The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1863-07-08
for tltt 9iresitle Chair.
Love Down a Well.

/
| Do you see the lady on the other side of |
the Fireplace, with soft brown hair and mild
blue eyes, whose fair complexion and unwrin-
kled brow doff ten years from her age and |
truly ola shy, retired nature? That's my
wife = All amt I proud of her, and don't
love her? Haven't an insane desire to run
to the roof and shout out, for the benefit of
the world at large, that Mary Sherman, nee
Lee is my wife? You would never suspect.
her of being heroine, but Pll tell you the
story, and then judge.
Thirty years ago this summer, when my
hair was brown, and my limbs young and ac-
tive, heigho was sent by the firm to whose
service had been devoted by my father, to
collect bills in some of the New England
villages I was new to the country, but had
full directions given me, and started off on
two months trip, to make the Yankees pay
for the, calicoes, silks and notions they had
purchased of Law, Stone s. Go.
had Jared pretty well on my errand, and
was putting mp at the Bell Flower inn, when
one of our customers invited me to come to
/ accepted the offer. There met Mary Lee
and lost my heart instantly. 1 was returning
home from the farmers good cheer when l
met with the accident that colored my whole
future life-gave me its greatest joy, its heav-
lest sorrow. Crossing meadow, l, in the
darkness, set my foot upon plank which
tilted, and fell. down, down, losing con-
seriousness long before I reached the end of
my subterranean descent. How long lay
insensible cannot tell, but l woke in bitter
agony, feeling that was fearfully injured.
called and groaneds but the darkness above
me was broken by no friendly gleam of
light, the heavy silence cheered by no succor-
ing voice. Day dawned, finding me still
sensible, suffering, and alone. As the streaks
of light broke above me, saw that I had
fallen down a long dried well, half filed with
rubbish, and covered with loose boards at the
top. One of these had given way under the
pressure of my. foot This well, I learned
later, was on Mr.. Lees farm, and being grad
ually filled up with dirt that would otherwise
have been earted away. The customary stone
!, work around the mouth had been long ago
removed for the convenience of backing up
the carts. How, in the dark, had strayed
7 from the road into the large open field, can
only be explained by ignorance of the locali-
ties and my CASTLE building, inspired by the
sweet and lovely face of Mary Lee.
| Morning dawned, and I was lying almost
frantic in my agony, when heard young
fresh voice above me. called loudly, "help
help!'' .s9 - fe ssssaf 40
"Where?" the question came in startled
: tome
"Here! have fallen down a we'll"
The boards above me were pushed aside,
+ and the daylight, farther advanced than 1 had
perceived in my darkened position, poured
in.
tDown there! Oh, you must be fearfully
hurt! George! John! Come quiek''
e Hurrying feet came above me. z 8
"Some one go down. said the first voice,
&c again. "Have you rope?"
9 . eyes! the old rope is here, but it is not
!. over and above strong. 1t will not bear a
man."
: "rll trust it. He has tainted"
: For was too much exhausted to answer
! any of the questions they shouted to me-
The reaction of promised relief was too great
after such night as had passed. Before
realized the purport of the last sentence,
n.
knew by the darkening of the open mouth
that some one was descending. felt the
dress of the woman, then a slender girl touch
my check. heard her pitying tones; knew
ishe raised my head as she stood in the twi
Hight beside me; but could not speak, 9th
Eers had hurried to the farm, and one for
surgeon. Wine was lowered, and she knel
~ beside me to revive me by it. Three lon.
I'D hours, they told me later, passed before ar
,e rangements were completed to hoist us ar
ct and she never left my side She bathed m,
he face with the water they lowered ;yshe CAV
=. me wine; she spoke words of cheer and com
fort; she aided me when the basket was a
-. last lowered, in rising from my painful pos
RS, ture, and almost lifted me into the vehicl
10 after reaching the upper air. And when tn
oElong fainting fit that followed my arriys
aboye.was followed by days of deliriurn, sh
0o was my faithful nurse. Howl loved h
so cannot be told When the truth becam
90 known that my left side, arm, and leg, we
crippled and useless forever, then tried
the smother my love, and learned hers. MAJ
al. Lee, the pet Of the village, the idol of hom
Re. the center of many loving hearts. left all
follow her husband to his city home.
If, by the exercise of the talents God ga,
Ea me, I have made my brain work for N
hands-if my right hand has earned a hon
and of more luxury than competence-if by IL
pies pies love of a lifetime have humbly endeavor,
to make her happy, did not she earn all th
land more, aye more than can sver give he