Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1845-01-09
MISCELLANEOUS.
INCIDENT ''a'
AT THE NATURAL BRIDGE, y1RG1w1A..

Inc following graphic and thrilling
sketch of an incident which occurred
some years since at the Natural Bridge,
IN Virginia, comprises passage in a
lecture on genius, delivered BY the Gel
ebrated ELiHu BuRErr, the learned
Blacksmith of Massachusetts: w
The scene opens with view of the
Natural Bridge of Virginia. There
Rre three or four lads standing in the
channel looking ups with awe to that
vast arch Of unhewn rocks which the
Almighty brldged over these eyerIas-
ting abutments "when the morning
stars sang together.'a The little piece
of sky spanning these measureless pi-
ers is full Of stars, although it's mid
day. It is almost FIVE hundred feet
from where they stand, up those per-
pendicular bulwarks Of limestone, to
the key rock ofthat vast arch; which
appears TO them only the size ola mans
hand. The silence Of death is render
ed more impressive by the little stream
that falls from rock to rock down the
channel. The sun is darkened, and
the boys have unconsciously uncover
ed their heads as if standing in the
presence chamber of the majesty Of the
whole earth. AT last, the feeling be-
gins to wear away; they begin to look
around them. They see the names of
hundreds cut in the limestone abut-
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 dc"
is their. watchworel;' while they draw
themselves up and carve their names
a foot above those Of a hundred full
grown men who had been there before
them. 800
They are all satisseI With Ibis feat
of physical eSertion except one,whose
example illustrates perfectly the forgot
ton truth that their is no royal road to
intellectual eminence. This ambitious
youth sees a name just above his reach
a name that will be green in the mem
ory of the world, when those of Alex
ander, Caesar, and Bonaparte shall rot
in oblivion. It was the name of Wash
ington. Before he marched with
Braddock to that fatal field, he had
been there, and left his name foot a.
bove all his predecessors. 1t was a
glorious thought to the boy, to- write
his name side by side with that Of the
great father Of his country. He grasps
his knife with a frmer hand; and
clinging to a,littlej utting crag, he cuts
again into the limestone, about foot
above where he stands; he then reaches
up and cuts an other for his hands. -
1t is a dangerous adventure, but as he
puts his feet and handsin those gains
and draws himself up at fullleugth, he
finds hnnselfa foot above every name
chronicled 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 flinty album. His knife is
still in his hand, and strength in his sin
ews, and new created aspiration is in
phis heart. .,..
Again he cuts another niche, and a.
gam he carves his name in arge cap
itals. This is not enough. Needless
0fthe entreaties of his companions, be
cuts and climbs again. The gradual
tons of his scale grow wider apart
He measures his. length at every gain
he cuts: T'lie,voices Of his friend 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 a moment, that
moment would have been his last; he
clings with convulsive shudder 10 his
little niche in the rock: An awful a.
byss awaits his almost certain fall; he
is faint with severe exertion, and trem-
bling from the sudden view of the
dreadful destruction to which he is ex-
posed:s His knife is worn half way to
the haft: He can hear the voices, but
not tie. words of his terror-stricken
companions below: What a meagree
chance to escape destruction! There
II no retracifg bis steps: 1t is impos-
sible to put his hands into the same
niche with his feet and retain his slen-
der hold . moment. His companions
instantly perceive this new and fearful
dilemma. and await his fall with emo
tons that ssfreeze their young blood"
he IS too high, too faint, 10 ask for bis
kKothers aAdssisters, TO come and avert
kisdestruCtion: : But one Of his COM
IT -. 49, ~ ~ 80 ~