Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1864-12-07
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1864.

thing; she stopped, and feeling, pushed
aside the snow to lay her trembling hand
upon a cold human face Here here 2
she cried. he is here.'
The lanterns cleaned brightly above
her at the mouth Of the quarry; but no
one stepped forward to answer Jessic's call.
The descent which her light feet and small
figure had accomplished was dangerous
for large, heavy men; and they were delib-
Grating what to do. A flask of brandy
and lantern were lowered by ropes; and
Jessie was directed to raise the mans head
and pour some of the spirit down his
throat She did so; and with a great
struggle, consciousness returned to the suf.
ferer.
Mother, cried Jessie, sit is young Mr..
RaIstour =
ASK him, if we lower chair, if he can
sit in it until we haul him out.
Yes, yes p! said the young man hastily.
4 was coming across, and the piece of stone
[ stepped upon oosened and rolled down
here. | lost my balance and came after
it
This was said in low, weak voice to
Jessie, who called aloud: Lower the
chair
Slowly along the snowy sides, chair
fastened by many ropes, was lowered 1t
was some time before the stiff, wounded
young man could get into it; but at last
it was effected 'How will you get up?'
he said, turning to his brave deliverer
Il will come after you, was the reply, in
a cheerful voice
Seeing the chair safely on its way up,
she began to climb the stones to 90 up,
as she had come down. She was nearly at
the top, and those above were watching
with breathless interest when another stone
gave way, and she fell back. A cry of
horror rose on the air.
Il am alive she cried; don't fear,
mother; it has only fallen on my legs;
lower the ropes; | can hold on by my
bands -
With frantic eagerness, she tried to rise;
but the heavy stone across her limbs held
her pinned fast. Awful visions of dying
there, foated with awful distinctness
through Ter brain, and, with wild cry,
she tainted.
Struck with admiration at her heroic
conduct aud horror at the accident, one
of the men placed himself in the chair,
and was lowered to rescue her. When he
again came up, with the small insensible
figure lying so still aud pale in his arms,
there was unanimous murmur of sympa.
thy through the now large crowd. The
squires son, young Ralston, had tainted
again on reaching the mouth Of the quarry
and had been carried lone; 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
Gentle hands lifted her from the arms of
her deliverer; and she was carried to the
little cottage, Her mother, chilled and
Gespalring, laid her upon the little bed;
while George crept from his stool by the
fire to gaze at his sister, whom he had last
seen so full of life aud energy, and who
now lay so still and white The room was
cleared of all but few sympathizing neigh
bors; and the doctor bent over the little in
animate form.
| spare my readers the details. Five
weeks later Jessie sat upon her little arm,
chair with the consciousness thav that was
her place for the rest of her life. If you
had raised the shawl which 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 which would
fall from the poor child's eyes. She had
been sitting alone one afternoon, full OF
bitter, melancholy forebodings, when a
carriage stopped before the window. A
young man, wrapped in a large cloak, got
out first, then lady Jessie knew them.
1t was young Louis Ralston and his mother.
Mrs. Ralston had been very kind in sending
her messages and delicacies during her
illness; but she had not visited her before.
Mrs. Harris was out, she had gone to take
home some sewing; and George was with
her; so the visitors entering the little kitch-
en-, found Jessie alone. They came to her
chair, aud stood, one on each side For a
moment there was deep silence, and then,
with a deep cry, Mrs, Ralston bent over
the child. My child my ehldr she
cried and then she knelt down and buried
her face In Jessie's lap, while her frame
shook with convulsive throbs The young
man seemed as powerfully affected, and un-
able to speak. At last, bending down, he
said My angel preserver, may God in
Heaven bless and comfort you! Oh Jes.
sic, that this should be your reward for
saving my life!
'Mr. Raston.' Jessie began
NO, no. call me Louis; We are brother
and sister now; this has made us So
should have been here before; but the phy,
sicians forbade it. was somewhat injured
but am well again.