The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1848-07-26
NUMBER 6.

ANIMALS about them.
The gentleman said nothing, but bowed
and walked forward; and soon after saw
him enjoying cigar, while Lion played the
agreeable in his own rough fashion to people
who knew how to read the expression of his
honest and intelligent physiognomy.
Little Adeline, deprived of the attraction
which had fixed her attention to the inside of
the boat, began to see amusement in watch
ing the foaming water as it rushed from the
paddle-wheels, and danced in long lines be-
hind them. She knelt on shawl which a
tellow-passenger had kindly lent as cushion
tor her little knees, and leaned quietly over
the side watching the roaring water; so her
mother was for a time relieved from the
thousand mosquito-winged vexations which
had hitherto beset her.
We were within few miles of Gravcsend.
The tide was just at the full, and the broad
expanse of the river lay around us in all its
held the Hudson or the Mississippi, old Father
Thames is majestic ay, and if we place in
the balance the historical, political, and COM
mercial Importance the transactions of which
his broad breast is and has been the highway
our " time honored" river will not lose in
dignity even when compared with those giant
floods of the west.
! Such thoughts as these, however, did not
trouble Adclines pretty little head, which
began, l could see, to grow eiddy with the
continual whirl beneath her. A large sea-
weed that was dashed from the paddle-wheel
caught her attention. 1t sank, then rose.
turned round in a short eddy, and then dart
ed out in the long wake that was left behind
the steamer. She leaned forward to watch
its progress; farther, farther still her little
neck was stretched; she lost her balance, and
toppled over into the roaring flood. In a
moment all was confusion on board. Men
were shouting for ropes and boats to stop the
steamer; cries of "child overheard |" "who
can swim p and thousand other cries and
questionings; but above all, were the poor
mothers heartrending shrieks, too painfully
in earnest now; and she alone, in the fond
instructive devotion of maternal love, that
even could she reach her child she could
only sink with her, endeavored to leap into
the water to save her.
Suddenly Lion, followed closely by his
master, came tearing along the deck, knock
ing the people to right and left like nine-pins.
They sprang into the boat that hung at the
stern, everybody giving way before the de-
termlned energy of both man and dog. Lion
looked anXiously in his masters face, and ut
tered a short low bark
Wait" said the latter in reply; "where
was she seen last ?"
There, sir" replied a sailor promptly,
there, beside that piece of plank"
How often has she risen 2"
Twice"
The gentleman drew long breath, and
said to his dog in low tone "look outw
And Lion did look out, with wild flashing
eyes, and limbs that trembled with anxiety.
What moment that was Every one else
was passive every other attempt was laid
aside, and all stood in mute expectation :;
those who were near enough watching the
third rising Of the poor child, and those who
could not see the water keeping their eyes
fixed upon Lion. In another instant cry was
raised, as golden-tressed head was seen to
emerge from the water. The noble dog had
seen her first though, and ere the warning
cry had reached his ears he had dashed from
the boat with wonderful rapidity, and was
swimming towards the little sufferer as though
he knew that life and death depended on bis
efforts.
His master marked his progress anxiously.
His face was pale as death, and it was only
by rigidly COMPRISING them that he could
control the nervous quivering of his lips.
He has her" he exclaimed, as Lion rose
to the surface after long dive, holding the
little Adeline by the hair of the head in such
a manner that her face was out of the water.
" He has her and she is savedp Down went
the steps, and on them stood a couple of ac-
tive sailors, encouraging the brave dog by
shouts and gestures, and ready to receive his
precious burthen when he should approach
them. Slowly he came on, wistfully cycling
~, Al l.
master, who was leaning over the side, and
encouraging him with his well-known voice.
"Here you are p cried one of the sailors,
Selling the little girl She was handed from
one to another, ard at last deposited in the
arms of an active looking gentleman, whom
everybody seemed instinctively to recognize
"Now, come up, there's a brave fellow -
Lion to climb up the steps. But the poor
creature whined piteously, and after one or
two fruitless attempts to raise himself out of
the water, he remained quite passive.
"Help him-help him He is exhausted !"
cried his master, fighting his way through the
crowd, to 90 to the rescue of his brave favor
lite. By the slime, however, that he had
reached the top of the ladder the sailors had
perceived the condition of the dog, and with
some difficulty dragged him from the water.
with their assistance he crawed feebly up;
then languidly licking his masters hand, and
stretching himself on the deck.
It would be difficult to tell which received
the most attention-the little girl under tho
hands dI V of the surgeon and all the women, who
Ind squeezed themselves into the cabin I'M
dor The firm conviction that they were ex-
ceedingly useful, or the noble dog from the
Kind but rough attentions of the steamers
men, under the superintendent Of his mas
ter.
Both the invalids were convalescent; and
Lion was sitting up, receiving with quiet dig
nifty the caresses Of his friends, when AIDE
lines mother came running up stairs; and
throwing herself upon her knees before him,