Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1845-02-06

flew steps Of the scene of the accident
4 Fortunate was it. that they were Sc
near, else the mother would have
{plunged in after her child, and both
been lost. Several of the men iinme-
8 diately approached the brink, and were
on the point of springing in after the
child. when thesight ofthe sharp rocks
erowding the channel, the rush and
! whirl Of the waters, and the want Of a.
I my knowledge where to look for the boy
: | deferred them, and they gave up the
4 enterprise.
! l Not so the youth we have introduce
! ed. His first work was to throw of his
coat: his next to spring 10 the edge OF
1.-THE bank. Here he stood. for second
running his eye rapidly over the scene
below, and taking in, with glance
the different currents and the most dam
gero1s of the rocks, in order to shape
his course by them when in the stream.
He had scarcely formed his conclusion
when his gaze rested on white object
in the water that he knew at once to
be the boys dress, and, while his COM
| panions aghast at his temerity, were
prevented, as much by CONSERVATION
as by the awe with which he had al
ready inspired them from interfering,
he plunged headlong into the wild and
roaring rapids.
'1hank God-he will save my
child" gasped the woman, "see-there
he .is-oh! my boy, my daring boy,
how could / leave your
Every one rushed to the brink of the
1 precipice, and was now following, with
eager eyes, the perilous progress of the
1 youth, as the current bore him onward,
like feather in the embrace of hur-
ricane. Now ii seemed as if he would
be dashed against jutting rock over
! which the water few in foam; and now
a whirlpool would drag him in, from
whose grasp escape would appear i'm
possible. At times the current bore
him under and he would be lost to
sight: then, just as the spectators gave
enough from where he vanished, still
butieting amid the vortex. Oh! how
that mothers straining eyes followed
him in his perilous career-how her
heart sank when he went under-and
with what gush Of JOY she saw him
emerge again from the waters, and
finging the waves aside with his ath
letic. arms, struggle on in pursuit Of her
boy. But it seemed as If his generous
efforts were to be ofno avail for though
the current was bearing off the boy, be-
fore his eyes, scarcely ten feet distant,
he could not;despite his gigantic efforts
oyertake the drowning child. aa
! On they few, the youth and the
child; and it was miraculous how they
escaped being dashed topieces against
the rocks. Twice the boy went GU,
of sight, and suppressed shrek es-
capped the mothers lips; but twice he
re-appeared, and then, with hands
wrung wildly together and GREATNESS
anxiety, she followed his progress, as
his unresisting form was hurried on
? ward with the current.
The youth now appeared to redop-
| bic his exertions, for they were approach
ing the most dangerous part of the riv-
4 err, where the rapids, contracting be-
r tween the narrowed shores, shotalmost
perpendicularly down a deelivity o.
), fifteen feet. The rush ofthe waters al
1 this spot was tremendous, and no one
r ventured to approach its vicinity, ever
ia a canoe, lest they should be spekee
| in. What then would be the youth.
, fate, unless he speedily overlook tht
! child! He seemed fully sensible of the
/ increasing peril, and urged lis wa.
; now through The the foaming curren
$ with desperatestrength Three severa
times he was on the point of grasplns
, the child, when the waters whirled thu
prize from him. The third effort was
2 made Just as they were about entering
!. within the influence OF the current q
( bove the fall, and when 1t falied, "a
: mothers heart sunk within her ans
: she groaned aloud, fully expecting +
see the youth give up the task. BY
4 fno! he only pressed forward the mof NOR
Z eagerly, and as they breathlessly watch
led, they saw, amid the boiling waters
D as if bearing a charmed life, the torn J
: Of the brave youth, following close al
!, ter that Of the boy And now, Ike az
$ Farrow from the bow, pursuer and pnr
Issued shot TO ahe brink of the preclpice
i An instant they hung there, distmctl
t visible amid the, CLASSY waters, ina
seemed to pause on the edge OF thede
i scent. Every brain grew dizzy at tn 2
!, sight. But shout Of Involuntary ex
ofc<n 10