The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1852-09-25
from Diekens's Household Words,l
A Tale OF Mid-Air.

III q COttdSC III tllS PdIICy III cdlISll-
hes, near the foot of Mont Blanc, lived
I'D Bernard and his three sons One
hosning he lay in bed sick, and, burh-
1g with fever, watched anxiously for
he return of his son, Jehan, who had
one to fetch 4 physician. At length
horses tread was heard, and soon af-
awards the doctor entered He ex-
mined the patient closely, felt his
llse, looked at his tongue and then
dd, patting the old mans cheek, :" 1t
i'll be nothing. my friend-nothing ~
at he made sign to the three lads,
no, open-mouthed and anxious, stood
fouped around the bed. All four with
few te distant corner. the doctor
look his head, thrust out his lower lip.
nd said, "'Tis a serious attack-very
.rious-of fever He is now in the
eight of the fit, and as soon as it
oates, he must have sulphate of qui-
tne.n .+... s
(" What is that, doctorg' ,--.-
"Quinine, my friend, is very ey-
pnsive medicine, but which you may
Tpcure al Sallanehes. Between the
TO fits your father must take at least
tree francs worth will write the pre-.
sription. You can read, Guillaume e'
"Yes, Doctor"
4And you will see that he takes it p
"Certainly."
When the physician was gone, Gull,
Inme, Pierre, and Jehan looked al
ach other in silent perplexity. TheiI
whole stock of money consisted of "a
fame and half, and yet the medicine
,rmstbe procured Immediately.
I " Hsten," said Pierre, Il know q
method of getting from the mountain
befoe night three or four fve-franc
pecss."
"Fram the mountain W
g have discovered an eagles nest ir
a cliff of frightful precipice. There
is gentleman at Salianches, who wonlc
glady purchase the eaglets; and no
thing made me hesitate but the terri
bic iisk of taking them: but that's no
thing when our fathers life is con
cerred. We may have them now il
two hours"
"lwill rob the nest" said Guillaume
"Ko no, let me-" said Jehan, al an
the Youngest and iightestn - '
" have the best right to venture
said Pierre, - as it was | who discov
ereditp ri
"Come," said Pierre, "let US decide
by drawing lots. Write three numbers
Guillaume, put them into my hat, ant
whoever drawsnp,nber one will try tht
venture" go .tEa 'f.F'
GuiIlaurue blackened the end of ;
wooden splinter in the fire: tore an olt
card into three pieces: wrote on their
one, two, three, and threw them init
the hat
How the three hearts beat Old Ber
nard lay shivering iu1he cold fit. ant
each of his sons longed to risk his owr
life, to save that of his father
The lot fell on Pierre, who had dis
covered the nest he embraced the
sick man. ef i-.is-t
"We shall not be long absent, ia
ther," he said, sand it is needlul for u:
10 go together" ..'
7 :: What are yon going 10 doq"
"We will tell you as soon as we
come back"
Guilaume took down from the wal
an old sabre which had belong tc
Bernard when he served as "a soldier
Jehan sought a thick cord which the
nSe when cutting down
trees, and Pierre went towards an old
wooden cross, reared near the cottage,
and knelt before it for some minutes in
fervent prayer. . s.st
They set out together, and soon reach.
ed the brink of the precipice. The
danger consisted not only in the posi-.
bility of falling several hundred feet,
but still more in the probable aggres.
sion of the birds of prey; inhabiting the
wild abyss.
Pierre, who was to brave these perils,
was fine athletic young man OF
twenty-two. Having measured with
his eye the distance he would have 10
descend. his brothers fastened the cord
around his waist, and began to let him
down. Holding the sabre in his hand,
he safeiy reached the nook that con-
tanned the nest In it were four eaglets
Of light yellowish-b brown color, and
his heart beat with joy at the sight Of
them He grasped the nest firmly in
his left hand, and shouted joyfully to
his bIothers, " have them Draw me
upm
E Already the first upward pull was
givento the chord, when Pierre felt
limselfattacked by two enormous ea-
gles, whose furious cries proved them
o bethe parents of the nestIings.
ACounge, brother! defend ihyself
1on'i fear p @ sssi 70 3#a t'''s 3
@ Pierre pressed the nest TO his bosom,
ind with his right hand made the sabre
play around his head. ''i
Then began aterrible combat. The
eagles shfieked, the little ones cried
hrillv: the mo6staineer shouted and
orandished his sword. He slashed the
birds with its blade, which flashed like
fghtiing and only rendered Them still
more enraged! He struck the rock, and
ent forth shower of sparks. otb2
Suddenly he felt jerk given to the
,ord that sustained him. Looking up
lie perceived that, in his ,eyoIntions, he
rad cut il with his sabre, and that half
he strands were severed!