The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1856-12-10

pality Of Hohenlohe, Lauenburg, is village
called Ragenbach, where about twenty years
ago the following heart t-rending but also heroic
event took place One afternoon in the early
spring or autumn my kind informant did not
exatsy know which, in the tavern room of Ra-
genburg, several men and women having as
sembled from the village. sat at their ease,
none anticipating what would happen on that
eventful day. The smith formed one of the
merry company, strong, vigorous man, with
a resolute countenance. and daring men, but
also with such 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 his presence, and it was not advisable to
have anything to do with him except in proper
manner. His arms were like bars Of iron, and
his fists like forge hammers, so that few could
equal his strength of body.
The brave smith sat near the door chatting
with one of his neighbors, l know not what; all
at once the door sprang open, and a large dog
came staggering into the room, a great, strong,
powerful beast, with ferocious, frightful as
pect, his head was hanging down and his eyes
bloodshot, his red colored tongue hanging half
way out of his mouth, and his tail dropped be-
tween his legs Thus the ferocous beast en-
tered the room, out of which there was no es-
cape but by one door. Scarcely had the smith
neighbor, who was bath keeper Of the place, |
seen the animal, when he became deathly pale, |
sprang up and exclaimed, with a horrid voice,
.'Good Heavens, the dos is madn'
Then rose an outcry! The room was full Of
men and women, and the foaming beast stood
before the only entrance; no one could leave
without passing him. He snapped savagely
right and left, and no one could pass him without
being bitten. This increased the horrible con
fusion. All sprang up and shrank from the fu-
rious dog with agonising countenances. Who
should deliver them from him? The smith also
stood among them, and as he saw the anguish
of the people. it flashed across his mind how
many Of his happy and contented neighbors
would be made miserable by 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 rnindedness and nobleness. Ger
tainly his brown cheeks pa!ed a little, but his
eyes sparkled with divine fire, and an elevated
resolution shone from the smooth brow of the
simple minded man.
Back ALL" Numbered he, with mis- deep,
strong voice, ''let no one stir, for no one can
vanquish the beast but l. One victim must
fall in order to save all, and | will be that vic
tim; will hold the brute, and whilst 1 do SO,
make your escape" The smith had scarcely
spoken these wesds, when the dog started to-
wards the shreking people. Buthe went not far:
"Wth Gods hepn' cried the smith, and he
rushed upon the foaming beast, seized him with
an iron grasp, and dashed him to the floor.
Oh what a terrible struggle followed! The
dog bit furously upon every side in most fright
full 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 horrible death which must ensue, he
held down with an iron grasp the swapping, BIZ
ting, howling brute until all had escaped-till
all, all were rescued and in safety! He then
flung the hal-strangled beast from him against
the wall and dripping with blood and venomous
foam, he left the room locking the door after
him. Some persons shot the dog through the
windows. Bot Oh! merciful God, what will be-
come of the brave, unfortunate smith?
Weeping and lamenting, the people surround
him, who had saved their lives at the expense
Of his own. "Be quiet, my friends; do not weep
for me, he said, Zone must die in order to save
the others. Do not thank me, for | have only
performed my duty When I am dead, think
CT me with love, and now pray for me that God
will not let me suffer long OF TOO much. | will
take care that no further mischief shall occur
through me, for | must certainly become mad"
He went straight to lis workshop, and selected
a strong chain, the heaviest and frmest, from
his whole stock. He then, with his own hands,
welded it upon his own limbs and around the
anvil so firmly that no power on earth could
hro no ii g fta,
silently and solemnly completing the work.
Now | am secure and inotfensve, SO long as
l live, bring me my food. The rest leave to
God; into his hands I commend my spirit."
Nothing could save the brave smith, neither
tears, lamentations and prayers. Madness seIz-
ed him, and after nine days be died--but truly,
he died only to awake to more beautiful and
glorious life at the right hand Of God. He died,
but his memory will live from generation to gen
eration 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 supplemented man, the smith Of
Ragcnbach. 1t is easy for nooIe minds to die
like WinkeIred or Martus Cur;ius, the high
spirited Roman youth, but to 90 to the sacrl
fee with the certainty Of DEATH and, moreover,
being obliged to await death so awful during
long fearful hours and days-that is do die not
once, but a thousand times. And such death
was that of the smith of Ragenbach. Such a
sacrifice the smith of Ragenbach made in order
to save his ncighbors May his memory ever
be sacred.
GERMAN NSUPERNATURALIsM-Jnt the new col
lection of German legends, by Ferdinand Bas
sier, occurs the following story: a certain
queen lay desd in bed Of state, in a room hung
with black. At night the room was lighted
with wax tapers, and a captain, with nine and
forty men, was stationed on guard in the ante
chamber. Towards midnigh the captain, hear
ing a coach and six draw up to the CASTLE went
down to meet it, when he was met by a lady of
noble appearance, clad in mourning, who ask
ed his permission to remain short time by the
dead body. He objected that it was not in his
power to grant the request, but she called her
self by a familiar name, and argued that as
the late queens 'gouvenante,' she had right
to see her before she was buried.