the ruff
fan Deither had succeeded in squeezing
himself through the aperture in the wall
and getting safely lodged in the interior
OF the great drum wheel His dismay,
however. was indescribable when he be
gan to be whirled about with it's rotation,
and found that all his efforts to put a stop
10 the powerful machinery which set II |
10 motion or TO extricate himself from his
perilous situation, were fruitless. HIS
cries were most appalling; his shrieks
were truly fearful his curses and i'm
precautions were horrible to hear. Ham
chin FASTENED to the spot and saw him
caught, like a reptile as he was, in his
own trap. 1t need not be added that she
did not liberate him. She knew that he
would be more frightened than hurt, i'll
he kept within his rotary prison; and she
knew also, that unless he attempted TO
escape there was no danger of his falling |
out of it, even though he was insensible |
aud inanimate all the while.
In the meantime the wheel went round /
and round with its steady, unceasing mo- |
ton, and round aud round went the ruff
an along with it, steadily and unceasing- |
y TOO. In vain did he promise the stout |
hearted girl to work her 10 harm; ia vain |
did he impore her to take pity on his
helpless condition; in vain did he pray 10 /
all the powers OF heaven and hell to his |
aid. unheard and UNDECIDED of them like
wise, muttering curses, he was whlrled |
round in the untiring wheel, until, at
asst, feeling and perception failed him, he |
saw and heard no more. He fell sense /
less, on the bottom Of the engine, but e
ven then his innnimate body continued TO /
be whrIed round and round as before; the /
brave girl not daring to trust TO appear-l
ances in connexion with such a villain
and being therefore afraid TO suspend the
working Of the machinery, or stop the
mill gear and tackle from running at
heir fullest speed.
A loud knocking at the door was short I
" after heard and she FASTENED thither. /
L was her master and his family, accom-
panied by several of the neighbors. The /
appearance Of the mill sails I
"a foil on Sunday. had, as she anticipa-l
81, attracted their attention. and they had /
FASTENED home from church for the par
pose of asceriaining the cause of the
The father bore bis little
BOY in his arms; he had cut the cord
the child was tied, but be was
unable 10 obtain an account of the extra /
ordinary circumstances that had occur |
red. from the alfrighted innocent.
Hannchen ia a few words told all, and
hen the spirit which had sustained her
,o|ong, and 50 well while the emergency
asted, forsook her at once as II passed a
xav.& She fell senseless into the arms
sc the miller's eldest son, and was With |