The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1845-01-11
Y,umher 38sl

can hear The voices, ba, hot the words Of
hi' terror striken companions below. Whsl
= nesgre chance 10 escape the destruction.
There is no relrscing his steps. Iii, jm.
possible to put his asnGs into The ssma
uiche with bis feet ard retain bic slender
bold moment. His mpsnions os,sus
~ perceive his nsw and fearful dilsmms,
and await his fall with emotions ils. fross
heir young blood. lie is too high too
faint. TO ask for his laher and RnlAer, his
brothers and sisters, " come and witness
or avert bis destruction. But one OF his
|companIons anticipates his desire, Swih
's the wind he bounds down the channel,
and the situation of the fslsd boy is told
Inpon hs fathers hearth store.
Minutes OF almost ssrnsl length roll on,
and there are hundreds standing 10 thar
| 'ocky channel, and hundreds ou the bridge
above, all holding their breath, awaiting
'he fearful caiastrophe!'rhs poo. boy hears
l'hs hum OF new and numerous voices
both above aud below. He eau jua. die.
| Ingulsk the tones Of his E,'h------- '.''--'"
isnoulIng with all the energy Of despair.
civilian! WIllamI Don't look down!
Your mother and Henry and Harriet are all
| 10 r,pa, 4
keep your eye towards the sopl' The boy
didn't look down. Ills eve is Gyed like
Clint towards Heaven. and his young heart
on Him who 'elgns there. lie Craps again
MS kalfs. lie Gust another n!che, and
another foot is added 10 lhs kundreds that
remove him ff0m The reach Of human hep
from below How C0rrluliy he uses his
wasting biacel How soxiou.ly he selects
the so(test place in that vas. pierl How
he avoids every fInty gtsinl How he
scoDomises his physical powers-resliag
nomers al each, sgsn he culs. How every
;n9;on Is watched from below. There
;,ts"d his father, moiher brother and sister.
100 lhs very spo! where, if he falls, he viii
lnO! fell alone.
! The snn is now half way down the west.
}Fhs lad has made fifty additional inches in
flhal mighty wall, and nov finds himself
idirectIy under the middle of that vas! arch
iof rocks, earth ard trees. He must cut
;''u way in new direction to get from un
Ter This over'hanging mountain. The insp:r
'lion ofhope 10 dying in his bosnmi lis vital
'ea; iS fed by increased shout, Of hundreds
'erchcd upon cliffs and trees, and Others
Who stand with robss in !hsir hand or Ito
Io'Jgs above, or with ladders teIow Fifty
4taIns more must BE- cut before .be longest
fope can reach him, Hia wasting blade
I,lTikes sgain into the limestone. Tie
'oy is emmergiug painfully, lool BY foot,
from that lofty arch, GpIiced ropes are
u ready in The hands Of lhos, VINO are leaning
Io'sr tile on!er edge cf tho bridge Two
minutes more and all will be over. --Tha,
blade Is worn 10 the last hslf incb.-1he
boys heads reels; his eyes are starting
'Iiron iher sockets. His last hopes are dy
ing in his heAr'hls life must hang upon tue
ineAl again he cuts. That niche is the last,
! " tie las! faint gash he makes bis tknirs
laIIe IRON hi, neivele,s hand, and rincjrg
Iaiong me pFecipioe. falls at his no,her's
'ett An involuntary grosn Of despair rans
ike death koaiI through tbs channel b..
ow' and all is still as the grave. AT tie
aelgd'oi nearly three hundred feet, the
devoted boy lifts bis Aopeles, heart aud
l'Iosng eyes 10 commend his soul 10 God
lis but a moment; lhere!--Opa fJoiswiags
'H!--he is reeliDg-IrembIng- topping
over into eternity! Hark shout falls on
lis ear from sbOye!--'The man who is j'-
og with half his length over the bridge, has
'aughta glimpse Of The boys head and
shoulder Quick as thought the n9osed
.ope is within reach Of The sinking youth
No one breslhIess With FAINT, conclusive
effort, The swoopiOg boy drops his arm into
he moose Darkness comes over him s.
with The words. God! and mother! whs,
i persd on bis lips just loud enough 10 be
Heard in heaven, tie tightening rope lifts
Ihim Gu, of his shallow niche. Not a lip
Inoves while he is dlngDing over that fearful
i, Iabys,, hat when sturdy virgioisn reaches
down, draws up the lad, and holds, him up
I'm his arms before the fearful, breaihless
Emul,uJ,, such shon,ing, such Ieaniug and
weeping for loy, never greeted the ear Of