Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1858-07-28

You musen't disobey your father; it will
make him very angry said Mrs Lloyd.
May be, suggested the boy, If L were to
go to the top of the hill. Just above the dam,
and sit down and watch Jacob, he wouldn't
mind. That wouldn't be going to the mill
dam you know. And if you told him just
how it was, and said that you thought it bet
ter for me to go there on Jacobs account
! am sure he would say that had done just
right instead of wrong
Mrs Lloyd thought for little while, and
then replied
Jacob is small boy, and there are dan
gerous places about the mill dam. | wonder
how his mother can let him go there alone?
Oh. if he should fall in, to be swept down
under the gate, over the dam nothing
could save him. :hiuk you had better 90,
Frank, and II! make all right with your
Father Only be sure not to go down to the
water, unless something happens to Jacob
Thus permitted and enjoined, Frank star
ted eff for the mill-dam which was about
quarter of mile distant, in lonely valley,
surrounded by woods and hills He walked
along rapidly, for the idea that Jacob G4ecn
| might have fallen into the water at any mo-
mcut having tak,n possession of his mind,
he felt anxious to reach the neighborhood of
tue dam as quickly as possible. On gaining
the wooded hill that rose ste, ply above the
point where the water, swollen by late rains,
caped roaIiug over the dam. Frank search
! ed with his eyes, hurriedly, along the shore
! up aud down. for Jacob Green But the lad
was nowhere in sight. lie would have shout
! ed his name, but secret sense of disobedi-
ence. and fear Of discovery by his hasty
tempered father kept him silent. Descending
as near to the edge of tho dam as he deemed
prudent under the circumstances. to go, he
examined every point within the range Of Wis
Z ion with the most careful scrutiny.
y sudden fear now scizod upon the boys
heart Jacob must have fallen into the water
and been swept over the dam, His heart
( beat like hammer in his breast: respiration
became difficult: he felt choking sensation
/ i'm his throat, For some moments he stood
hewIllered. But anxiety for the little boys
sal, ty became superior to all other emotions.
lie may have fallen III near the head gate"
: he now said tn himself Aud then. as the
image al Jacob dmging t" some frail sup
port. auriA the whiriiug sucking cdlics, pre-
scl.t,,. Itself 70 Is Mid. Frank spraug to
the spot where tllc w.tcr rom the dam Aowed
iuto the mill-race. Iiulliug on to piece of
wood, he l.arei oven the brink "f a high stone
wall, or pier, End, as hc looked down into
the water that seethed ard struggled above
the half-opcncd gate he held his breath in
lnOiHt lIafS rus liSc tIil 10 sign Ol the Idu
was visible Frank drew himself up, taking
deep inspiratiyn and stood fer some mo-
mcnts bcwidcrcd and at fnu,t lie then step
ped lightly ever narrow plank that had
len thrown acr@ss ;hc sluice into which the
head gaze cprucd, and standing On one of
| the abutmcuis Of the dam leaued his body
over and locked down, distance OF twenty
feet into the mad whirlpool ot waters that lay
! beneath. His head swan aud he lifted
himself up and moved back, with feeling of
terror in his heart. IF he were to fall head
long there no earthly power could save him
i little while Frank stood on the abLt-
ment that Jared to the heavy fall of the
water. Then he slipped carefully across the
narrow bridge that separated him from land,
and took a long breath as he felt himself III
a position Of safety. Slowly aud anxiously
were his eyes DOW thrown around him, and
every point withIn their range searched with
the most careful scrutiny. But the search
was entirely fIuitiC IS. Ascending the hill
that rose aboTe the dam, Frank now ran
along its brow, for some distance, up the
stream, letting his gaze fall upon every part
of the shore. Suddenly he stopped, with an
exclamation of relief, for Jacob had come
into full view, sitting upon rock that pro-
jected far into the dam, holding his fishing
rod over the water, and watching the scarlet
topped cork that lay motonlcss in a quiet
eddie
Frank did not call the boy, nor, by any
sign, make known his proximity. He had
come, in disobedienee to his father to watch
over and protect him from harm, ard the
fear of hasty miSjudgment on the part of his
father when the fact of his dsohedicnce be-
came known, sobered bis feelings and made
him prefer solitude to companionship. So
he sat down concealing himself among the
trunks of three or four large trees; yet keep
ing bis head IN position to see Jacob through
a small opening between them. Nearly half
ali hour passed, when Jacob tired of watch
ing his immovable cork. drew mp his line,
and moved down the bank to position near
er the point where the swollen water went
rushing over the dam As he threw in his
! liae, Frank arose and walked along the hill
above him, until nearly opposite the thunder
ing waterfall, and then sat down again to
watch the lonely boy-himsef more lonely.
The clearing at which Mr. Lloyd was at
work with his men lay about a quarter of
mile from the mill-dam. The father had
just leveled an immense sycamore, and stood
{ gazing on its white trunk and giant limbs,
when neighbor, merging from the wood be-
hind him, came up and said
Good day, Mr.. Lloyd
All, good day to you, Max welln respon-
! dea the farmer In hearty tone
Splendid land, this said the other but
avily timber ed. "
A year OF two will show its quality
Lloyd remarked.
Heavy frtshet,' said Maxwell
Yes; you can hear the dam roaring,
even here when The wind sets this way
Dangerous place for boys, l should think,
said Maxwell, in tone that made the far