The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1857-02-14
The Smith Of Rag nback.

In the Principality of Hohcnlohe, Lau-
genburg, isa village called Ragenback. where
about twenty years ago the following heart
rending but also heroic event took place
! One afternoon in the early spring or au
tumn, my informant did not exactly know
which, in the tavern-room of RagenbaclI,
several men and women having assembled
| from the village, sat at their case, none an
ticipating what would happen on that event
full day. The smith formed one OF the lner-
| ry company, strong, vigorous man, with a
resolute countenancc and daring mein, but
also with such good-natured smile upon
his lips that every one who saw him admir-
ed him. Every evil-disposed person shun-
ned him. for the valient smith would allow
nothing wrong in his presence, and it was
not advisable to have anything to do with
him except in proper manner. His arms
were like bars of iron, and his fists like
forge hammers SO shat fewl. aND I,i!sil
strength Of body.
! The brave smith sat near the door chat
ting with one of his neighbors, | know not
what; all at once the door sprang 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 blOodshot, his
red-colorod tongue hanging half way out of
his mouth. his tail dropped between his legs
Thus the ferocious beast entered the room,
out of which there was no escape but By one
door, Scarcely had TIE smiths neighbor,
who was bath keeper Of the place, seen the
animal, when he became deathiy pale, sprang
up and exclaimed with horrid voice, good
heavens, the dog is mad !"
Then rose an ou;c.y! The room as full
e vI and tho F,ap L.oot
stood before the only entrance; no one
could leave without passing him. He snap
ped savagely right and left, and no one could
pass him without being bitten. This in
creased the horrible contusion.-Ail sprang
up and shrunk from the furious dog with
agoniZing CONFERENCE.-The should deli
yer them from him The smith also stood
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 me de miserable by mad dog and
he formed a resolution, the like of which is
scarcely to be found in the history Of the
hnman race for high-mindedncsS and noble
ness. Certsinly his brown cheek paled a
little. but his eyes sparkied with divine fire.
and an elevated resolution shone from the
senoo,h brow of the simple-minded man.
Back all. ~ thundered he with his deep
strong voice "Let no one stir for no one
can vaaquish the beast but l. One victim
must fall in order to save ali, and 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 people.
But he went not far. with Gods help"
cried the smith, and he rushed upon the
foamng beast, seized him with an iron grasp,
and dashed him to the floor.
| o, what a terrible struggle followed, The
dog bit furiously upon every side in a most
frighiful 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
which must ensue, he held down with an
iron grasp the swapping, biting, howling
brute until all had escaped till all, all were
rescued and in safety. He then flung the
half-s,rangled beast from him against the
wall, and dripping with blood and venom
Gus foam, he left the room, locking the door
after him. Some persons shot the dog thro'
the windows. But oh. merciful God -
what will become Of the brave, unfortunate
smith.
Weeping and lamentng, the people sur
rounded him, who had saved their lives at
the expense Of his own.
BE quiet, my friends, do not weep for
me-" he said, lone mnst die IN order to
save the others. Do not thank me, for |
have only performed my duty. | will take
care that no further mischief shall occur
through me- for | must certainly become
mad" He went straight TO his workshop,
and selected a strong chain, the heaviest and
tirmest from his whole stock. He then,
with his own hands, welded it upon his own
limbs and around the anvil so firmly that
no power on earth could break it, There"
said he, Its DONE" aitor sisi tly and sol
emnly completing the work. Now you
are secure, and inoflansive, SO long as live,
bring me my food. The rest | leave to God
into his hands commend my spirit"
Nothing coald save the brave smith, nei
ther tears, lamentations and prayers. Mad
ness seized him, and after nine days he
died-but truly, he died only to awake to a
more beautifui and glorious life at the right
hand of God lie died, but his memory
will live from generation to generation, and
will be venerated TO the end of time.
Search history through, and you will find
no action mere glorious and sublime than
the deed of this simple minded man, the
smith of Ragenback. 1t easy for noble
minds to die like Winkelred or Msrtius
Curtlus, the hlsh-Spirlted Roman youth
but to 90 to the sacrifice with the certainty
of death, and moreover. being obliged to
wait death SO awful, during long, fearful
hours and days-that SIS to die not once hut
thousand times And such death was
that of the smith of Ragenback. Such n
sacrifice the smith of Ragenback made in
order to save his neighbors. May the MEM
ory ever be sacred.-Praetical Christian.