Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1861-10-30
MISCELLANEOUS,
THE SMITH OF RAGEEBAo H.


bach, where about twenty years age the fol-
lowing heart-rending but heroic, event
took place One afternoon, in the early
spring, in the tavern room Of RaSenbach,
several men and women having assembled
from the village, sat ct ther ease, none an
ticipating what would happen onthat event
iul day. The smith formed one Of the
merry company-a strong, vigorous man,
with a resolutG c0uRtenaEee and mlen, but
also with such goodnatarcd smile upon
his lips, that every one who saw him, ad-
mired him. Every evil disposed person
stunned him, for the valiant smith would
allow nothing wrong in his presence, and
it was not adyisble to have anything to do
with him except in 4 proper manner
His arms were like bars Of iron, and his
fists like forge hammers, SO that lew could
equal his strength of body.
The brave smith sat near the door chat
ting with one of his neighbors, | know not
what; all at ouce the door sprang open,
and large dog came staggering into the
room-a great, strong, powerful beast with
ferocious, irightful aspect. His head
was hanging down, and his eyes blood-shot,
his red colored tongue hanging lfway
out of his mouth, and his tail dropped be-
tween his legs Thus the ferocious beast
entered the room, ont Of which there was
no escape but by one door Scarcely had
the smiths neighbor, who was bath keeper
of the place, seen the animal, when he be-
came deathly pale, sprang up, and exclaim
ed, with horrid voice, Good heavens
the dog is mad
Then rose au outcry The room was
full of men and women, and the foaming
beast stood before the only entrance no
one could leave without passing him. He
snapped savagely right and lef and no
one could pass him without being bitten,
This increased the horrible confusion. All
sprang up, and shrank from the furious
dog with agonizing countenances. Who
should deliver them from him The smith
also stood among them, and as he saw the
anguish Of the people, it flashed across
his mind how many of his happy and con
tented neighbors would be made miserable
BY mad dog and he formed a resolution,
the like Of which is scarcely to be found
in the history Of the human race Tor high
mindedness and nobleness (Certaily his
brown cheek paled a little, but his eyes
sparkled with divine fire, and an elevated
resolution shone from the smooth brow of
tie simp minded man.
Back all,' thundered he with his deep,
strong voice. let no one stir, fer no one
can vanquish the beast but me. One vic
tim must fall in order to save all, and
will be that victim | will hold The brute,
and whilst / do so, make your escape
+ The smith had scarcely spoken these words,
when the dog started toward the shreking
! people, bat he went not far. with
, Gods help cried the smith, and he rush
E cd upon the foaming beast, seized him with
: an iron grasp, and dashed him to the floor
Oh what terrible struggle followed .
The dog bit furiously on every side in the
, most frightful manner. His long teeth
tore the arms and thighs of the heroic
smith, but he would not let him loose
Regardless alike of the excessive pain and
the horrible death which must ensue, he
Y held down with an iron grasp the swapping,
r biting, howling brute, until all had escaped,
J till all, all were rescued and in safety He
t then flung the half-strangled beast from
: him against the wall, and dripping with
). blood and venomous foam, he left the room,
t locking the door after him. Some persons
{. shot the dog through the windows. But,
y oh merciful God what will become OF
!. the unfortunate smith
Weeping and lamenting, the people sur
q rounded him who had saved their lives at
the expense Of his own. BE quiet my
= friends, do not weep for me, for | have
e only performed my duty. When | am
+ dead, think Of me with love, and now pray
f for me, that God will not let me suffer long
# or too much. | will take care that no fur
ther mischief shall occur through me, for
r [ must certainly become mad He went
!. straight to his workshop, and selected a
long chain, the heaviest and irnest of his
Y whole stock. He then, with his own hands
( welded it upon his own limbs, and around
e the anvil, so firmly that no power on earth
g could break it, There, SAID he, 1t Is
done,' after silently and solemnly contem
! plating the work Now you are secure
:. and | inofensive so long as live; bring mt
my food. The rest [ leave to God Moth
inc could save the brave smith-neithe
tears, lamentations, nor prayers. Madness
seized him, and after nine days he died
= but truly he died only to awake to more
2! beautiful and glorious life at the right hanC
of God He died, but his memory vii
live from generation to generation, and vii
be venerated to the end Of time.
Search history through, and you find ne
action more glorious and sublime than the
deed of this simple-minded man, the smitt
II of Ragenbach. 1t is easy for noble minds
to die like Winkelried, or Marius Curtis
!. the high spirited Roman youth but to g
81 to the sacrifice with the certainty of death
nna nnnrnornr haino OBLIGED % wait