The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1858-12-22

:. =. a not h~shs De profnndos; suihcieut sime
RAD NOT elapsed; resides, the ttrokes were 1nses
ana sharp, not slow aud solep Giary ~ 70 ovus
Il vas the storm bell; the alarm was gsvcns sua
GOOD soals would soon be on the search tor US
Netsher P,curio nor I spe he, so eagerly d'e We
strain orr ears 20 catch the sound OF ARpsesc"lns
steps long before IL was IUssfbie THAI any Que
could have reached the mountain THINK tnc
iestins Of our hearts might have been heard 10
Al lsst, we distinguished me barking Of dog.
recognized the bark at ONE; il WAS Bib, In Pc
t,tc,s pet Nearer and nes ser IL came, until -
enid hear him whining and scratching The snow
which hid us Then the blessed ssuud OF human
voices became audibie Full If hope and Joy We
threw ourselves once more against our SNOW bar-
ricade; We dug at IL with hands and nails, striving
TO open erevice through which we might let OFT
friends know cur situation. We shouted WIN All
our might, but the noise fell back heavily on our
cara. Many times we were aware ibat the seekers
were close 20 us-we heard them calling TO one
smother. Be could hear, bot with anguish we un'
eerstood that We could no. make ourselves heard.
Nesr ss the searchers were. We could hold no com
ssuuication with them. Exclams tiops oil horror
pity, aud grief met our ears. The names OF our
uufIytunata comrades we're pronounced IN tones
that plainly revealed their sad fate. There was a
bustis many directions Of how best 70 carry away
Away tue hodies, wonder abont us, and then our
expected dci,varers departed A horrible despair
grew fainter ard fainter; but poor Picurio always
cried: "Let us pray; Gods right arm 10 long
enough TO reach us oven here"
tried TO pray, but my thoughts wandered to
my home, all the childish griefs ha d known were
forgotten, and wept bitter salt tears to think
should never zee father mother, brother or
sisters again; all my faults to them rose up in
judgment against me; how soiemniy vowed tna'
should God grant me life, would never again re-
bel nraipst tho will of my parents! And la Petite
| what would she do without mel wassure she
veuld die of grief As the night wore on, my
thov.shss took another turn--the whole scene OF
my own death. the finding OF my frozen BODY, the
despair of my poor little sister, were moving PFC
tures before me- I could not de:ach my fancy
| from the phaptoms it had evoked. 1t WAS pain.
| fully curious the way III which l arranged ana
| re arranged sill the details, sparing myself nc
revolving miputie ! suppose l must q. i az,
Picurio called to me that he heard the bell ioI
early mass. raised myself to sitting posture
| and we each ate 9 portion OF our bread All that
| day and the ensuing night passed III aternatlohs
| of hope aud despair. By the next morning. the
| beginning 0fthe third day Ence our entombmen'
our little provision Of food was exhausted We
| we're oppressed by fsverish thirst and gnawins
hunger horrid death was before US, the fate o,
| those who had persisted at once was to be envled
| in comparison with the lingering suffering we
| anticipated.
We had ceased to spe sh; ceased to pray; had nc
| hope now-no faith. In moody silence We sal
| apart, watching; may say, the APPROACH OF the
pa Is of death, when, suddenly the deep hush was
| broken by a familiar sharp bark. IT was BIO
| AGAIN. Oh, the usutterable joy of hearing the
/ little fellow tearing aud scratching at the snow
blocking up our cave! Thors was another sound
| that made hot tears rain doFsa my cheeks; 1t was
! a chi,d's yoice-no other than la Pesise's-crying
sHe is here uncle. J. am sure he ia here. Oh, oal
| good men, dig FAST"
! Our hearts melted within us as we heard many
| steps nearing our prison. There was danger, too
| for many cautions we're given. The child's voice
still rose clear above ali: make haste; DO make
haste. Give me hoe; can dig. My poor brother
| will be dead. if you don't make haste
! At last q long stick pushed through the
| snow wall; it touched me, seized it. There was
| shout of "a miracle! iniracle!" mingled with
| the child's wild cry of"Brother brother!" Aloth
er stick was thrust through and caught by Picur,o
| Not whisper was now ~ be heard, every on
| worked; minutes seemed hours to us before Al
| opening was made large enough to drag u
| through.
| When we once more saw daylight and dear fa
| miliar faces we fell down fsinting with J ~. w
were lifted out and laid at the feet of the old cure
| who in spite of age and iptirmities had venture
| I'D the mountain to bless aud encourage the eft
| forts of the men who, touched by the childs ago
| ny of grief, had consented to make one more
| search for US.
Thank God, my sons, for your deliverauee.'
| were the old priests first words, land devote Il
His service the lives lie has 30 mirsculousiy pre-
| served"
| ut was this, Mees Jessie, that led me to becom
| priest: and Ia Petite. who through Gods mercy
| saved my life has made my home her home.
"She wonid have made capital lady aboess
though" said NJ. b, looking at her with un
| fe,gued pride.
| sand old Picurio ?" asked Jessie.
| IL d;od tn les