Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1852-09-25
\ UbriIIiu9 GlIrttI).
THE THREE SONS.
A TALE OF NIID-AiR.

In college in the valley of Sallanches,
near the foot of Mont Blanc, lived old
Bernard and his three sons. One morning
he lay in bed sick, and burning with fever
watched anXiously for the return of his son
Jehan, who had gone TO fetch physician.
At length horses tread was heard, and
soon afterwards the doctor entered. He
examined the patient closely, felt his pulse,
looked at his tongue, and then said, patting
the old mans cheek, ''it will be nothing,
my friend-nothing but he made sign TO
the three lads, who, open-mouthed and
anxious, stood grouped around the bed
All four withdrew to a distant corner, the
doctor shook his head, thrust out his lower
lip and said 'ris serious attack-very
serous--of fever. He is now in the height
Of the fit, and as soon as ii abates, he must
have sulphate Of quinine.'
'What is that, doctor!'
'Quinine, my friend is very expensive
medicine, but which you may procure at
SaIlanches. Between the two fits your fa-
ther must take at least three francs worth.
l will write the prescription. You can
read, GuilIaume p
'Yes DOCTOR"
'And you will see that ne takes il p
'Certalnly.'
When the physician was gone, Gull
laume, Pierre nd Jehan looked at each
other in silent perpleXity. Their whole
stock of money consisted OF franc and a
half, and yet the medicine must be procur-
ed Immediately.
LjSten,' said Pierre, Il know method
of getting from the mountain before night
three or four five-tranc pieces.
'From the mountain 2
Il have discovered an eagles nest in a
cleft of a frightiul precipice. There is a
gentleman at Salanches, who would gladly
purchase the eagles; and nothing made me
hesitate but the terrible risk of taking
them; but that's nothing when our father,
life is concerned. We may have them
now in two hours"
'I will rob the nest,' said Gulllaume.
'No, no, let me- said JehaB, 81 am the
youngest and lighteSt.
q have the best right to venture,' saiC
Pierre, 'aS it was | who discovered it,
'Come,' said Pierre, 'let US decide by
drawing lots. Write three numbers, Gull.
laume, put them into my hat, and whoever
draws number one will try the venture"
Gulllaume blacked the end of a wooder
splinter in the fire tore an old card into
three pieces wrote on them one, two
three, and threw them into the hat.
How the three hearts beat Old Ber
nard lay shivering. in the cold fit, and eacI
Of his sons longed TO risk his own life, t
; save that Of his father.
The lot fell on Pierre, who had discover
ed the nest he embraced the sick man:
. 'We shall not be long absent, father,' h
said, sand it is needlul for US to go tc
u gether.'
'What are you going 10 do p
'We will tell You as soon as we C
- back
:. Guillaume took down from the
c old sabre, which had belonged to
+ when he had served as a soldit.
= sought a thick cord which the mon.- A
eers use when cutting down trees; and !
ere went towards an old wooden Gro
= reared near the cottage, and knelt before
for some minutes in fervent prayer.
h They set out together, and soon reach
SIS the brink of the precipice. The dang
consisted not only in the possibility OF {
ling several hundred feet, but still more
n. the probable aggression of the birds
prey, inhabting the wild abyss.
Pierre, who was to brave these per-
to was a fine athletic young man of twen
;" two. Having measured with his eyes
ldistance he would have 10 descend, his b