Weekly hawk-eye and telegraph. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1855-1857, 1857-01-21
me- LEAP fnox M MAIN BllJCllE
49, NJ ssss4s = sssvIs spsasl.


Il was past nidaight--the lights On The |
seyns bridge which cruises Tie river Main ut |
fsaakfost wsss ssill burning. though the foot |
0eeps Of the passsngsn bad died away for |
eosnstins On iss pavement Young |
nan appspashed the bridge fron the town
with hssey sssides Az the same time, an
ether naa, advancsd ia years, Vas csning
towards him from sachsenhauscn, the we'll
known suburb on the opposite side Of the
river. The two had not yet met when the
later tarned from his path, Aod went To-
wardsthe parapet, with the evident intention
Of ieaping from the bridge into the Main.
The young man followed him quickly, and
laid hold III him.
4sir,s said hs. = think you want to drown
aYou think right sir; but wha. /. thu. to
yoa r
Nothing It sll was only going 70 ask
you ~ do mo the favour to wait few min
utes, and allow me TO joi, you Let rs draw
close TO each other and, arm-in-srm, take
The lesp together The idea Il making the
journey with perfect stranger, who has
CHANGED 70 come for the same purpose, il
really interesting Indeed, ] hare not ex-|
perienced anything for some time; and
should not have thought that in my last hour,
% pleasant IN occurrence would happen
Come, sir; for many years have not made
request TO any human being; do not re-
fuse me this one, which must be my last
assure you, do not remember having ever
spent 70 many words about any request what
ever.
50 saying, the young man held ont his
hand His companion took it, and he then
continued, with kind Of enthusiasm $50
be il; Arm.in.arm- now let Us be quick
about II. Il il really charming to feel q hu.
man heart near me In these my last moments.
do not ask what you are, good or bad
come, let 10 drown"
The elder Of the two, who had at first been
In 20 great hurry TO end his existence in
the waters, Of the river, now restrained the
impetuosity Of the younger.
stop, sir, said no, while his weary eye
tried 70 examine the features Of his compan-
ion NJ we'll ~ the Pickering light ofthe near
est lamp would allow--"Stop, sir You
seem to me too young to leave life in this
way nm afraid you are committing rash
act; for a man Of your years, life must have
still bright prospects,
bright prospects lin the midst of rotten
ness and decay, fnlsehood and deceit, vice
and corruption! Come, let us make an end
of it,
And ~ young! Your experience must
have been sad to make you consider all crca-
lures which have the human form a brood of
serpents." 81
''Oh, serpents are noble beings compared
with men; they follow the impulse Of their
nature; they are no hypocrtes, bearing vir
tue on their lips and vice in their hearts.
~ pity You from my heart; but there GER
tainlv are many exceptions to this miserable
rule"
II have found none said the young man.
''Ihcn 1t may be consolation, though q
poor one, that you have found one in this
solemn hour. However much men are
given 10 lnlsehood, there are very few who
lie in the hour of death, within sight Of eter
nifty. But Tor me, have never told a false
hood in my life, and would not for any
thing in the world enter upon the dark road
with a lie upon my lips; and, therefore, when
tell you that am not villain, rs you
secm to think me, but an honest and upright
man. am telling you the simple and I'M
vanished truth"
Indeed ?--that is interesting And SO
must meet the only honest man ! ever saw
in the world, when am on the point of
leaving it, and in his own company
Let me go alone, and do you remain here.
Believe me, there are many good and honest
people, who would render life charming to
you. Seek them, and you are sure to find
them"
well, the FIRST one have found already.
But if life presents itself to you in hues so
bright, | am surprised You wish TO leave it"
oh am poor old sickly man, unable
to earn anything, and who can endure no
longer that his only child, an angel of
daughter, should work day and night to man.
tain him, and even sometimes to procure
him Injuries. No, sir, to allow this longer
must be a tyrant, and barbarian"
"What, siri' exclaimed tho other, almost
terrified, you have an only daughter sacri-
6cing herself for your sake q
And with what patience, what sweetness
what love, what perseverance! | see her
sinking under her toll and privations, and
not a word of complaint escapes from her pal
lid lips She works and starvcs, and still
has always a word Of love, an affectionate
smile for her father"
"Sir, and you want to commit suicide l.
Are you mad p
Dare murder that angel? The thought
pierces my heart like dagger" said the old
man, sobbing,
"Sir, you must have bottle Of wine with
me; see tavern open yonder. Come, you
mnst tell me your history; and, if you have
no objection, will then tell you mine. But
this much may say ut once there's no occa-
sion for you to leap into the river. am
rich, a very rich man; and if things really
are as you represent, your daughter will no
longer have to work. and you shall not
starve"
The old man allowed himself to be dragged
along by his companion. In q few minutes
they were seated at table in the tavern,
with full glasses before them, and each ex-
aiming curiously the features of the other.
Refreshed aud comforted by the effects of
the wine, the old man began thus:
My history is soon told ! am mercan-
tile man; hut tcrtune never fnvuured me- |
had no money myself and loved and mar
ricd poor girl | could never be in busin-
mess ON my own account | took situation
as book-keeper, which held until became
useless from old aye, and younger men were
preferred to me. Thus my circumstances |
we're. always circumscribed, but my domes-
tic happiness was complete My wife was
an angel ofloye, kindness and fondness, good
VII" p'ous WctNc ttuu uHectlOn0te, anu my |
daughter is the true image of her mother
But ase and illness has brought me to the
last extremity, and my conscience reyolts
against the idea Of the best child in the |
world sacrificing her life for an old useless
fellow. cannot have much longer to live
and | hope the Lord will pardon me for cut
ting off a few days or weeks from my life, in |
order to preserve or prolong that ofmy dear
Bertha
You are fortunate man, my friend l., ex-
claimed the young man; q have never seen
more fortunate one. What you call your
misfortune, is sheer nonsense, and can be !
cured at once Tomorrow l will make my
will, and you shall be the heir of all my poss-
.essions, and tomorrow night will take the
leap from the Main Brucke alone. But be-
fore leave this world, must see your Rer-
tina, for am anxious to look upon one who
is worthy the name Of human being 1
but sir, what can have made you so I'M
happy at this early age9 said the old man,
moved with compassion.
II believe that it is my fathers wealth. II
am the only son Of one of the richest bankers
of ~, &c ha,, I ,,>antion .nv mama vnni