Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1859-08-12
Mistfllunrnus.
From the True Flag.
A GIRLS nA0x1Gn
BY CLARA AUGUSTA.

1t was fearful night IN the latter part
of November. The frozen rain beat
ceaseltssly against the easements OF a
little cottage situated high up on the
bold brow of one Of the hills of the Pent-
land range Of mountains; and the wind
ratified the wood IN door-latch so 6ercely
that you would have thought the fingers
Of ghost were seeking tn unloose the
portal The blue smoke of the pine
kno, fro upon the hearth in the humble
kitchen was blown oat in fantastic
wreaths in the faces Of the occupants Of
the room, and the sleek gray cat in the
corner opened her eyes in amazemert at
the "uncanny' proceeding.
Rachel Wharton sat by the hre, hold.
ing in her lap the sleeping form of her
little sister Grace. The two girls were
alone in the house. their parents having
gone down the river two days before, to
diepose of their little stock Of butter and
cheese, and bring back in return. grocer
les fer winter consumption.
Far away from all human habitation
the cottage Of the Whartons stood; but
Rachel was a brave girl-born and bred
among the wild hills-and che felt no
fear.
To night, for some reason which she
could not explain to herself, she had
failed to retire at her usual hour; and
now her eyes were bright and wide open
gazing into the glowing Are. Suddenly
che rose up and putting her sister upon
. bed in corner Of the room. she threw
her apron over her head and went out
into the night.
1t was pitchy dark, and the frigid
gusts of wind pierced through her thin
clothing. but she did not heed-for ris-
Ing above all the din of wind and waters
eans to her ears the crush Of timbers
and elanking Of iron chains She lis
tened with strained nerves and hushed
heart; again there was low, heavy
|. .yumbling in the distance-the solid earth
bsssath her feet quivered-a momsntary
ipaase, aud then the dull, dead shock Of
ssae heavy object falling from = great
height!
3 She understood it now; the railway
bridge which spanned the river mile
below in the valley. had been swept
away; and the destruction Of the huge
pile of masonry and the falling of the
ehsined timbers, had occasioned the
strange sounds to which she had listened
She had scarcely time to arrive at this
conclusion, when another though. struck
her.
Tha express train bound eastward
was due at Hartstein. the next town, at
eleven O'Clock; it mus: now, even, be
near that hour
She few back to the room she had
but just left. and examined the clock
upon TIE mantel. The hour hand point
ed to the figure ten! Rachel clasped
her hands in despair.
"Oh, Heaven but one hour-one
little hour between the train and destruc-
ion !! The m addened river cutting me
od from all other help-what can ] do ?"
She stood q moment in silent thought,
then again she spoke aloud -
"Yes. will venture it; I can but fail
and it is my duty. The river is
swollen and wild, bu, have managed
the raft in many storm-I will try my
skill again God forbid that should
stay here in safety to know that so many
of my fellow-creatures are hurrying on
to such death unwarnei p
While she was speaking she hasi;' |
gathered basket full Of pitch