The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-01-24

the coach was being brough, backwards
What followed was Of suoh swift occur

the coach was being brough, backwards
What followed was Of suoh swift occur
renee that it seems like a frightful dream.
rushed against the door with oil my
force but ii withstood my utmost efforts
One side Of our vehicle was sensibly 60
ing down. down, down. The moaning of
the .agonized animal became deeper, and
knew from his desperate pluuges against
the traces that il was one of our horses
Crash upon crash of coarse thunder play.
ed over the mountain, and vivid lightning
played round our devoted carriage, as if
in glee at our misery. BY its light could
see for moment-only for noment-
the old planter. standing erect with his
hands on his son and daughter, his eyes
raised to heaven, and lips moving like
those of one in prayer. could see
Louise turn her ashy cheeks towards ne
as if imploring protection, and could
see the bold glance ofthe young boy fash
ing indignant defiance at the descending
carriage, the war of elements, and the aw-
full danger that awaited him. There was
roll--s desperate plunge, as Of an ami
NAL in the last throes OF dissolu,ion-a
harsh grating jar-a sharp piercing scream
of mortal terror, and had but time 20
grasp Louise firmly with ene-hand around
the waist, and seize the leather fasteninas
attached to the coach roof with the other,
when We were precipitated over the preci'
pice.
loan distinctly reco'leot preserving con-
seriousness ior faw seconds of time, how
rapidly my breath was being exhausted. :.
a.. 7
lost all further knowledge by concus-
sion so violent that ~ss instantly dep1-
we'd Of sense end motion"
The traveller paused. His features
worked for minu or two xs they did
when we were on the mountain; he pressed
his hands across his forehead, AS if in
pain, and then resumed his interesting mar
ratve:
! "On.a low couch in an humble room
OF q small country house, next opened
my eyes in this world OF light and shade,
10y and serrew, of mirth end sadness.
Gentle hands soo.hed my pillow, gentle
feet glided across my chamber, and q
gentle voice hushed for time all my
questioning. l was carefully attended
BY fair young girl about fifteen who re-
fused for q length OF time, to hold any dis
course with me. At length one morning
finding myself sufficiently recovered to 81.
up. insisted on learning the result of the
incident.
"You were discovered" said she, "sii.
ting on ledge Of rocks, amidst the branch.
~es Of a shattered tree, ciinging TO the roo
of your broken coach with one hand, and
to the insensible form OF lady with the
other.
''And the lady," gasped scanning the
girls face with an earnestness that caused
her to draw back and blush"
'sShe was saved, sir, by the means tha
saved you-the friendly tree"
"And her father and brother 2" impa
tiently demanded.
3 "We found them both crushed to piece,
at the bottom Of the preoipice, grea,way
below where my father and uncle Jos
found you and the lady. We buried thei
bodies in one grave, close by the Glove
patch, down in our meadow ground"
"Poor Louise !! poor orphan God pity
you!" Imuttered in broken tones, u,terl,
unconscious that had listener.
"God pity her, indeed SIR" said tn
young girl. with gush of heartfelt sym
patny. "Would you like to see her 9
she added.
: found the orphan bathed in tears b.
. the grave of her buried kindred. Sh
received me with sorrowful sweetness {
!, manner. need not detain your atten
:, ton by detailing the efforts | made to wi
,. her from her grief, but briefly acquaint yo
;, that at last | succeeded in inducing he
r. to leave her ferlorn home in the sum
= South, and that twelve months after tn
: dreadful occurrence which have related
6 we stood at the alter as man and WIFE,
She still lives 10 bless my love with he
smiles and my children with her good pr,
cepts; but on the anniversary of that TO
, rible night she secludes herselfin her room
and devotes the hours of darkness to sol
- tary prayer. "As for me-" added the ,r
veler, while the faint flush tinged his n
y, BILE brow at the avowal, Gas for me tn
" accident has reduced me to the condi,io
= Of a physical coward at the sight OF
mountain precipice."
ssBut the Driver" asked our lady pa
sengar, who had attended to the recital
. the story with much attention, what b
" came Of the driver, or did you ever lea
70 the reason Of his deserving his post :"
-, "His body was found on the roa
90 within few.steps of the spot where t
-, coach went over. He had been s,ru
q dead by the same fash Of tightening ti
i blinded the restive horses"
- GA person recently returned fre
~ ~, Europe, told his friends he had been PR
y" ent at Court there. Ibid you see I
ny Queen there :" asked one. "Well. nc
10 didn', see her. 'zactly, but seed one
-. her friends-a judge, Yer see," he cs