Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1853-10-08

eyes. His mind wandered strangely, but he
was awake and conscious. The well known
shout Of drunken mrth sounded in his ear
the glass was at his lips-the board was COW
! cred with rich food-they were before him,
he could see them al--hc had but to reach
his hand and take them--and though the H.
lusion was reality ITSELF he knew that he was
sitting alone in this deserted street, watching
the rain drops, as they pattered on the stones
and there were none to care for or help him
Suddenly he started up in the extremity oi
terror. He heard his own voice shouting in
the midnight air--ke knew not what or why
Hark groan Anotherl His senses were
leaving him-half formed and incoherent
words burst from his lips, and bis hands sought
to tear and lacerate his flesh. Ill was going
mad, and he shrieked for help till his voice
failed him.
He raised his head, and looked up the
long, dreary street. He recollected that out
casts like himself condemned to wander day
and night in those dreadful streets, had some.
times gone distracted with their loneliness
He remembered to have heard many years
before, that homeless wretch had once been
found in a solitary corner, sharpening rusty
knife to plunge into his own heart, preferring
death to that endless wandering to and fro
In an instant his resolve was taken; his limbs
received new life; he ran quickly from the
spot, and paused not for breath until he reach
ed the river side.
He crept softly down the steep stone stairs
that led from the commencement of Waterloo
bridge to the waters level He crouched in
to a corner and held his breath as the patro
passed. Never did a prisoners heart throt
with the hope of liberty and life half so ca.
gerly as did that of the wretched man at the
prospect of death. The watch passed close
to him, but he remained unobserved; and af
ter waiting till the sound Of footsteps died
away in the distance, he cautiously descended
and stood beneath the gloomy arch that form'
the landing place from the river.
The tide was in and the water flowed at hi
feet The rain had ceased. the wind was
luled, and all for moment was still and qul
ct; 50 quiet that the ripping of the watel
against the barges that we're moored was dis
tinctlv audible to the ear. The stream stole
anguIdly and sluggishly on, Strange ant
fantastic forms rose to the surface, and beck
oned him to approach; dark, gle aiming eve
! ptcitu from tue water, ana Seemeu 10 n1OCh
his hesitation, while hollow murmurs from be
tlind urged him onward. He retreatcd few
PAGES, took short run, desperate leap, ant
plunged into the river.
Not 6ve seconds had passed when he ros
to the waters surface but what a change hat
taken place in that short time in his thought
and feeingsl Life, in every form, poverty
misery, staryaton-anyth ything but death. H
fought and struggled with the water tha
closed over his head. and screamed in ago
nies of terror. The curse of his own sol
rung in his ears The shore-but one foo
of dry ground-he could almost reach th
step. One hands breadth nearer and he wa
slved-hut the tide bore him onward, unde
the dark arches of the bridge and be sunk t
the bottom. Again he rose, and struggled
for life. For ono instant-for one brief-th
buildings on the rivers bank, the lights on th
bridge under which the current had born
him, the black water and the fast flying cloud
/, were distinctly visible-once more he sun
and again he rose-brigh; lights danced be
fore his eyes, whilst the water thundered i
his ears, and stunned him with their furiou
roar.
A week afterwards the body was washe
ashore some miles down the river, swolle
and disfgured mass. Unreccgnized and ur
pitied, it was borne away TO the grave; ther
it has long since mouldered away.