The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1858-05-13

0uUySStp nIs SUI Huu APtSSaeu ueSAuSO
aversion to its pursuit. Now, though Arent
was an afTectionate parent, he was a stricl
one. His word was law, and on the day he
was about to do the repsits alluded to, be
commanded bis son to accompany him.
The boy o6eyed, but heart.breaking wat
this FIRST parting between the mother snC
her first born; between the brother and hil
little sisters. Arend took q solemn leave
Of his family, as had been bis wont, and tha
Of his predecessors, for the danger attend
ing an assent up the steeple was 40 very
great, that that affair was considered mat!
ter Of life and death. Father and son left
their dwelling. the former provided with the
necessary materials, and wended their way
towards the church, carrying with them the
prayers Of the family, and the good wishes
of the neighbors and friends. .....
"You are now going up with me for the
first time," said Arehd to the boy. "You
have been told that the ascent is attended
with danger; and you have been told truly.
But it is in great measure in your own
power TO remove the danger. All you have
to do is to beware of accidents. You will
say. perhaps, that accidents cannot be fore
seen; but I say they can be foreseen. In
fact there 10 no such thing as On accident.
II q man slips 10 the street, or fall into the
river, or from ladder, or is run over, or los
! es his pure, he will tell US he has met with
an accident. He is mistaken. 1t is entire.
ly his own fault. He could have guarded
against 1t, and should have done so. Had
he examined the condition of his pocket, he
would have discovered a hole in it, and
would have saved his purse. Had he look
ed at the street as he walked along, and pro.
ceeded carefully, he could not have slipped,
Had he, before crossing the road, looked to.
wards both ends, he would have perceived
the approaching vehicle; or had he pa
tiently waited till it had passed, he would
have crossed in safety. Had he ascertained
that the ladder he was about to ascend was
well secured, and planted his feet firmly and
carefully upon the steps, and held fast, he
could not have fallen. Accident is the mere
apology for want of precaution, forethought,
prudence or concentration Of thought
There is no effect without cause, and five
wish to avoid evil, let us trace the cause, and
remove or avoid it. ........, ..
"You ore about to follow me up the ladder;
you have nothing to fear as long as you keep
your footingi and take firm hold. Your
first step ta 10 familarise yourself with the
high elevation, and you will gradually nc-
duite tonfdeUceI There is one thing, how.
ever, you must giurd ugaIast and that is
vertigo or gidliness."
"But how cun guard against it!" asked
the boy.
"Easi!y enough. Meter look dottn. Look
constantly upwards. If yoU LOOK dowh you
will become dizzy, and if you loose your
btlanee, you will foil down. 1t will cost
your life-nothing cun save you"
They had now reached the church-Athey
entered it and ascended the roof. Cautious.
ly and carefully did Arend examine the pre-
purations that had been made by his as.
aistunt. The ladders we're safe and firm.
He ascended, the boy following him.
Arend reached the top, and soon began his
work. The boy stood close under him on
the ladder. The latter for while carefully
attenden to his fathers instructions. He
kept his eyes steadily fixed upon the top Of
the stceple or towards the sky, or on his
fathers hands, watching his proceedings.
Two persons suspended apparently from
the top Of a very high and tupering steeple,
had naturally attracted the attention Of per.
sons in the street, ard crowd of gaEers had
gradually formed, who were watching them
with interest.
Suddenly the boy was seen TO move, and
almost Immediately after the man was seen
to lift his foot from the ladder and give the
boy kick on the head; the boy was seen
attempting to guard his head from the blow;
the man was seen to raise bis foot second
time and give The boy another kick on the
head. The ladder was seen to shake; the
man was seen to dfop some things (Which
proved to be slate.tiles and to lay hold of
the ladder with both hands. And at the
same moment the boy let go his hold Of the
ladder and fell heddlong from nearly the top
of the steeple upon the roof Of the church,
and rebounding thence from the roof upon
the pavement, lie reached the ground mu.
tilated corpse. a ' 9'T -. y
A shout Of horror and Indignation arose
among the crowd. The child had not fall
len by accident. He had been thrown down
designedly. He had been murdered
"Down with him!" "Kill the infanticide!"
"Tear him to pieces |" Such were the
cries raised by crowd which was now rap
idly increasing. Arend could not but hear
the shouts, the excavations that were ut.
tered and the curses thar were heaped up.
| on his head; for though the great height at
which hS was suspended did not permit him
to distinguish the words, a furtise glance be.
hind him had been sufficient to inform him
OF the fate Of his child, had be not fofseen It.
and Of that which was awaiting him when he
should alisls.' Until then, however, ehad
nothing 10 apptshsnd, as no violence coth
reach him whsts ri Stood; fot no one could
reach him where ,scsrssly . bullet woulsd