Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1859-03-25


with Lawrence, man who assisted Law
renee in the care of the church.
Now. my boy. up in Gods name -
Follow Lawrence he will guide you safe
ly to the top of the spire, and afterwards
assist you in coming down. '-"
Five hundred and fifty steps to the top
of the tower! Mere child's play-the
young gardener flew up them with a
joyous step. Then came two hundred
wooden stairs over the clock tower and
belfry; then five steep ladders up the
narrow pinnacle. Courage A few
more bold stcps-half an hour of peril
then, triumph, reward, the priests bless
ing aud the joyful Yes before the altar.
All. how heavy was the banner to drag
upwards-how dark the straight, stony
shaft ! Hold, there is trap-door. -
Lawrence. and an assistant who accom-
panied him. pushed him through.
That's it, cried Lawrence; you'll see
the iron steps in'o the clamps to hold
on by outside-only keep your head
steady. When It's your time to come
down hail us, and we'll throw a 1ope-
ladlcr with hooks. Farewell As he
SAID these words, Gabriel had passed
through the trap door, and with f ct and
hands clinying to the slender iron pro-
jections, iel. himself hanging over II trc-
mcndous preciplce. while the cold even
iny breeze ratified his hair He had still
burdcncd as he was with the banner, to
steady himself on a part of the spirc
scul pturcd in the slmiltGde of rose,
and then, after two or three daring steps
still higher,to bcs'ridc the very pinnacle,
and wave his saA gold flag.
May god be mcrciful to me sighed
the poor lad. as glancins downward on
the busy street danger flashed upon him.
He felt 50 lon'ey, SO utterly fursdken in
that desert of the upper air and the cruel
wind strovc with him. AMI struggled to
wrest the heavy banner Fl ON his hand
Annie, Annie, tis for thee :, he mur-
INJURED, and the sound of that sweet name
neryed him to endurance. lie wound
his left arm irml arourd the iron bar
which surmou tted by crescent, that
served as a weathercock, and the right
waved the hay which tapped and ru,tled
like the wing Of some mighty bird OF
prey. The sky-how netr it seemed -
grew dlrk above his hc.d, and the light
and bonfrcs glanced upward, from the
city below, But the cries OF rejoicing
came family on his car, until one long
continued shout, mingled with the sound
of drums and trumpeis. announced the
approach of Leopold,
'Huzza tluzz, long live the Emper
or = shouted Gabriel, and waved his
banner proudly. But the deeI enin :
twilight and the dizzy height rendered
him unseen and unheasd by the busy
crowd below.
The deep voice Of the cathedral clock
tol,cd the hour.
Now my task is eniel,' slil Gabriel
drawing deep sigh of relief, and shivcr.
in in the chilly breeze Now, | haze
only to oct down and give the signal.
More hcadtuliy and slowly than he had
ascended. he began his descent. Only
once h" looked upward to the golden
star md crescent, now beginning to look
colorless against the day sky.
'Ha SAID he, doesen't it look now as
II that hcathenish Turk ola crescent were
holding and wishing me an evil good
night BE quiet Mohammcd "
A few courageous steps landed him
once mora amid the petals of the gigan,
tic sculptured rose which offered the
best. indeed the only coisne of vantage
for his feet to rest on.
He furcd his banner tightly together,
and shouted.
Halo. Lawrence Albert here -
throw me up the ladder and the hooks.
More loudly and shrilly did Gabriel
rciterate the call.
Not word not stir below.
'Hol; Virgin can they have forgotten
me Or have they fallen asleep cried
the poor fellow, aloud . and the signing
wind seemed to answer like a mocking
demon.
What shall do: what will become
Of me y
Now enve'oped in darkness, he dared
not stir one hairs breadth to the left
A painful sensation of tightness came
across his chest, and his soul grew bitter
within him.
They haye left me here OF set purpose
he muttered, through his clenchcd teeth.
The torches below will shine on my
crushed body
Then after n rnomnpt
No, no; the sacrstan could not find
it in his heart; men born of women could
not do it. They will come; they must
come
But when they did not come, and the
pitilcss darkness thickcned around him,
so that he could not see his hands, his
death anguish grew to the pitch Of insani-
ty.
God " he cried, the emperor will not
suffer such barbarity. Noble Leopold,
help One word from you would save
me-
But the cold night wind, blowing ON
inously around the tower, seemed to
answer:
Here l alone am emperor, and this is
my domain,
While this was passing, two men stood
conversing together at the corner Of a
dark street, aloot from the rejoicing
crowd.
Haven't l managed it will > asked
one.
Yes, he'll never reach the ground