Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1856-06-27

the click of muskets; and two soldiers
crept along the cliff. Seeing no one, for
Hans was hidden by the old tree, they
gave the signal to some comrades in the
distance.
Hans saw instantly the plot and the
danger The secret of the signal pile had
been revealed to the enemy a party had
been sent forward to destroy it the army
was marching to attack the village. With
no thought of his own peril, and perhaps
recalling the proverb his mother had quo
ted, he seized the tinder, struck the light.
and flung the blazing turpentine brand
into the pile
The two soldiers, whose backs we're
turned to the pile, awaiting the arrival Of
their comrades, were seized with fear +;
but they soon saw there were no foes in
ambush-none but a single youth run
ming down the mountain path. They
fired, and lodged a bullet in the boys
shoulder. Yet the signal-fre was blazing
high, and the whole country would be
reused. 1t was already aroused from
mountain-top to mountain-top. The plan
of the advantage army was defeated, and
a hasty escape followed.
Hans, faint and bleeding, made his way
to the village. The people, with their
arms, were mastering thick and fast. All
was CONSERVATION. The inquiry was
everywhere heard, Who lighted the
pile p at was ]" said at last faint,
almost expiring voice. Poor crippled
Hans tottered among them, saying, "The
enemy-the French were there" He
faltered and sank upon the ground
Take me to my mother" said he " at
asst l have not been useless"
| They stopped to lift him. "What is
this ?? they cried; she has been shot.
ltis true; Hans, the cripple, has saved
US" They carried Hans to his mother,
ard laid him before her. As she bowed
il anguish over his pale face Hans opened
his eyes and said, " 1t is not now dear
mother, you should weep for me; / am
happy now. Yes, mother, it is true,
"God has his plan
For every man.
You see he had it for me, though we did
not know what it was"
Hans did not recover from his wound
but he lived long enough to know that he
had been of use to his village and the
country; he lived to see grateful moth
ers embrace his mother, to hear that she
should be considered sacred and hon
ored bequest TO the community which her
son had preserved at the cost of his own
life.
Great emergencies like those which
met Hans, cannot exist in the history ol
all. To all, however, the Tyrolese motto
may speak, and all viii experience its
ruth. None need stand useless members
of Gods great family. There is work
for every one to do, if he will but look
out for it. So long as there is ignorance
to instruct, want to relieve, sorrow to
soothe, let there be no drones IN the hive.
no idlers in the great vineyard of the
world.
l. In the above narrative which was
the most useful to his country, the poor
crippled boy who lighted the FIRE on the
mountain top, or a common, able-bodied
soldier?
2. If any one feels Uery anxious tc
be useful in some way, and labors very
diligently for this object, may any one be
successful?
3. Should persons choose useful oc.
cupation because they lore to be useful
or win it answer just s.. well, to choose
very useful employment because we
can make more money in such an en-
ployment Little Pilgrim.