The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1853-03-12
FOR THE BOYS g. GIRLS,
TTlN Mo 7 III.
FIFE AVALANCHE.

tl' .NIS.wicr1 arrc> and acres of snow shoot
from som" mountain side. plunging into the
vall"s below. damming up streams and some
times overwhelming and DESTROYING whole
Villages. Travellers over the Alps often see
them in the distance. or hear the noiScwhich
s Tx" the report q heavy cannon: sometimes.
also, they are buried beneath them. and find
4 grave without collin or kncll
When NAPOLEON was carrying war into It
ally. he ordered one Of his officers. Marshal
Macdonald. to cross tie Spluecn with fifteen
thousand >o'd;rrS and ioin him on the plains
below TIE SpInrrn i one Of the grrat roa's
which cross The Alps from Switzerland to fla
IL. When Macdonald received the order, it
was about the last of November. and the win
ter storms were rain" among the mountain
passes |, was prrouS undertaking, vet he
mus, o cy. and the men hcgan their terrible
march throu@h narrow drfilcS and ovcrhan"-
inu prcripicc>. six thonSand feet w, up, up
The cannon was placed on s'c'l> drawn by
oxen. and the ammunition was packed on
mules. First came the gridrS stirkin" their
lon" black poles in the snow in order to find
the path: then came the Dragons, mounted
ON their most powerful horses. to beat down
thc track: after which followed the main body
Of the army. I}lrv rn"ountrr"d severe storms
and irrrinr coll When half way mp the
summit. a rrmllns noise was heard amnng
the cliffs. The Guides looked at each other
in alarm. for they knew well what it meant.
1t Grew londcr and loudrr. "\n avalanche.
an avalanchr" they >hricked. and the next
moment fell Of zee and snow came leapin"
down the mountain >trikin. the line Of march
and sweeping thirty Dragons in wild plunge
below. The black forms Of the horses and
their riders were seen for IN instant StrrT
cling for Fife, and then they disappeared tor
ever. The sight struck the soldiers with hor
ror: they erouchel and >hivcrcd in the last.
Their enemy was not now flesh and blood.
but wild winter >torm>; swords and bavonct>
conld not defend them from the drsolating
avalanche. Flight or retreat was hopeless.
for all around Law the drittcd w.likc vast
winlinu->hrct On they must 20, or death
was certain and the brave men struggled for
warl
..SollicrS." exclaimed their commander,
'.vou are called to Italy: your General needs
Won. Advance and conquer, first the noun
tain and the snow, then the plains and the
rHomv."
Blinded hv the winds. hcnumhcl with the
cid and far bcvong the reach of aid, Mac,lon
ALL pressed on. Sometimes whole companies
OF soldiers were suddenly Swcnt away. On
owe OCCASION, poor drummer, rr1wllnr ont
from the mass Of snow which Ind torn him
from his comrades. BEGAN to beat his drum
for relief The mul'irl sound came up from
his Gloomy resting place, ana vas Heard by
his brother soldiers, but none could 80 to his
rescue. For an hour he beat rapidly: then
the strokes grew faint ard fainter. until they
were heard no more and the poor drummer
laid himself down to die Two weeks were
occupied in this pcrilous march.and two hun
drcd men persisted in the undertaking.
This passage of the Splugcn is one of til,
hraveSt exploits in the history of Napoleon
generals. and illustrates the truth of the well
known saving, "Whcrc there is will. Their
is a way
No one can read Of heroic deed, like thi,
of brave men Graphing with danger and deaf
without feeling of respect and admiration
but hcrcic deeds are ALWAYS the fruit of IN
and rIt-snrrfcc. No one can accomp>
great things. unless he AIMS at great thng
and pur<ucS that aim with unilinchin. con
arc and perseverance. But always rcm"mh'
that the highest aim i. to live a heavenly lf
and the true> heroism is to conquer YOU
self