New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1856-10-25
The Smith Of RagenbacIl. !.

The Smith Of Ragenbaeh.
In the Principaity of Hohenlohe, Laugenburg isa
Sllage called Ragenbach, where about twenty years
TOOK place. One afternoon in the early spring or au
tnnnIl--my kind host did not exactly know whieh-n
the tavern-room Of Ragenbach, several men and wo-
men having assembled from the village sat at theft
ease, none anticipating what would happen on that
eventiui day. The smith formed one Of the merry
company strong, vigorous man, with resolute
countenance and daring mien, but also with such a
good natured smile upon his lips that every one who
saw him admired him. Every evil disposed persOn5
Stunned him, for the valiant smith would allow no
thing wrong in his presence, and it not advisable
to have anything to do with him except in proper
manner. His arms were like bars Of iron and hfs fists
IKE forge hammers, SO that few could equal his
strength Of body. e. $
The brave smith sat near the door chatting with one
o. MS neighbors, know not what all at once the
door sprang open, and. large dog came staggering
eo srocoes ion t09 stS tSTeas strong With
down. and his eyes bIoodshot his red eolored tongue
banging half way out Of his mouth, and bis tail drop
PED between his legs Thus the ferocious beast en-
by door Scarcely had the smiths neiehbor. who
was bathkeeper Of the place, seen the animal, when
he became deathly pale, sprang up, and exclaimed
with tn horrid voice (" Good Heavens dog ismadF'
Then rose an outcry The room was full of men
ahd women, and the foaming beast stood before the
3nly entrance no one could leave without passing
mm. dc snapped sayagely right and left and no
one one could pass him without being bitten This IN
creased the horrible confusion. All sprang up and
snrank from the furious dog with agonzing counten-
anGtb ;t5 I VINO 5 should deliver them from him? The
gush OF the people, il flashed across his mind how
many OF his happy and contented neghbors would be-
made miserable 11 by mad dog and be formed reso-
history of the human race for hgh-Inindedness and
nobeness. Certainly his brown cheek paIed a little
but his eyes sparkled with divine fire and an elevated
| nlttfyr a<-tp F,c,at
k.ninded man.
" Back all" thundered he with his deep strong
voice Let no one stir, for no can vanquish the
beast but I. One victim must fall in order to save
all, and will be that victim will hold the brute,
| and whilst do SO, make yhur escape.n The smith
had scarcely spoken these words, when the dog
started towards the shrieking people But be went
rushed upon the foan1ing beast seized him with an
| iron grasp, and dashed him to the floor @
Oh, what a furious struggle followed. The dog BIT
furously upon every side in most rghtfn 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
that must ensue he held down with iron grasp the
swapping biting, bowling brute until all had escaped.
till ALL all were rescued and in safety. Hethen flung
the hafstrangled beast from him against the WALL
and dripping with blood and yenomous foam, he left
the room, locking the door after him. Some persons
shot the dog through the windows. But oh mercifuE
God, what will become Of the brave, unfortunate
smith =. "a. sf:s, ~ An, tss5 zs5se5= ,s<sys
| "
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
am dead think of me with love, and now pray for
me that God will not let suffer long or too much
will take care that no further mischief shall occur
through me, for must certainly become rnad.' He
went straight to his workshop and selected strong
chain, the heaviest and rmest from his whole stock.
He then, with his own hands, welded it upon his own
limbs and around the anvil so firmly that powero
cart braaL fcaif ho Jcr,a
after silently and solemnly completing the work.
Now you are secure and inotensive ; so long as
live bring food The rest leave to God into his
hands commend my sprit.h Nothing could save the
brave smith, neither tears lamentations and prayers.
Madness seized him, and after nine days he died-but
truly he died only to awake to more beautiful and
glorious life at the right hand of God. He died. hut
his memory will live from generation togeneration
and will be Yenerated to the end of time. .Ngz5
Search history through, and you will find no action
more glorious and sublime than the deed Of this s
pie minded man, the smith of Ragenbach. It is easy
for noble minds to die like Winkelred or hfartius
Curtius, the high spirited Roman youth-bnt to 60
the sacrifice with the certainty of death, and more
over being obliged to wait a death. so awful, during
long, fearful hours and days-that is to die not once
buta thousand times. And such death was that Of
the smith of Ragenbach. Such sacrifice the smith Of
Ragenhach made in order to save his Reighbora May
his memory ever be sacred ,-.5 - W. =,
JOHN ADAMS RELIG1oN.--In the new life of the
second President of the United States written by his
SfduuSOu, ClaIleS fIluCs AQallS, we are tlat
John Adams devoted himself to very elaborate ex-
animation of the religion of all ages and nations, the
result of which he committed to paper in desultory
manner. q The issue of it was the formation of bis
theological opinions very much in the mould adapted
by the Unitarians of New England. Rejecting, with
the Independent spirit which in early life had driven
him from the ministry, tire prominent doctrines of
Cavinlsm, the trinity the atonement and election he
was content to settle down upon the Sermon on the
Mount as perfect code presented to man by a more
than moral teacher Further, he declined to analyze
he lived in uninterrupted serenity, and in it he died
with perfect resignation.'' .s s