The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1850-12-14
THE CHILD's PERIL.

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"I I. many years ago" said the old man
mu,mrly, "mony years since lived in Cam
bridge, in the good old Bay State Many q.
happy hour have passed in my Younger
days in that pleasant town, Do you know
where the BOOK rtorc j. on the corner? Of
conrsc YOU do We'll, that was my place of
business | built thG store, and the next
house down the street that was the one
lived in, aud IN the next house but one lived
Mr. Wcssnn. Al how wildly those scenes
return TO my recollection How plain the
old town rises up before me They tell me
II is much changed now, and the old church
is gone, whore have sat so often and listen
81 to that good and excellent man, Par,on
Holmes, and he is gone, too--hcsscd hc his
memory But the Presidents house, aud
the store and my houses they are all left
and ncighhor Wcssou's housed see it now,
but the light and the joy oft len It long ago,
There was a child there, q lovely child Of six
Irt rtrt TrtTTTEr ttJTr
Ind always played with my own chillrcn,aud
that loved as'wcll as they Dear little Jane
every body loved the sweet child, She was
very Very beautiful, and 81 good aud loving
hearted How she used TO nestle IN my
arms, and lay her son curlos ON my check
and stroke my hair with her pretty white,
-dilu, -Lall---MA -GLiIlEeI- -laA-L-A.-l
the same as if sire had belonged Ia them, aud
So she did in heart
Well. ono day, u was summer aud yo,N
warm, aud I-,ood in the doorway of' my -tor,.
leaning against the side of il carclc,sly. aud
watching with half closed eyes the gildcd
bird, that stood motonlcss on the church
spirc, for there was no mir stirring when sud
denly heard piercing shrek from ono of
my children, a cry Of terror and despair
Ny heart bounded like cannon ball flew,
through the store, and when reached the
yard, there found her pale a, death.
Father in heaven what is the natter"
cricd, looking at her wildly.
She ga,pod forth Jane :" and pointed Ia
the pump. dartcd towards it.and the brok-
en- plank in the platform showed me whore
tl..'-aaar child hal Disappeared witir-rir---
pcHtc hand rose M the planks, and with
out an insant's thought, descended the open
ing, and rapidly slid down the cold, green
Slippery sides of that deep we'll The shricks
ct my child still rung in my ears, but vas
unconscious OF them My sole Thought was
Of the pcrishing darling, plunged in that icy
water.
reached the bottom, my hands rested on
the side Of the pump-ah, how that Geld sli-
my touch comes over me now.
T,u., ,,,,. 4, -. -. ...
10 me, crir,i brcathlossy.
strained my gaze down into the cold wa
tcrs, and | saw her lovely head Just rising a
hovc them heard her faint sweet voice
answer me-a wild joy4hrilcd through me /
stretched myselfdowu 20 her, and babe her.
catch hold ofmy neck in moment thcr I
little hands graspine my hair
courage exclaimed; 'you will soon be
sali'--now climb on my back"
The dear child s,rovc to obey me. SHY
oring and benumbed with the intense cold.
she yet 10y a great effort, climbed on my
shouldcrT, and flung her arms around my
neck
= e, tt,.- i,4s .ai. lI. darling. and you
shah soon be out of this place" cried with
a glad heart, for felt the skill and courage
Jf host
fhc damp, dripping, slippery surface Of I
i,c stonc-thc green, Shiny side of the pump
we're TO DC aercutird. Fiookett AWAY mp to :
l'e-lisht that s'rcamcd through the broken
Naticym, it seemed an innrn.c Distance
With hale audible pauH,.4 ho2on IN, as-
..e