The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1848-04-22
Vol. II, No. 80 Whole No. $780,

ruflian start up from the bed of the drain,
and snatchjng up the child in his arms, hast7
en- with il towards the mill in accordance with
the directions Of his RccompIice In mos
ment she perceived the full extent of her dams
ger, and formed her plain of escaping it.
Rclreating into the mill, she double lock-
ed and bolted the door, the only apparent en-
trance into the building, every oiher means
of obvious access being prevented by strong
iron gratings fixed up against all tie windows
aud then took her post at the upper easement,
determined TO wait patiently her masters re-
turn, and her consequent delivery from that
dangerous position, or h9r own death if in
deed inevitable--for she was fully resolved
TO enter into no terms, and that nothing
should induce her to give up her masters
property into the robbers hands. She had
hardly had lime 10 secure herself ip her re-
treat, when the ruifan holding the screaming
child in his hands md brandishing knife IN
one hand, came up. and badc her open the
door or lie would break it down adding many
awful onlhs and threats; 10 which her only
answer was that she put her trust in Cod
Heinrich, who from his window was witness
of this colloquy, now called out 10 cut tho
child's throat before her eyes if she still per-
sisted in her refusal Poor Hanchen's heart
quaied at this horrible threat bui only for n
moment. The death ofIhe child would bo
no gain TO them, while her own death was
certain If she admitted the assalant, and her
master too would be robbed. She had no
reason to suppose that her compliance would
save the life of the child. 1t was 10 risk Nil
against nothing, and she resolved 10 hold out
to the last, though tho villain from without re-
newed his threats, saying that if she would
not open the door to him he would kill the
child, and then set fire TO the mill over her
head. 81 put my trust i'll Cod" was still tho
poor girls answer.
In the meanwhile, the ru6Iian set down the
child for moment to look about for conIbus7
libIes To. carry ont his threat In this search
lie discovered n mode of entering tie mill uD=
thought of 10y Hunchcn. II was large aper-
ture in the wall communicating with The great
wheel and lie other machinery of the mill;
and it was point entirely unprotected, for it
had never been contemplated that any one
would seek to enter by so dangerous all nloi.
Triumphant at this discovery, he returned 10
tic the hands and feet of the poor Child to
prevent its escape, aud Then stole back to the
aperture by which he intended to effect an
entrance. The situation ofthe building pre-
vented Hanchen from seeing anything Of this
bat, thought had meanwhile struck her,
ii was Sunday, when the mill noyer was at
work; If Therefore, the sails were set IN mo-
ton the whole neighbollood would know
That something unusual was the matter, and
her master especially would hasten lone 70
know the meaning Of anything 50 strange. 9
Being all her life accustomed tn. the mas
chinery of the mil, il was the work oia mo-
ment 10 set it all in motiou--a brisk breese
which sprangup At once, set the sails flying.
The arms Of the huge engine whirled round
with fearful rapidity; The great wheel slowly
revolved on its axis; the smaller gear turned,
and creuked, and grouned according as the
machinery came into action; the mill YVES in
full operation. Ii was at this moment THAI
the ruilian intruder had succeeded in squeez-
ing himself through the aperture in-the wall
and getting himselfsa fely lodged in the nlo~
rior Of the great drum wheel. His disIpay,
however was understandable when he began 10
be whired about with it's rotation and found
that his efforts to put stop 10 the ,EplYerttl
machinery which set II in motion, or To extri-
cate himself from this periloUs situation wero
fuiless. In his terror he uttered slrieke and
horrible imprccations. Aslonjshei IL HE
noise, Hanchen went 10 tho spot, saw him
caught like rat in his own trap from which
il was no part other plan 10 liherate him
She knew he'would he more frightened than
hurt if he kept within her rotary prison wih-
out any rash attempt at escape aud that even
if he became insensible he could not fall OUT
of il.
In the meantime the wheel went round and
round with its steady unceasing motion; and
round and round he went with il, W lille sense
remained, beseeching Hanchen with enrea:
ties, promises, and wild impotent threats,
which We're all equally disregurded, ill by
degrees feeling and perception failed hinI,
and he saw and heard no one. He fell sense
less at the bottom of the engine, bat even
then his inaniniHte body continued TO no
whirled round as before for .Ilanchen did
not dare trust nj pearances in such villain,
and would not venture to suspend the work
ing oftbe mill or stop the mill gear aud tackle
from running at their fullest speed.
Al length she heard loud Knocking a. the
door, and few to open it. II was her lnaster
and his family, accompanied by several OF
his neighbors, all in the utmost CONSERVATISM
and wonder at seeing the mill-sui in ll4
swing OH Sunday, and still more 20 whets
they had found the poor child lying bound
upon the grass, who, however, was too tcrri-
fled TO give any account of what had .lhI'-
pened. iiuelien, in few words, told ALL
and then her spirit, which had sustained Her
through such scenes of terror, gave way W.
der the sense ofsateiy aud relict, and size fen
fi,inting in their arms, and WAS with much
difficulty recovered. The machinery ofih9
mill was n; once stopped, and the inanilnate
ruffian dragged from his dreadful prison.
Heinrich, TOO, wasl brought forth from the
miler's chandler, and both We're in n shori
time sent bound under strong escort 10 Roou
where they soon after net tie reward Of tlicil
crimes.-L london paper.
Early Potatoes,