Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1851-01-30
SELECT TALE.
From Chambers Edinburgh Journ.i.
THE SLATERS'S DAUGHTER.

little town of Subery seemed TO have poured
forth its whole population into the streets, and
the square which surrounded the church was
crowded to excess. This was festive day.
The town, nestled amidst lofty hills, is
chiefly inhabited by miners, who pass their
DAYS in laborous toll, buried within the bow
els of the earth A holiday was therefore TO
them a doubly welcome event. The occasion
of their present festival was the completion of
some extensive repairs which their old church
had lately undergone.
According TO long established custom of
the country, the master-elater was to receive,
in addition TO his wages, complete new suit
ofclo,hes, in honor Of the occasion, and he had
given notice that on this day, he was to ascend
the steepe for the last time, and to perform on
its very summit tctr-de-torce which would
astcnish the spectators.
Master Made, the titular master-slater Of
such foolery as this-for he was a prudent
man, and the father Of family-but he had
lately been very i'll, and had been compelled
10 visit the adjoining baths Of Carlsbad, in
search of that health which was so essential
TO the very subsistence of his family. The
task of completing the repairs had therefore
devolved upon his brother-in-law, who was still
in the hey-dav of youth, and 10 whom a peril
Gus exploit was only pleasing pasiime.
Holding in his hand small packe, contain
ing the new suit Of clothes, he FASTENED
through the assembled crowd, aud, with the
agility of cat, climbed the scaffrlding which
surrounded the s,eeple; by the help of a rope,
he then raised himself TO the top of the gilt
ball which crowned its summit, and clinging
TO the cross which surmounied it, he opened
his packet, and began coolly 10 array himself
in the holiday attire which it contained, and al
the same time bowling courteously TO the
crowd of gazers who stood in the square be-
low :
Having accomplished this perilous feat, he
began TO think of making his way down. but
alas, the rope was no longer to be found the
wind had detached the loop from the point of
the cross on which he had suspended it-aud
in an agony of terror he stretched out his
hands imploringly towards the spectators, who
quickly perceived the cause of his alarm. But
how was help to be conveyed 10 the unhappy
mani In vain did the municipal authorizes
offer a large reward TO any miner who should
possess sufficient courage or generosity 10 60
to his relief not soul stirred and his
weeping sister, the wife Of Madel, who stood
amongst the crowd, exclaimed that the only
hope left was TO send an express 10 Carlsbad,
and to fetch her husband, who alone would
dare 10 climb the dizzy height.
The express was according ly just about TO
start, when the young Veronica the slater's
only daughter, selzng bold of her mother S
hand. exclaimed, Mamma, is it only a cord,
my uncle wants, Ifso | will bring it 10 him
in minute, just as l used to bring papa his
dinner when he was working up there
Dame Madel trembed at the thought of
exposing her child, who was but little more
than five years Of age, to peril, which the
boldest miner had not dared TO face But the
life of her only brother was at stake, and the
little one, Young as she was, had fearless
heart as well as a sure foot; so, after mo-
ment Of anxious thought, she pressed Neron-
lea to her bosom, and said, Go, then, my child
and may God be with theer
A coil of rope was quickly provided; and
before many moments had elapsed, the anxious
crowd saw heron the scaffolding, exerting all
her feeble strength to throw the cord within
reach of her uncle. At last she succeeded
and loud cheer burst from the assembled
multitude, who until this moment had been ST.
lent as the grave. We need not describe the
JOYOUS welcome which awaited both the lille
heroine and her uncle, when they emerged
hand in hand from the church, through which
they had passed on descending from the stec
pie. For three DAYS nothing was talked of il
all the country round but the heroism of thC
slater's daughter, and even the columns of The
newspapers bazoned forth her noble deed.
And vet, at the end of two years Veronic;
was forgotten!
Two years after the restoration of the stee-
pie, the cross by which it was surmounted
was struck with lightning, and the melted
pitch falling on the roof, threatened TO set th'
whole structure in a blaze. The pealing o
the bell soon mingled with the rolling of III,
thunder, and the good people of Subery, has
tening to the spot, did all that lay in theil
power. to extinguish The flame. Madel. tn,
master-.latsr, stood upon the roof, where ,h,
danger was most imminent, and with tremb
ling hand directed the ire-engnes towards tn
.pot where the flames ragged with the fcrces
yebemence. The great heat, the sparks whicl
flew around him on every side, and the glow
ing fame which dazzled his eyes, caused hiI
intense suffering, but he and his brave con
panions persevered, and the fire was extlr
guished From that night, however, he be
came liable to continual inflammation OF IN
eyes, and in six months Master Madel had Ell
tirely lest the use of his sight.
will net attempt to describe the angus
which filled the poer mans heart when h
found that so far from being able to maintai
his family by the labor of his hands, he mu:
heaeeforth be dependent on them for his sup
port. He found, however, faithful and ten
der guide in the little Veronica and Dam
Madel, instead of giving way to vain repining
cheerfulIy did her best to supply his place. b
l,hor;na noore diligently than ever Veroaic