Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-10-15
EVENING STAR.
THE sMITH OF RAGENRacK

Il
| burg, is village called Ragenbach, where
about twenty years ago the following heart.
rending but heroic event took place One af.
ternoon in the early spring or autumn. INV
kind informant did not exactly know which,
in the tavern-room of Rsgenbach, several men
and women having assembled from the vii.
lsge, sat at their ease, none anticipating what
would happen on that eventful day The
smith formed one Of the merry company, a
strong, vigorous man, with a resoIute counte-
nance and daring mein, but also with such q
good natured smile upon his lips that every
one who saw him admired him Every evil
disposed person Stunned him. for the valiant
smith would allow nothing wrong in bis pres
ence, and it was not advisable to have any
thing to do with him except in a proper man
ner. His arms were like bars of iron, and his
fists like forge hammers, so that few could
equal bis strength of body.
The brave smith sat near the door chatting
with one of bis neighbOrs, L know not what !;
all at once the door sprung open, and large
dog came staggering into the room, a great,
strong, powerful beast, with ferocious, fright.
ful aspect, his head was hanging down and
his eyes bloodshOt, his red colored tongue
hanging halfway out Of his mouth, and his
tail dropped between his legs. Thus the fe.
rociOus beast entered the room, out of which
there was no escape but by one door Scarce
ly had the smiths neighbor, who was bath
keeper of the place, seen the animal, when he
became desthly pale, sprang up and exclaim-
ed with hOrrid voice, "Good Heavens, the
dog is mad 10
Then rose an outcry The room was full
| of men and women, and the foamiug beast
| stood before the only entrance; no one could
leave without passing him. He snapped saw
sgely right and left, and no one could pass
him without being bitten This increased the
horrible confusion. All sprang up and shrank
from the furious dog with agonizing counte-
nances. Who should deliver them from him {?
The smith also stood among them, and as he
saw the anguish Of the people, it flash ed across
his mind how many Of his happy and content
ed neighbors would be made miserable bv n
mad dog, and he formed a resolution. the
like of which is scarcely to be found in the
history Of the human race for high minded
ness and nobleness. Certainly his brown
cheek paled little, but his eyes sparkled
with divine fire, and an elevated resolution
shone from the smooth brow of the simple.
minded man
"Back ALL" thundered he with his deep
strong voice. 4" Let no one stir, for no one can
vanquish the beast but /. One victim must
fall in order to save all. and will be that
victim, will hold the brute, and whilst do so,
make your escape " The smith had scarcely
spoken these words, when the dog started to-
wards the shrieking people. But he went not
far. "With Gods help 80 cried the smith,
and he rushed upon the foaming beast, seized
him with an iron grasp, and dashed him to the
door.
Oh, what a terrible struggle followed! The
dog bit furiously upon every side in a most
frightful manner. His long teeth tore the
arms and thighs of the heroic smith, but he
would not let him loose. Regardless alike Of
the excessive pain and the horrible death
which must ensue, he held down with an iron
grasp the swapping, biting, howIing brute un-
til all had escaped till all, all were rescued
and in safety. lie then flung the half strangled
beast from him against the wall, and dripping
with blood and venomous foam, he left the
room, locking the door after him. Some per-
sons shot the dog through the windows But
oh merciful God, what will become of the
brave, unfortunate smith
Weeping and lamenting, the people sur
round him, who had saved their lives at the
expense of his own "Be quiet, my friends.
do not weep for me-" be said, one must die
in order to save the others. Do not thank me,
for have only performed my duty. When I
am dead think OF me with love, and now pray
for me that God will not let me suffer long or
too much. will take care that no further
mischief shall occur through me, for / must
certainly become mad. He went straight 10
his workshop, and selected strong chain, the
heaviest and frmest from his whole stock lie
then, with his own hands, welded it upon his
own limbs and around the anvil go firmly that
no power on Garth could break it There, -
said he, "its done," after silently and sol
emnly completing the work. "Now you are
secure, and inoffensive, so long as live, bring
me my food. The rest leave to God into
his hands commend my spirit" Nothing
could save the brave smith, neither tears. la
mentations and prayers. Madness seized
him, and after nine days he died-but truly,
he died only to awake to a more beautiful
and glorious life at the right hand of God He
died, but his memory will live from genera
tion to generation, and will be venerated to
the end of time.
Search history through, and you will find
no action more glorious and sublime than the
deed of this simple minded man, the smith Of
Ragenbach 1t is easy for noble minds to die
like Winkelreid or Martius Curtius, the high
spirited Roman yOuth-but to 90 to the sacIi-
fee with the certainty Of death, and moreover.
being obliged to wait death so awful, during
long, fearful hours and days-that is to die
not once but thousand times. And such a
death was that Of the smith Of Ragenbach
Such sacrifice the smith of Ragenbach made
in order to save his neighhors. May the mem
Dry ever be sacred Practical Christian