Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1852-09-17

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men. hey arc eXcreacenccs on society, that
mar its beauty and harmony, clog its energies.
destroy its peace and waste It's substance.
Sill men are so and we suppose they will
stay so little while yct but we do hope there
Is better time con.ng---l time when to owe
man and not pay him, will be considered akin
to stealing when all will adopt the ScNptural
motto, owe no man anything EAchdHge.
A Tale OF .Mid.Air.
In a cottage in the valley of Sallanchcs near
the foot Of Mount OF Blanc, lived old Bernard
and his three sons. One morning he lay in bed
sick, and, burning with fever watched anXious-
y for the returns Of his son, Jehun, who va,
zone to fetch physician. At length horses
tread was heard, and soon afterwards the doc
tor entered. lie examined the patient closely,
felt hls pulse, looled at his tongue, and then
said pattlng the old mans check
1T will be nothing, my incnd--uothing =
but he made a sign to the three lads, who, open
mouthGd and ANXIOUS. still stood grouped around
the bed. All four withdrew to a distant curnel,
the doctor shook his head, thrust out his lower
lip, and said,
Sir, serious attacl---very serious Of fever.
He ID now in the height of the tit and as soon
as 1t abatcs, he must have su phate OF quInine.
'What is that, doctor"
Quinine, my friend, is very expensive med
icinc, but which you may procure at Sallonches.
Between the two fits your father must take ut
least three francs worth. ! will write the pre-
scription. Yon can read, Gullaumc,' >
Yes, doctor
'Anl you will see that he takes it ,
'CertauIy.'
When the physician was gone, Guillaumc,
pinrrp md Inh,t, l,,y.l .t ,rb ,,bnr in, -il,,,t
perplexity. Their whole stock of money con
sisted Of franc AMI half and yet the medl-
cine must be procured Immediately.
'Lis'cn,' sand Pierre, 4 know a method Of
getting from the mountain three or four five
franc pieces
From the mountain?'
4 have discovered an eagles nest in a cleft
of rlghtiul precipice. There IS a gentleman
at Sallanches, who would gladly purchase the
eaglel5: and nothing made me hesitate but the
terrible risk oftakng them; but that's nothing
when our fathers life IS concerned. We may
have them now iii two hours
4 will rob the nest SAYS Gullaume.'
NO, no, let me- sald Jehan, i am the young
est and hyhtest'
4 haze the best right to venture, said Pierre,
'ls it WIS | who discovered it,
Come said Pierre, 'let Us decide by draw
ing lot. Write three numbers Guilaume
put them into my hat, and whoever draws mum
Der one will try the venture
Gulilaume blackcned the end Of a wooden
spl nter in the ire tore an old card into three
pieces, wrote on them one, Two, three, and
threw them into tn. hat.
:, How the three bearts beat Old Bernard
lay shiyering IN the cold fit, and each of his sons
longed to risk his own life to save that Of thell
father.
The lot fell on Pierre, who had discovered
the nest; he embraced the sick man.
we shall not be long absent he said, 'anc
it is neediul for us to 90 together
'Nhat are YOU going to do"
we will tell you as soon as we come back
Guillaume took down from the wall an ol,
: sabre, which had belonged to Bernard whoi
he served as u soldier; Iehan sought thicI
cord which mount.lncers use when cutting
: down trees and Pierre went towards an ole
wooden cross, reared near the cottage, ans
, kneIt before 1t some minutes III terycut prayer
They soon set out together, and soon reach
ed the brink OF the prccipIce. The danger con
sisted not only IN the possibility Of falling sev
! eral hundred feet, but still more in the proba
bic aggression of the birds Of prey, inhablt!n!
; the wild abyss.
athletic young man Of twenty-five. ilavn.
, measured with his eye the distance he wonl,
have to descend his brothers fastened the core
around his waist, and let him down. oldln
, the sabre in his hand. he safely reached tn
nook !hlt contained the nest. In It were ior
eagles Of a light yeIlowlsh brown color, anI HI
heart beat with joy at the sight Of them. II
graspel the nest firmly in his left hand, an
shouted ioyfuily to his brothers.
i have them! Draw me up
Already the first upward pull Wa} gwen
the cord, when Pierre felt himself attacked b
two enormous eagles, whose furious cries pro'
i cd them 10 be the parents Of the nes'lngs.
Courage, brother! defend thyselt! don'tttgr
Pierre pressed the ues. to his bosom, and Wit
> his right hand made the sabre play around III
; head.
Then began a terrible combat. The eagle
, shrieked, the little ones cried shrlly, the mouI
-. tlnecr shouted and brandIshed his sword. II
sioshcl the birds with lis blade, which t,ashe
like lightning, and only rendered them stl
more euragcd. lie StruC; the rock anI st.
, forth a shower Of Sparns.
Suddenly he felt Il JERK given to the cord tAa
, sustained him. Ioohlng up, he perceived thl
in his cvolutIonS, he had cut It with his sabre
! and that ha. the strands were severed
PIerres eyes dtated wildly, remaining for
moment lmmoveable, and then closed with trl
, ror. a cold shudder pissed through his Nen
ana he thought OF letting 90 both the nest an
sabre.
At that momont one of the eagles poUnco
= on his head, and tried to tear his face. Th
Savoyard made a last effort, and defended hin
self brayey lie thought OF his old father, an
-. took courage.