True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1856-12-17
THE SMITH Of RAGENBACH.

ID the priucipaaliity 0f Hohenlohe, Lsau- La
Igenburg, is village called Ragenbacb,
where's about twenty years ago., the fol-
lowing heart.rending, but also heroic
event took place 3 .'.
One afternoon, in the early spring or
autumn, my kind informant did not know
exactly which, in the tavern-foom of
Ragenbach, several men and women hav-
ing assembled from the village, sat at
their ease, none anticipating what would
happen on that eyehtlut day. 'rhe smith
formed one Of the merry company,
strong; vigorous man, with resolute
c6uGtehance and daring mien, but also
with such good-natured smile upon his
j lips that every one who saw him admired
him. Every evil disposed person shun-
ned him, for the valiant smith would allow
nothing wrong in his presence, and it
was not advisable TO have anything 10 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 SIR ength of body. aoid s.l I,
The brave smith, sat near the door
cla!lin G with one. of his neighbors, l
know not what: all at once the door
sprang open, and a large dog came stag
gering into the room, great, strong,
powerful beast, with ferocious, fiightful
aspect his head was hanging down, and
his eyes bloodshot, his rel. .colored tongue
hanging half way out Of his mouth, and
his tail dropped between his legs. THUS
The ferocious beast entered the room, out
Of which there was no escape but by one
door. Scarcely had the. smith s neighbor,
who was balh-kecper Of the place, seen
} the animal, when he became deathly pale,
sprang up and exclaimed with horrid
voice, Good Heaven, the dog is mad =
! / Then arose an ouIcry! 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 Bit
ten. This increased the horrible confu-
sion A Il spraug up and shrank from the
ferocious dog with agonizing countenances
: Who should deliver them from him D.
3 The smith also stood among them, and as
: he saw the anguish of the people it fash
ed across his mind how many of his hap
py and contented neighbors would be
: made miserable by being bit by mad
= dog, and he formed a resolution the like
S of which is scarcely to be found in the
history Of the human race for high mind.
edness and nobleness. Certainly his
t brown check paled little. but his eyes
! sparkled with Divine 6e, and an elevated
| resolution shone from the smooth brow
of the simple minded man. .....
Back all = thuldered he, with his
t deep, strong voice. Letno one stir, for
no one can vanquish the brute but L.
! One victim must fall in order 10 save all,
and | will be that victim; | will hold the
brute, and while do so make your es-
! cape The smith had scarcely spoken
: these words when The dog started toward
n the shrieking people. But he went not
d far. With Gods helpr cried the smith,
: and he rushed upon the foamng beast,
e seized him with an iron grasp, and dashed
/, him 10 the floor.
0, what terrible struggle followed !
D The dog bit Guriously on every side, in a
4 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 epsue,
(, he held down, with an iron grasp, the
8 swapping, biting, bowling brute, until all
had escaped; till all were rescued and in
S safety, He then flung the halfstrangled
l beast from him against the wall, and,
+ dripping with blood apd venomous foam,
r he left the room, locking the door after
!, him. Some persons shot the dog through
a the windows, But O.! merciiul God,
what will become of the brave, unforlu.
nate smith ID ,.,iy...... ,rn
: Weeping and lamenting the people
II surrounded him who had saved their lives
e at the expense of his own. Be quiet,
i my friends; do not weep for me, for |
IS have only performed my duty. When
!, am dead think of me with love, and now
i pray for me, that God will not lot me suff.
Il er long or too much. Iwill take care
that no further mischief shall occur thro'
me, for / mnst certainly become mad.
He went straight to his workshop, and
= selected long chain, the heaviest and
! FINEST 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 break it,
There said he, : it's done, after silent
ly and solemnly completing the work.
. Now you are secure, | am inoffensive.
!! So long as l live bring me my food. The
e rest leave to God; into his hands j
9 commend my spirit Nothing could save
y the brave smith; neither tears, lementa-
d tions, nor prayers. Madness seized him,
and after nine Is ays he died but truly he
died only to awake to a more beautiful
and glorious life at the right hand Of Cpd,
q He died, but his memory will live from
10 generation 10 generation, and will be ven
Grated TO the end Of time.