The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1846-04-02

releasing the horses rom Tue ca'IiaSe,'po
had sought his own safety by swimming
them TO the shore. With one common
motion the women rose 10 their fee, stretch.
ed their arms toward him, all with the
eloquence of despair, enlreated him TO re-
turn and save them. The naughty mas
ture of the gentleman was aroused, even
10 this daddy extremity. Every feature
quivered with fear aud rage, as shaking
bis cIencht,d hand after the driver,he COM
maded him 5ack in a voice too powerful
even for the roar Of the waters 10 drown.
The driver, alike unmindiui of enlreaties
or imprecations, did not even turn his
head ill he arrived with The dripping
beasts on shore. La an instant he leaped
from his seat, and stripped them OF their
harness except the hater--threW him
self on one, and again pluuged into the wa
ter. The act was greeted with noisy
outbreak Of hoy wild, hyserlca laugh
of iov from the thankful group. He
reached the carriage. There was sound
Of voices as if in entreaty. and then the
driver grasped his masters arm, and fore
ed him to Ike his seat behind him. The
horse bore himselfup gaIanly against the
waters, and arrived with the double bur-
then safe to the shore. Instantly the otis
er horse was mouuted, and they were both
again struggling with the current The
carriage, when relieved Of the weight OF
the gentleman, had began 10 veer about
and 10 stand uuseadiiy in the stream.
The poor women at the first starting Of
The vehicle had fallen forward on their
knees, with their marble faces close to-
gethcr. their arms en.wined convulsively,
and their shrieks ringing very sharp>
" above the roaring waters, as they felt
each slight motion OF the lrail ark of safe
ty; for we'll did the poor creatures know
that if they once started with the current,
their death was inevitable. CIinging TO-
gether in terrible despair, and expecting
each instant to be wheImed in eternity
they yet displayed the beautiful ELECTION
that clingc to WOMAN even in the las. ex.
tremi,y. When the husband arrived to
succor them, there was generous Srug>
gle in each to resign her chance of life to
the other. 1t was but an insiant-life was
TOO precious, and The young wife sprang
behind her husband, with a cry us if she
were committing murder in thus leaving
her mother and sister. The faithful ser.
want was at the side of the carriage before
his master had LEFT it-again there was a
struggle between love OF life and maternal
love. Need | say which Prevailed Or
is il to be wondered at that the young
creature, with the first flush of life and
hope upon her, should consen. to live
when the arm Of her mother forced her to
The seat Of saftly2 Yet even. while she
chung with Que arm to her preserver, her
pale face WAS turned despairing y toward
her mother, and her other arm was extend
ed like that of a fond infant in distress
Uumiudfal oil her own peril, the hero
ic woman stood alone in the carriage, with
her ciasped hands extended toward her
child, and without orce moving her eyes
till she saw her child safe on shore. Then
her fingers were unlocked, her arms Eel
by her side, aud we knew by the motion
of her white lips that she was saying,
'Thank God' That moment, as if Just
a wake to her own danger, she gave
startled lock up me stream. A hundred
yards above, the falls Numbered into the
main stream and rushed onward like an
unpenL ocean. There was no hope in
tia. direction, and as little below; for1
there the compa raIive' y small stream was
swallowed up in the mighty mass OF waters
and hurled onward in their bosom. One
look OF hope she cast on the opposite shore,
The driver was again in the water; but
now The carriage was rocking unseadiIy
under her light weight, and drifting SLOW.
Iy down the current. AT first she pressed
her hands hard upon the seat, us finer fee.
bic strength could steady it against the
force of The food. She saw it was in vain
the cuTrest was rushing past her with in
creaslng fury, and each instant the carri~
age was gaining new velocity. Her cour~
age entirely iorsook her; despair rendered
her black eyes wildly bright; and it was
fearful TO look upon her, now clnging to
that frail vehicle, striving 10 hold it back
from destruction, and elasping her mar
BILE hands, raising them toward heaven in
suppicalion, or wringing them in her
mortal agony. The carriage gave a sud
ten Iurch and threw her forward upon her
knees. Wildly she tossed her arms to-
ward US, and then on high, shrieking,
'save me! save me my Goi,have mercyl
oh save me ~ That voice, that look of
fearful agony-my breath comes painful
Iy as | think Of it. Faster and faster the
carriage drifled on, toleriog and shivering
in the waier--a straw might almost have
upturoed it, when the blessed driver swan
at the risk of his life 10 her relief. With
an unearlhly cry she grasped his extend.
ed arm, and sprang across The shoulders
Of the horse, with her face to the rider,
clinging around his body with such an ex,
preston Of gratitude as went to the heart.