Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1844-08-16
MISCELLANEOUS.
From the Christian Citizen.
The Natural Bridge,
OR ONE NICHE THE HIGHEST.

The scene opens with view of the great Natu
ral Bridge in Virginia. There are three OF four
lads standing in the channel below, looking up
with awe to that vast arch OF unhcWn rocks, which
the Almighty bridged over those everlasting but
ments "when the morning stars sang together."-
The little piece of sky spanning those measurless
piers, is full of stars, although it is midday. 1t is
almost five hundred feet from where they stand,
up those perpendicular bulwarks of limestone, to
the key rock of that vast arch, which appears to
them only of the size of mans hand. The 81
lence Of death is rendered more imperceptive ny
the little stream that falls from rock to rock down
the channel The sun is darkened, and the boys
have unconsciousy uncovered their heads, if
standing in the presence chamber of the majesty
of the whole EARTH At last, this feeling begins to
wear away; they begin to look around them; they
find that others have been there before them. They
see the names of hundreds cut in the limestone but
ments. A new feeling comes over their young
hearts, and their knives are in their hands in an
instant. what man has done man can do is
their watchword, while they draw themselves up
and carve their names foot above those OF hun
dred full grown men who have been there before
them
They are all satisfied with this feat of physical
exertion, except one, whose example illustrates
perfectly the forgotten TRUTH that there as no roya
road to intellectual eminence. This ambitious
youth sees a name just above his reach, name
that will be green in the memory of the world
when those of Alexander, Caesar, and BOnaparte
shall rot in oblivion. 1t was the name of Wash
ington. Before he marched with BraddoCk to tha
fatal field, he had been there, and left his name
foot above all his predecessors 1t was Orious
thought of the boy, to write his name side by side
with that of the great father of his country. He
grasps his knife with firmer hand; and, cIingins
to little juttlng crag, he cut gain into the lime
.stone about foot above where he stands; he thel
reaches up and cuts another for his hands 'Ii'
a dangerous adventure; but as he puts his feet ant
hands into those gains, and draws himself a foo
above every name chronlced in that mighty wall
While his companions are regarding him wit
concern and admiration, he cuts his name in rud
capitals, large and deep, into that hnty album
His knife is still in his hand and strength in hi
snews, and new created aspiration in his hear
Again he cuts another niche, and again he carve
his name in larger capitals. This is not enough
Needless of the entreaties of his companions, h
cuts and climbs again. The graduations of his as
cending scale grow wider apart. He measure
his length at every gain he cuts. The voices
his friends wax weaker and weaker, till the
words are finally lost on his ear. He now for tt
first time casts a look beneath him. Had TIL
glance lasted moment that moment would hay
been his last. He cllngs with convusive shu
der to his little niche in the rock An awful ably
awaits his almost certain fall. He is faint with
we're exertiou, and trembling from the sudden vie
of the dreadful destruction to which he is expose
His knife is worn halfway to the haft. He CT
hear the voices, but not the words, of his terro
stricken companions below. What moment!
What meagre chance to escape destruction!
There is no retracing his steps, 1t is mpOsslh
to put his hands into the same inches with his fe
and retain his slender hold for a moment H
companions instantly perceive this new and fea
full dilemma, and await his fall with emotions til