The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1844-11-08
THE NATURAL BRIDGE.
by THE LEARNED BLACKSMITH.

The following graphic and thrilling sketch Of an
incident which occurred some years since at the
Natural Bridge in Virginia, comprises passage
in lecture on Genius, delivered by the celebrated
Elihu Burrht, the learned Blacksmith.
The scene opens with view of the great Natu-
raj Bridge in Virginia. There are three or four
lads standing in the channel below, looking up
with awe to that vast arch ofunhewn rocks, which
the almighty bridged over these everlasting abut-
ments "when the morning stars sang together"
The little piece ofsky spanning those measureless
piers, is full of stars, although il is midday. It'll
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 silence
ofdeath is rendered more impressive by the little
stream that falls from rock TO rock down the chan
mel. The sun is darkened, and the boys have un-
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 see the
names of hundreds cut in the limestone abutment.
A new feeling comes over the ir young hearts, and
their knives are in 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 hundred full grown
men who had been there before them.
They are all satisfied with this feat Of physical
fectly the forgotten truth, that there is no royal
road to intellectual eminence. This ambitious
youth sees name Just above his reach, name that
will be green in the memory Of the world, when
those of Alexander, Cesar, and Bonaparte, shall
rot in oblivion. 1t was the name of Washington.
Before he marched with Braddock TO that fatal
field he had been there, and left his name a foot
above all his predecessors. It was glorious
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 iirmer hand; and, clinging
to little utting crag he cuts again into the lime
stone, about foot above where he stands; he then
reaches up and cuts another for his hands 1t is a
dangerous adventure; but as he puts his feet and
hands into those gains, and draws himself up care
fully to his full length, he finds himself foot above
every name chroncled in that mighty wall. While
his companions are regarding HIM with concern and
admiration, he cuts his name in rude capitals, large
and deep, into that lnty album. His knife is still
in his hand, and strength in his sinews, and new
created aspiration in his heart.
Again he cuts another niche, and again he carves
his name in large capitals This is not enough.
Needless of the entreaties of his companions, he
cuts and climbs again. The graduaons of his as
cending scale grow wider apart. He measures his
length at every gain he cuts. The voices of his
friends wax weaker and weaker, till their words
are finally lost ON his ear. He now for the first
time casts look beneath him. Had that glance
lasted moment, that moment would have been
his last. He clings with convulsive shudder to
his little niche in the rock An awful abyss awaits
his almost certain fall He is faint with severe
exertion, and trembling from the sudden view of
the dreadful destruction to which he is exposed
His knife is worn halfway to the haft. He can
hear the voices, but not the words of his terror.
stricken companions below. What moment
What a meagre chance to escape destruction
There is no retracng his steps. 1t is impossible tc
put his hands into the niche with his feet and
retain his slender hold moment His companions
instantly perceived this new and fearful dilemma
young blood" He is too high, too faint, to ash
for his father and MOTHER his brothers and sisters
to come and witness or avert his destruction. Bu
one ofhis companions anticipated his desire Swif
as the wind he bounds down the channel, and the
situation of the fated boy is told upon his fathers
hearth-stone.
Minutes of almost eternal length roll on, and
there are hundreds standing in that rocky channel
and hundreds on the bridge above, all holding the
breath, and awaiting the fearful catastrophe. Tht
poor boy hears the hum of new and numerous
voices both above and below. He can Just distin.
guish the tones OF his father, who is shouting with
all the energy OF despair, "William! Wiliian.
Don't look dotcn Your mother and Henry and
Harriet, are cH here praying for yom Dom
look do,cn? Keep yotr eye to,oards the top,'
The boy didn't look do,cn His eye is fixed like
flint towards Heaven, and his young heart OF
him who regns there. He grasps again his knife
He cuts another niche and another foot is added tc
the hundreds that remove him from the reach o.
human help from below. How carefully he use!
his wasting blade. How anxiousy he selects the
softest places in that vast pier! How he avoids
!, every flinty grain. How he economises his phys
ical powers--restng moment at each gain he
cuts. How every motion is watched from below
There stands his father mother, brother and sister
on the very spot where, if he falls, he will not fall
alone.
1 The sun is now halfway down the west The
lad has made fifty additional inches in that mighty
wall. and now finds himself directly under the mid
die Of that vast arch ofrocks, earth and trees. He
must cut his way in new direction to get from
under this overhanging mountain. The inspiration
ofhope is dying in bosom, its vital heat is fed by
the increased shouts ofhundreds perched upon
cliffs and trees, and others who stand with ropes in
their hands on the bridge above, or with ladders