The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1845-02-20

break from his grasp. 1.-The rapids
would dash her to piece in minute"
The youth had scarcely waited for these
words. His eye took in al single glance,
the meaning Of the sad group. He recol-
ecled the child OF the woman, a bold 1T
lie fellow OF four years old, whose hand
some blue eyes and flaxen rInglets made
him favorlle with strangers and filled he
mothers heart with pride whenever she
gazed on him. He had been accustomed
TO play, at will, in the little enclosure be-
fore the cabin; but, this morning, the gate
having been accidentally left open, he had
stolen out when his mother's back was
turned, reached the edge of the bank, and
was in the act of looking over when his
parent's eye caught sight of him. The
shrek which she uttered preciplated The
catastrophe she feared for the child hi
ened at the cry, lost his balance, AMI fell
headIong into the stleam, which here
went foaming and roaring along innumer-
able rocks, constituting the most danger
Gus rapids known in that section Of the
country. Scream now followed scream
in rapid succession as he dgonzed parent
rushed 10 the bank. She arrived there
simultaneously with the party whom We
left reclining in the shade, and who were
scattered about within few Steps of the
scene of the accident. Fortunate was it
thai thew were SO near, else the mother
would have plunged in after her child,
and both been lost. Several of The men
Immediately approached the brink, and
were on the point of springing in alter The
child, when the sight of the sharp rocks
crowding the channel. the rush and the
whirl of the waters, and the want OF any
knowledge where to look for the boy de-
tered them, and they gave up the enters
prise.
Not so the youth we have introduced.
His first work was TO throw off his coat
his next 10 spring TO the edge OF the bank
Here he stood, for second, running his
eye rapidly over the scene below, and Ia
king in, with glance, the different cur
rents and the most dangerous of the rocks.
in order 10 shape his course by them
when in the stream. He had scarcely
formed his conclusion, when his gaze rest
ed on a white object in the water that he
knew at once to be the boys dress, and
while his companions aghast al his temer-
ity, were prevented as much from consier.
nation as by the awe with which he had
already inspired them from interfering, he
plunged headong into the wild and roar
ing rapids.
"Thapk God'-he will save my child"
easped he woman, see--there he is-oll |
my boy, my darling boy, how could
leave you"
Every one had rushed 10 The brink of
Of the precipice, and was now following,
with eager eyes. the PEERLESS progress Of
the youth. as the current bore him on>
ward, like a feather in the embrace of |
hurricane. Now it seemed as if he would
be dashed against a jutling rock over
which the water flew in foam; and now
whirlpool would drag him in, from whose
grasp escape would appear impossible
At times the current bore him under and
he would be losl 10 sight: then, just as
the spectators gave him up, he would re-
appear. lhoogh far enough from where be
still bufstung amid the vortex.
Oh how that mothers straining eyes fol-
lowed him in his perilous career how
her heart sank when he went under-and
with what eush of JOY she saw him
emerge again from the waters. and fling.
ing the waves aside with his athletic arms,
on, in pursuit of her boy. But
it seemed as if his generous efforts were
10 be Of no avail, for though the current
was bearing off the boy before his eyes,
scarcely ten feet distant, he could not, des.
pjte his gigantic efforts, overake the
drowning child.
On they flew, the youth and the child
and it was miraculous how each escaped
being dashed to pieces against the rocks.
Twice the boy went out Of sight. and
suppressed shrek escaped the mothers
lips; but twice be re.appeared, and then,
with hands wrung wildly together and
oreathIess anxiety, she followed his pro-
gress, as his unressing form was hurried
onward with the current.
The youth now appeared to redoubIe
his eXerllons, Tor they were approaching
he most dangerous part of the river,
where the rapids, contracting between the
narrowed shores, sho; almost perpendicu>
ally down decivity Of fifteen feet The
'ush of the waters at this spot was ire
nendous, and no one ventured 10 approach
is vicinity, even in canoe, lest they
should be sucked in. What then would
oe the youths fate, unless he speedily
overlook the child He seemed fully SEN
'ible of The increasing peril, and urged his
way now through the foamjog current
With desperate strength. Three several
ines he was on the pom, of graspng the
.hld, when the waters whirled the prize
rom hin Ihs third eHntt n,ns ~ ndn