The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1856-09-18
WHOLE NUMBER 5S4.



rending but also heroic event took place.
One afternoon in the early spring or autumny
nv Kind inforElent did not exactly know
which, in the taVernro at Reg genbach.
several men and women having assembled
from the village, sat at their ease, none an
ticiputing what would happen on that event.
full day. The smith formed one Of the
merry companysa strong, vigorous man,
with resolute conuntenance and daring
mein, but also with such a good natured
smile upon his lips that every one who saw
him admired him. Every evil disposed per-
son 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 a proper manner. His
arms were like bars of iron, and his fists
like forge hammers, so that few could equal
him in strength OF body.
The brave smith sat not far from the door
chatting with one of his neighbors, / know
not of what; all at once the door spraDg open.
and large dog came staggering into the
room, great, strong, powerful beast, with
ferocious, frightful aspect, his head was
hanging down, and his eyes blood-shot; his
lead. colored tongue hanging halfway out of
his open mouth, and his tail dropped between
his legs. Thus the ferocious beast entered
the room, out of which there was no escape
but the one door. Scarcely had the smiths
neighbor, who was bath-keeper Of the place,
seen the animal, when he became deathly
pale, sprang up and exclaimed with hor-
rifed voice, "Good Heaven, the dog is mad!"
Then rose an ou'cry! 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 in.
creased the horrible confusion. All sprang
up and shrank from the ferocious dog with
agonzed countenances. Who should de-
liver them! The smith stood up 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, he
formed resolution, the like OF which Is
scarcely found in the history of the human
race for high -mindedness and nobleness.--
Certainly his brown cheeks paleda little,
but his eyes sparkled with divine fire, and an
elevated resolution shone from the smooth
| b,o,,, of ho 81 Ia dod man
Back all J" thundered he with his deep,
strong voice. "Let no one stir, for no ons
can vanqush the beast but One vic
tim must fall in order to save the rest and
l 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 towards the shrieking
y people. But he went not far. "With
Gods help!" cried the smith, and he rushed
: upon the foaming beast, seized him with an
iron grasp and dashed him to the floor.
Oh what terrible struggle followed -
The dog bit furiously upon every side in
most frightful manner. His long teeth tore
: the arms and thighs of the heroic smith.
Il but he would not let him loose. Regard
'' less alike of the excessive pain and the hor-
" rib!e death which must ensue, he held down
with an iron grasp, the swapping, biting,
t bowling brute until all had escaped till
all, all were rescued and in safety. He
then flung the half strangled beast from him
against the wall, and dripping with blood
and venomous foam, he left the room, lock-
- ing the door after him. Some persona
shot tho dog through the windows. But,
e oh! merciful God, what will become of the
Il brave, unfortunate smith!
Weeping and lamenting, the people sur
= rounded him, who had saved their lives at
l. the expense of his own. "Be quiet, my
friends, do not weep for me-" said he, zone
must die in order to save the others. Do
I'd not thank me, for have only done my duty.
} When | am dead, think of me with love,
i'd and now pray for me that God will not let
70 me suffer long or too much. will take
e care that no further mischief shall occur
J, through me, for must certuinly become
It mad" He went straight to his ork-shop.
l. and selected strong chain, the heaviest and
h frmest chain in his whole stock. He then
id with his own hands, weldedit upon his own
II limbs and around the anvil SO firmly that no
= power on earth could break it. "There," "
At said he,"it' done," after having silently and
solemnly completed the work. "NOw
'. you are secure, and am inoffensive;s SC
i long as live, bring me my food. The rest
se I leave to God; into his hands / commend
as my spirit" Nothing could save the brave
", smith, neither tears, lamentations, nor
lie prayers. Madness seized bin, and after nine
ps days he died-but truly be died only to
; wake to more beautiful aud glorious life
at the right hand Of God. He died, but his
a memory will live from generation to gsner-
an alton, and be venerated to the endof time.
np Search history through, and you will find
A no action more glorious and sublime than
ng the deed of this simple-minded man, the
ur smith of Regenbacb. It Is easy for noble
90 minds to die like Winkeiried Or Martius
utl Curtius, the high-spirited Roman youth--bui
81 to 90 to the sacrifice with the certainty Of
>, doath and narrower. heinz ohliged ID wait