Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-01-20
6Gurcestrr 1ailp Spp.
[From Godey's Lady's Book, for February.l
WINTER: Or JESSIE, THE LAME GIRL.

III al the pretty little village OF SnOwdon-
vile, there was not prettier or happier little
maiden than Jessie Harris. She was the only
daughter of poor, Woodworking widow, who
had lost her husband and received son on
the same night. George Harris had been
quarryman in the large stone works that were
few PAGES from his little house, and had been
killed by fall down deep shaft. His widow
heard the news while she was anxiously wait
ing his return to bless his newborn son, their
only boy. Little Jessie, then about three
years old, and George, the infant son, were
thus left fatherless. Much sympathy was
shown in Snowdonville for the widow and
the wealthy ladies', Mrs. RaIston, Mrs Hewitt,
and some others, sent her plain sewing to do,
paying her fair price, and thus enabled 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 the pet of the village
school. With dark, waving hair, soft hazel
eyes, and rich, healthy complexion, she had
right to claim the first; and her talent and
industry won her the last. Gas pretty and
smart as Jessie Harris, was quite saying in
the village.
My story opens on a dark, clustering winter
evening, when the snow fell thick and fast.
and the high wind threatened to shake in the
windows of the little cottage where my heroine
lived. Widow Harris was seated near the fire
sewing; and Jessie's nimble fingers kept time
with hers as she put patch on Georges school
coat. George as a special privilege, lay on the
settee, ready to go to bed, but permitted to stay
with his mother, because the wind made him
afraid to go up stairs alone.
Mother" said Jessie, "Miss Miles said
something very nice to me to-day"
"What was it 2" inquired her mother.
"She said that, if l study very hard and i'm
Lac oh I r
to take the school when L 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 conf
dence IN Mother mother what was that 90
They were all on their feet with white faces
and trembling figures. A fearful crash, fol-
lowed by shrek of agony, had caused Jes-
sizes exclamation. With trembling fingers,
Mrs. Harris Unattached the door The wind
blew it open, and drifted the falling snow into
the room. Nothing was heard for an instant
but the bowling Of the wind then came low
moan, and a voice cried "HelpP'
Mother, some one has fallen into the quar-
ry." 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"
Her mother followed; and, needless of the
raging storm, Jessie went forward to find the
sufferer.
Call again. Where are you g"
There was no answer.
Mother, she said, turning round, run to
the village for help l am small and light
will go down INTO the quarry"
God keep and preserve your said her
mother; ''tor you go on his Grand" And,
with this blessing, she left the brave child
alone in the storm.
Gathering her skirts around her, Jessie be-
gan to descend into the quarry The huge
masses OF stone, though covered with snow,
were uneven enough to afford her foothold,
and at last she reached the bottom. 1t was a
large hollow and for an instant her courage
failed her, as she thought of the dscouraging
task she had undertaken then with a fervent
inward prayer, she began to feel for the person
whom she had come to seek. The darkness
bewildered 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 to lay her trembling hand upon cold
human face "Here here % she cried che
is here p'
The lanterns CLEANED brightly above her at
the mouth OF the quarry but no one stepped
forward to answer Jessie'S call The descent
which her light feet and small figure had ac-
complished was dangerous for large, heavy
men and theyswere celebrating what to do.
A flask Of brandy and a lantern were lowered
by ropes; and Jessie was directed to raise the
mans head and pour some of the spirit into his
mouth She did so and, with great strug-
gle, consciousness returned to the sufferer.
Mother, cried Jessie, sit is young Mr.. Raj
STOMP
"Ask him. if we lower chair, if he can sit
in it until we haul him out"
Yes, yes y said the young man hastily.
81 was coming across, and the piece of stone l
stepped upon loosened and rolled down here.
lost my balance and came after it."
This was said in a low, weak voice to Jessie,
who called aloud Lower the charp'
Slowly along the snowy sides chair, fast
ened by many ropes, was lowered. 1t was
some time before the stiff wounded man could
get into it; but at last it was effected GLOW
Will you get up g he said, turning to his brave
deliverer.
81 will come after you," was the reply, in
cheerful, hearty voice.
Seeing the chair safely on the way up she
began to climb the stones to go up as she had
come down. She was nearly at the top, and
those above were watching her with breathless
interest, when another stone gave way, and she
fell back. A cry Of horror rose ON the air.
81 am alive p she cried "don't fear, moth
er; it has only fallen on my legs; lower the
HOpcS l. Gall uUlu Oh ny my HdlllS.
With frantic eagerness she tried to rise /; but
the heavy stones across her limbs held her PIN
ned fast Awful visions of dying there tioated
with fearful distinctness through her brain,
and, with a wild cry she tainted.
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 small, insensible figure lying so still
and pale i'll his arms there was a unanimous
murmur of sympathy through the now large
crowd. The squire's son, young Ralston, had
tainted again on reaching the mouth of the
quarry, and been carried home and all the
rough men and sympathizing women who had
braved the storm to aid the "man lost in the
quarry" gathered about the little figure. Gen
tie hands lifted her from the arms OF her deliv-
erer; 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 still and white. The room
was cleared Of all but few sympathiZing
neighbors and the doctor bent over the little
inanimate form.
spare my readers the details. Five weeks
later, Jessie sat upon her little armchair, with
the consciousness that that was her place for
the rest of her lifetime. If you had raised the
shawl that covered her limbs, you would have
seen that both legs were amputated just below
the knee. 1t was hard-it 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 that would fall from
the poor childs eyes. She had been sitting
alone, one afternoon, full of bitter, melancholy
torebodlngs, when carriage stopped before the
window. young man, wrapped in a large