The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1859-02-16
auistellanfous,
From Godey's Lady's BOOK.
JESSIE, THE LAME GIRL

@ From Godey's Ladys BOOK.
JESSIE, THE LAME GIRL
In all the pretty little village of Snow
donville, there was not a prettier or hap
pier little maiden than Jessie Harris. =
She WIS the only daughter of a poor
hard working widow, who had lost hel
husband and received son on the same
night. George Harris had been a quar-
rymsnin the large stone works that were
a few PAGES from his little house, and had
been killed by fall down deep shaft.
HIS widow heard the news while she was
anxiously waiting his return to bless his
newborn son, their only boy. Little
Jessie, then about three years oil, and
George, the infant son, were thus left
fatherless. Much sympathy was shown
in Snowdonril for the widow; and the
wealthy ladies, Mrs. Ralston. MIS- How
lit, and some others, sent her plain sew
ing to do, paying. er q fair price, and
thus enable her to support herself and
children comfortably. At the time my
story opens, Jessie was about eleven years
old, and George eight. Jessie was the
beauty and pet of the village school.
With dark, waving hair, soft, hazel eyes,
and rich, h aIihv complexion, she had
a right t. cl in The first; and her talent
and industry won the last. "As pretty
and smart as Jessie Harris" was quite a
saying in the village. v..e,,I Il. 1. 81.
My story opens on q dark, clustering
winter evening, when the snow fell thick
and fast, and the high wind threatened
to shake in the windo S of the little cot
tage where my heroine lived. Widow
Harris was seated near the fire sewing !;
and Jesse's nimble fingers kept time with
hers as she put a patch on Georges old
school coat George, during the time, as
o special privilege, lay on the settee, ready
to 90 to bed, but permitted to stay with
his mother, because the Wind made aim
afraid to 90 up stairs alone.
Smother" said Jessie, "Miss Miles
said something very nice to me to-day"
''What was it z" inquired her mother.
"She said that if / study very hard
and improve as much as have done, |
will be able to take the school when ! am
old enough. She wants to give it up;
but she is so attached to the girls that
she will not do SO until some one can take
her place that she can feel confidence in.
Mother! mother! what was that9'
They were all on their feet with white
faces and trembling figures. A fearful
crash, followed by shrek Of agony, had
caused Jessie's exclamation. With trem-
bling fingers, Mrs. Harris unlatched the
door. The wind blew it open, and drift
"a the falling snow into the room. No
thing was heard for an instant but the
howing Of the wind; then came 8 low
moan. and voice cried "Help -
Mother. some one has fallen into the
quarry" And Jessie sPrang out 81
know every step Of the way; do not fear
for me-" Then, raising her voice she
cried, " Courage! / am coming"
Ter mother followed; and, needless OF
the raging storm, Jess went forward to
find the sufferer.
6 Call again. Where are you!"
There was no answer.
another" she said, turning round
"run to the village for help. am small
and light; I will go down into the quar-
ry."
.'God keep and preserve your sale
her mother; "you go on this errand. ,
And, with this Blessing, she left the brave
/ child alone in the storm.
Gathering her skirts around her, Jessie
began to descend into the quarry. The
huge masses of stone, though covered
with snow, were uneven enough to afforc
her a foothod, and at last She reached
the bottom. 1t was large hollow; ant
for an instant her courage failed her, a.
she thought Of the discouraging task she
had undertaken; then with fervent in
ward prayer, she began to feel for th'
person whom she hal come to seek. III
darkness bewilderei her: her own voice
was lost in the noise of the storm, ans
her heart was sinking W tn despair, whel
voices above reached her ear. She Stoop
ed, and, feeling, pu a aside the snow
to Law her trembling hand upon q colo
human face. Here! herer' she cried
s'he is here"
/ The lanterns cleaned brightly abov'
her at the mouth of the quarry, but n
one stepped forward to answer Jessie
call The descent which her light fee
and small figure had accomplished wa
dangerous for large heavy men; aud the
were celebrating what to do. A fias
of brandy and lantern was lowered b
ropes, aud Jessie was directed to raise tn
mans head and pour some of the spir
into his mouth. She did so; and with
great struggle, CONSCIOUSNESS returned
the sufferer.
another" cried Jessie, dit is youn
Mr.. Raistop!'
"Ask him if we lower q chair, if b
can sit in it until we haul him ont"
"Yes, yesP' said the young man has
lily. 81 was coming across, and th
piece of stone I stepped upon loosene