Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1842-04-05
despair had broken them all.

The terrified husband threw water up
on her pale face, and sirOve by all th'
arts he knew to win her back TO life. A
last she opened her laDguid eyes, stared
wildly around and rose trembling 10 he
feet. As she thus stood, like hear
broken Niobe, all teSrs,' fragment o
rock came tumbliDg down the opposite
bank. She looked up. A wild scream
Of Joy hurst from her lips. She was her
self once more, for half way up the as
cent stood her own dear hoy.
But evee while the glad cry was issuing
from the lips, it turned into note of hOr'
rOr-'Oh, mercy-mercyH
The crag on which the boy stood pro-
jected from the solid rock in such way
rs to hang about twelve feet Over the bank
Right below one Of the edges of this cFag
patty concealed among some bushes,
cOuched a panther.
The bold youth was aware Of the prOx
unity Of his parents, and the presence Of
his dangerous enemy, at abSut tbs same
time. He had rolled down the stone in
exultatiOn, 10 convince his parents Of the
high station he had attained. and he
stood with another in his hand. drawing
il back and looked at them, as if to ask
whether he should throw il at the terri.
Bile animal before him. Till then, 'he
mother seemed immOvable in her sus
pense; bat conscious Of the danger Of her
son, it he irritated The best, she lushed
some distance up the rock, and mOtioned
with her hands and head that he should
not throw. Yet, with the feeling mind Of
childhood, and temper little used to
control, he fearlessy threw the fragment
with all his might at the ferOcious saw
age. II struck on one OF his feet
He gave a sudden growl, lashed his
tail with fury, and seemed about TO
spring.
Get your ride, Josish!' The poor man
stirred not. His glazed eyes WereS6xed
with look of death upOn the paniher,and
ne appeared paraI'zsd with fear. His
wife leaped from her stand, and placing
her hands on her husbands shoulders,
locked into his face and cried: Are you
man. Josiah Eaton? Do you love your
Child? He started as if from sleep
and ran with furious haste from the ra-
vine. N
Again the mother looked towards her
son. He had lalIen upon his knees, and
was whispering the liule prayers she had
taught him, not in coward fear, but an IN
definite thought came across his mind that
hS must die. The panther was upon his
feet. He stopped TO spring. The dis
traCted mother could keep still no longer.
She rushed up the steep ascent with the
energy Of despair, reckless Of the danger,
thinking only Ofhsr son. The rocks crum.
lied and slipped beneath her feet, yetshe
fell net. Ths sharp rocks cut her flesh,
but she needed it not. On, on she strug-
gled in her Sgony.
The ferocious creature paused for a
moment, when he heard the wretcksd
mothers approach. True to his nature,
he sprang At The hoy. He barely touch
ed the crag, and fell backward a. Hannah
ascended the opposite side.
tAh!' said she, laughing dSliriously, 'the
panther must ny i again before he parts
US, nv boy, but We won't part and sink
ing on her knees before him, she fOndly
folded him TO her breast bathing his oung
forehead with her tears.
UnaIlsrable in his ferOcity, and the
manner Of gratifying it, the pantheg again
spFsng from his former station. This
time no was more successful. His fore
foot struck the edge of The crsg He will
kill us, mother, he will kill Usn aud the.
boy nestled closer TO his mothers bosom.
The animal struggled 10 bring his body
on tke crag--his savage features but q
step from ihO mothers face. 'GD away!
% away!' shuekiRg, hoarse with horror.
r sou shGn't have my child!-ClOser
closer he cGme-his red eyes fsahiaz,
fury, ane the thick paintings Of his breath
coming in her face. AT this awful mo-
nSnt she hears the faint report Of firearms
frUm the alIPh below-thS psnther's foot
hold fails, his sharp. claws IoOsens from
the rock, and the baftitd beast rolled howl
ing deWn the precipice, atths feet o: Jo-
siah Eaton,
The SUI last rays glsnOed brightly on
a little grOup al the mouth of the g"ISs.
They were On their knees-the molhct's
hleeding hands over the head Of her son
and the voice Of prayer going to their
Guardian aR all His mercy 10 thwarting
the Panther's Leap }J43
/ RyuMpr1oN.-So "a, az We have been