The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1846-05-07

bending over the cliff, screamed in a
high sharp tone-"John- Samuel my
children !"
Her voice rang shrilly above the dash
of the waves aud the blasts ofthe gale.
"Mo,h-er !" came family up with the
roar OF the sea. .
"Quick-the light-,here is hope p
said Mr.. Richards. Immediately the lans
thern was lowered down by the line, & by
its feeble lightthe oldest son could be seen
on The shelf leaning back against the Jag
geo rocks looking upwards.
"There is but one--it is John y said
the old man wildly, as he bent in his Ca
gerness fearfuIly over the edge Of the cliff.
" The rope. wife-the rope p shouted he.
In a second it was lowered down, swayed
TO and fro by HE wind. John was not
long in possessing himself of it. But
what was the old mans horror, when he
saw his son cast OF his jacket, and grasps
ing the end of the rope, walked 10 the
edge of the shelf, as if to jump into the
waters that foamed al his feet.
"Wha is he doing-he is leaping into
the sea Merciful parent !-boy--boy.
will you leave mt childless in my old
age!' shouted he ia a voice hoarse with
emotion, as he saw his son dive into the
sea. He stood transfxed with horror.
In a few minutes, however, John appear
ed on the shelf and made signs for those
above to pull The rope. The old man
commenced giving directions 10 his wife
to watch the motions Of John. He soon
made signs TO stop hauling, and then was
seen 10 lift the apparently ~lifeless body Of
his brother on to the shelf. After exam
lining the rope he made signs for them to
hoist again. Il was a sad sight to witness
that old man, by the uncertain light of the
6re--the rain beating upon his gray head
--straining himself TO raise the corpse Of
his own son from the dark depths below;
and when the body was raised to the cliff,
to see the aged mother clasp it in her arms,
and hear her voice, thick with agony
" Samuel, my son-would 10 God could
have died for you !"-the wind and the
heavy rain ali the while beating down up.
on her uncovered head, and flinging her
grey and tangled tresses wildly to the air
The old mans attention was now di.
rected towards rescuing his other son,
who was in imminent danger, as the tide
was setting in, and ere long would proba.
bly, wash him off, the force Of the wind
having raised it to more than its usual
height. He made fast the rope to a neigh
boring tree, and bending over the cliff,
gave directions 10 his son 10 avoid the
sharp rocks that ju,ted out, as he attempts
ed The perilous ascent, steadying the rope
and encouraging him all the while.
"Father, your hand !" said John;
breathing thickly, lifting his arm to the
edge of the cliff, we'll nigh exhausted. AT
the moment he uttered these words, the
rope, which had worn against the sharp
parted, leaving him dangling over
the horrid depth below, holding by one
hand TO the edge OF the cliff, and by the
other to the tired arm Of his father.
"Wife ! wife" shouted the old man,
in a voice hoarse with agony; "leave the
dead and attend to the living!" HIS wife
was so absorbed in grief she paid no nt>
"Woman !" shouted he in a
voice of despair "will you sacrifice the
living 10 the dead : Will we see your
frs! born perish Quickly, for my
strength fills
"What--wha, would We, my husband!"
said she starting up, and seeing the situa-
ton of her husband, stretched on the
ground at fall length, holding one arm of
her son. she sprung forward, and bending
down grasped the other hand, and with
supernatural strength, by one eff
fort lifted her son safe on to the cliff, and
then sunk beside him with 10 more
strength than a child. She soon recover.
ed and the excitement OF the moment be.
ing over, their attention was turned to the
younger son, who lay stretched out on the
wet ground without sense or motion, ex-
hibiting a pale and ghastIy face as the
light from the fast expiring fire OCCASION
ally flashed over it.
Is he dead, father 7" said John, as he
gazed wildly in his face 1t was an
ugly blow the main boom gave him as we
Heaven be praised" said the father,
"lhat we have one leG-and thankful am
| that the waters did not devour him.
Wife. lie, US be comtorted that his grave
will be on the land, and tina, he was not
fated to float in the Geld caverns of the
deep"
"Father-mother p saidJohn, who had
been beside his brother-"he lives | feel
his heart beat!" and truly enough it did
beat with returning life, aud by midnight
they were all gathered, a happy group, in
the front room of the cottage, congratulate
ing each other, and thanking God for
their safety.
Where stood the humble cottage of
james Richards, a brilliant lighthouse
now stands ; and it is The " best light"
on the eastern coast. Old John Rich>
W.. L. -