The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1859-07-09


alone iu the storm.
Gathering her skirts around her Jessie be-
gan 20 descend into the quarry. The huge
masses Of stone, though covered with snow,
we're uneven enough 20 afford her a foothold,
and At last she reached the bottom Il was
q large hollow, and Tor al instant her cou-
rage failed her a. she thought fthe disoeu-
raging task she had undertaken, then with
fefyent Inward prayer she began to feel for
the person she had come TO seek. The dark
ness bewidered her, her own voice was lost
In the noise Of the storm, and her heart was
sinking with despair, when voices above
reached her ear She stopped, and feeling,
pushed aside the snow 10 lay her trembling
hand upon a cold, human face, "llerel
here I" she cried, "he IL most certainly
here"
The lanterns cleaned brightly above her
at the mouth Of the quarry, but no one step
ped forward to anhwer Jessie's call, The
descent which her light feet aud small figure
had accomplished was dangerous for large,
heavy men, and they were celebrating what
to do a flask Of brandy and lantern
we're lowered by ropes, and Jessie was direc-
ted to raise the mans head and pour some
Of the spirit into his mouth. She did 40, and
with a great struggle, consciousness returned
to the sufferer,
"Mother," cried Jessie, "it is young Mr.,
Ralaton."
ASK him II We lower a chair, II he can sit
in II until We haul him out"
"Yes, yes" said the young man very hasti-
ly. 81 was coming across and the piece of
stone l stepped upon loosened and rolled
down here. I iloat my balance and came If.
ter IT,"
This was said in low, weak voice To
Jessie who called aloud, "Lower the chair
quickly"
Slowly along HE snowy sides chair fas-
tened by many ropes was lowered. IL was
some time before the still, wounded young
man could get into il, but at last IL was ef,
fccted. "lIow will you get up?" he said,
turning TO his brave delyercr.
81 will come after YOU" Was the reply, in
a cheerful, hearty voice.
Seeing the chair safely on the way up, she
hogan to climb the stones to go up as she
had come down. She was nearly nt the top,
and those above watching her with breath
less interest, when another stone gave way,
aud ,he fell back A cry Of horror arose on
the air.
81 am alive" she cried, "dont fear. mother,
il has only fallen on my legF lower the rope.
/ can hold on by my hands"
With frantic eagerncss she tried to rise,
but the heavy stones across her limbs held
her pinned fast. Awful visions Of dying
there aoated with fearful distinctness through
her brain, and with a wild, awful cry, she
fuintrd
Struck with admiration at her heroic con-
duct, and horror at her accident, one Of the
men placed himself in the chair, and was low
cred to rescue her. When he again came
up, with the tmall insensible figure lying so
still and pale in his arms, there was a unani-
nous marmur Of sympathy through the now
large crowd. The squire's son, young Rails
ton, had tainted again on reaching the mouth
OF the quarry, and beer carried home-and
all the rough men and sympathizing women
who had bTaVed the storm TO aid the imam
lost in the quarry" gathered about the
little figure. Gentle hands lined her from
the arms of her deliyorer, and she was carried
to the little cottage. Her mother, chilled
and despairing, laid her upon the little bed,
while Georgey crept from his stool by the
fire to gaze at his sister, whom he had last
seen so full Of life and energy, and who now
lay so stillnSd white. The room was> clear
ed of all but -sympathizing neighbors,
and the doctor bent over the little inanimate
form.
/ spare my readers the details. Five weeks
htor Jessie sat upon her little armchair,
with the consciousness that that was her
place for the rest Of her lifetime II you had
raised the shawl that covered her legs
yon would have seen that thoy were am
amputated just below the knee. 1t was
hard, il was bitter to have all her young
dreams Of life end in this. Jessie murmured
loudly. Her mother in vain tried to check
the bitter tears efat would fall from the poor
childs eyes, She had been sitting alone one
afternoon, full of bitter, melancholy forebo-
dngs, when carriage stopped before the
window. A young man wrapped in large
cloak got out first then lady. Jessie knew
them. 1t was young Louis Ralston and his
mother. Mrs. Rolston had been very kind
in sending her messages and delicacies du-
ring her illness, but she had not visited her
before. Mrs. Harris was out--had gone to
take home some sewing--nnd George was
with her, so the visitors, entering the little
kitchen, found Jessie alone. They came to
her chnir, and stood one on each side. For
n moment there was a deep silence, and then
with great cry, Mrs. Ralston bent over the
child. "My child "she cried, and then she
knelt down and buried her face in Jessie's
lap, while her whole frame shook with con-
yuIsivp aohs The vnunO man Epcmpd as