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


keep out of the way till the fellow has
dropped down, like ripe apple from the
stem.
And so the two Williams took their way
down narrow street and appeared no
more that night.
Meantime dark, shadowy fend sat
on one of the leaves of the sculpturcd
rose, and Kissed in Gabricl's ear:
'Renounce thy salvation and l will
bring thee down in safety
May God preserve me from such sin,
cried the poor lad, shivering.
Or, only promise to give me your
Annie, and I'll save YOU"
will you hold your tongue, you wick.
ed spirit p
Or say that you'll make me present
of your first born child, and III bear
you away as softly as If your were float
ing on down.
'Avaunt, Satan I'll have nothing tc
do with gentlemen who wear horns and
a tail : cried Gabriel, manfully.
The clock tolled again. and the garden
or, aroused by the sound and vibration,
perceived that he had been asleep. Yes,
he had actually slumbered. standing on
that dizzy point, suspended over that
fearful abyss.
Am really here ? he asked himself,
as he awokc; 'or is it all fri ghtful dream
that have had while lying in my bed =
y cold shudlcr passed through his
frame, followed ny burning heat, and
he grasped the pinnacle with a convulsive
tishtness. a voice seemed to whisper
in his ear
'Feol this is death, that unknown
anguish which no man shall escape
Anticipate the moment, and throw thy
self down
Must then die : murmured Cab
ricl, while the cold sweat started from
his brow. Must die while life is so
pleasant 'Oh, Annie, Annie, pray for
me the world is so beautiful and is so
sweet.
Then it seemed as Il soft white wings
loated above and around him, while a
gentle voice whispered
Awake. awake The night is far
spent, the day Is at hand. Look up and
be c. mforted.
Wrapped in his banner, whose weight
helped to preserve his equilibrium, Cab
rel still held on with his numbcd arm,
and with Il sensation aImos. fjoy, watch
ed the first dawn lighting up the roefs
of the city.
Far below, in the sacristan's dwelling.
the old man sat, ,tondly elaspin5 the hand
of handsome sunburnt youth, his long
lost sou Arnold, who had sat by his side
the lnvelong night ht,rccounting the adven-
lures which had befallen him in foreign
lands. without father or son feeling the
want of sleep.
At length Arnold said
i am longing to see Annie, father |
dare say she has grown fine girl. How
is my friend Gabriel, who used 10 be so
fond Of her when we were children to-
se,her :
The sacristan sprang from his seat.
'Gabfiel! Holy Virgin ! had, quite
forgotten him
\ rapid explanation followed. Master
Joss and his son FASTENED towards the
cathedral, and met Albert on their way.
Where Is Gabriel:' cried the s4cris
tan.
Il don't know; I have not seen him
since he climbed through the trap door
But who helped him down >
Why, you yourself, Of e ur,c, replied
Albert with look Of astonishmcrt -
Lawrence told me- when we came down,
that you hal undertaken to do it,
'Oh, the william, the double dyed
scoundrels Now | un lcr>tand it all.
groanea the old man. q lick , Araold,
Albert Come. for the love Of God;
look up. look to the spire y
Arnold rushed towards the square, and
his keen eye, accustomed to look out at
great distances at sea, discerncd through
the gray. uncertaiu mornin. twilight,
something fluttcrng on the spire.
lis he it must be him, still liv-
ing
'Oh, God cried Master joss, where
are my keys: Oh, that We may not be
too late.
The keys were found in the old mans
pocket; and all three rushed through the
cathedral gate, dartea up stairs, the
sacrIstan, in the dread excitement of the
moment, moving as swiftly as his young
companions.
Albert, knowing the trick Of the trap
door. went through it first
Call GU, to him, lad = exclaimed Mas
ter joss.
A brcathless pause.
Il hear nothing stirring, said Albert.
nor can | see anything from this. Ill
climb over the rose
Bravcly did he surmount the pcrilous
projection; and after a few moments Of
intense anxiety, he re-appearcd a. the
trap-door.
There certainly i, a figure standing on
the rose, but 'tsn't Gabriel-'tis a
ghost =
a ghost = you dreaming dunderhcad,'
shouted Arnold. Let me up And he
began to climb with the agility ola cat.
Come on, come on, as far as you can.
| have him, thank God But quick, time
is precious.
Speedily and deftly they gave him aid;
and at length, half unconscious figure,
still wrapped in the banner, was brought
down in safety.
They bore him into the Adam and
Eve laid him in a warm bed and poured
l. l. 4 L..