The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1857-02-11

1 ten. This increased the horrible con-
/, fusion All rose up and shranka from.
{ the furious dog with agoDizing eountsn.i
ances. What should deliver them from
him? The Smith also stood among
them, and as he saw the anguish Of che
people, it flashed across his mind many
of his happy and eonteLted neighbersI
would be made miserable by the bite Of
mad-dog, and be formed resolution,
the like Of which is scarcely TO be found
in the history Of the human race for
high-mindedness and nobleness. Csr-'
| tainly his brown cheek paled a little.
but his eyes sparkled with divine fre'
and an elevated resolution shone from
the smooth brow of the simple-minded
man. y aoi
.'Back, all ~ thundered he with HE
deep, strong voice "tet none stir, for
no one can yanquish the beast but Ii-rit
one victim must fall in order to save all,
and L will be that victim 7 will held
the brute, and while do so, make your
escape"
The smith had scarcely spoken these
words, when the dog started towards the
shriekiDg people. But he went not far.
with Gods helpi" cried the smith, {
and he rushed upon the foaming BEAST >
seized him in an iron grip, and dashed
him on the floor. agsdo 81
Oh what terrible struggle follow
ed The dog bit furiously on eyery,
side in frightful manner. His long
teeth tore the arms and thigs of the hes
roic Smith, but be would not let him
loose. Regardless alike Of the exces@
sive pain and the horrible death which
must ensue, he held down with an iron.
grasp the swapping, biting, houlipg
brute, until all had escaped-till all,
all were rescued in safety. He then
flung the half strangled beast from him
against the wall, and dripping with blood
and venomous foam, be lefs the reomsl
locking the door after him. Some per-
sons shot the dog through the window
Bnt oh, merciful God, what win become
of the brave unfortunate smith, . {
Weeping and lamentiug, the people
surrounded him 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 70
save,the others Do not thank me for
I have only performed my duty. When
am dead think of me with love, and
now pray for me that God will mot lss
me suffer long or too much. Twill take 2
care that no further mischief shall ocS
cur through me, for I must certainly be-
come mad"
He want straight to his workshop.
selected strong chain, the heaviest and
irmest of his whole stock. He then,
with his own hands, welded it upon his
limbs and around the anvil so firmly
that no human power could break it. 8.
s.There tits DONE" said be, after silent
ly and solemnly completing the work. q
Snow you are secured, and am iuof.
fensiye as long as I live, and you can
bring me my food. The rest leave 10
God, into his hands I commit my spir-
it." -
Nothing could save the brave smith.
neither tears, lamentations, nor prayers
Madness seized him, and after nine days +
he died, but truly he died to awake TO {
the more beautiful and glorious life ~
at the right hand of God. He died
but his memory will live from geners-
tion to- generation, and will be vensr-
ated at the end of time sa54ao2
Search history through and you win
find no action more glorious and sub
lime than the deed Of this simple smith
of Ragenbach. 1t is easy for people TO
die like Wilkleried or Martina Curtius,
the high spirited Roman youth-but 70
go to sacrifice with the certainty Of.
death, and, moreover, be obliged to
await death SO terribly awful, during
long, fearful hours and ds5s-that is to
die not once but a Thousand times.--i
And such death was that of the smith
of Ragenbach made In order to save his
May his memory ever bssaE
cred--P Practical Chrsstias. ..o