Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1860-05-10

Providence since he underwent sucl
risks in the most furious Alpine storms
in the deepest darkness, reckless of the
impending avalanches, the most icy anC
precipitous sleeps, the most impetuou'
torrents, or the most treacherous SHOWS
His selfreiance, his adventures, his es
capes, like his looks and manner, seemed
unnatural; and the Idiot of the Alps, wa,
the standing theme of many tale o
mountain life.
Once while guiding small party oI
enthusiastic tourists through an almost
inaccessible and seldom attempted region
while the travellers were ielcitating them
! selves upon achieving such height, anC
beholding its sublimitios, a lady Of the
party, venturing near the dizzy brink of a
stupendous glacier, dropped costly
necklace, which fell over the edge far into
the icy and perpendicular chasm beneath
Her cry of regret was heard and under
stood by Andravi, who was instantly at
her side, and despite the urgent remon-
strances of all he made signs that he would
descend and recover the lost article; and
fastening one end of a strong coil to a
hunters pole he bore, and which he bur-
led firmly in the ice above, he rapidly de-
scended the fearful gulf
"The man is an idiot, and we are idiots
to let him do this fool-hardy featl" ex-
claimed one, as breathlessly they gazed
upon their guides descent. "Should
his hands fail him, or the rope break, he
would be lost, and we too; for we could
neither advance nor retrace our way.
AT that moment, the sharp twang of
the cord, and cry of horror from above
announced that the line had indeed been
parted; and with faces of dismay, they
beheld Andravi fall few yards beyond
the end ofthe dangling rope, the remain
ing portion still in his clutchl 1t was a
sight of terror, but relieved in part by
their beholding him frantically grasp at
a stunted tree which projected from a
rock, in his descent, and contrived to
maintain his hold awhile, but this DELAY
was brief; his grippe relaxed and he fell
again-into the snowy vale below!
From the height which his spectators
were and owning to.the dazzling effect of
the snow, it was impossible to Judge of
the distance between the tree and the
spot upon which be had fallen; and they
strained their despairing eyes after him,
at the imminent peril Of their own foot
ing, to watch ii the too Jealous Idiot
should move again or remain dead where
he fell.
To their JOY, he arose at once, and
without looking up, as though his mis-
chance were of common occurrence or of
no particular importance, they saw him
search the snow around him for the neck
lace for which he had ventured SO much.
Soon they saw him stoop, and a faint
ejaculation which ascended, intimated
that he had found it.
But now the wonder was how he was
to ascend again. No path was visible
on any hand, and the rope was swinging
high beyond the tree.
Clasping the chain about his own neck
and drawing d knife from his belt, An
draw began to ascend the ragged wall,
with the aid of the cutting as
he ascended, step by step, here and there,
in ice or earthly service, temporary hold
for hand or foot, until, by painfully pro-
tracted efforts, exhibited iron endurance
as well as dauntless heart he had eleva-
ted himself high enough to admit of ty-
ing the broken end of the rope around his
waist; and from that perilous position,
between heaven and earth, he was now
cautiously drawn up by the, overjoyed
and amazed party above.
Long were the praises and congratula-
tions which greeted the idiot, as he stood
once more in safety among them; and as
he flung himself upon the rock to rest
awhile, and held out the necklace with a
grim smile, its fair owner refused to re-
ceive it.
"No, keep it as trophy of your hero
ism, brave fellow" she cried. at is val.
liable; but poor return for the hazard
and labor you underwent, and the Won
derful courage you have shown.
Guiding the travellers safely to their
next point of destination, and receiving
other substantial tokens of their admira-
tion, Andravi returned home, where the
fame of the exploit soon followed him
an illustration of many similar acts,
which, during the ten years of his adven-
turous life among the Alps, made the ID
lots name illustrious among the noun
tsineers, and himself an object of curios-
ity to travellers.
Yet, although there arrived, from all
climes, people of many ranks, none ever
came who seemed to know aught of his
previous history, or who could solve the
mystery which hung about him.
To all, he was the same quiet, listless,
unintelligible creature, as gnide, but
generally mute and incoherent--save- in
his acts, as an Al pine pioneer--and tow
ards the humble inhabitants of the dis
trict where he first had been found, and
where he continued to dwell.
The rewards he received from travellers
he distributed, as if by instructive graft
tude, to the neighbors who treated him so
kindly; clinging TO them and to that
mountain region, with a ma ajestic attach
ment, which bound them to him the more
and made him seem sort of spirit of the
spot, by whose side no peril could befall.
Sometimes, with but scant supply of
food, he would be absent for days togeth
er, and when tracked and found by his
footprints in the snow, he would be
heard mumbling to himself, or absorbed
in contemplation of some lofty mountain
way, as if he expected the promised ap-
proach of some one