The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1865-02-02
THE EAGLE TOWER.

ming
VERY well SIR said Ned, looking
plea sed; "and then you viii! see Bright
Eye, before he goes away"
What said Mr.. Blain, lis your
father parting with Brightly -
"Yes, sir; gentleman fancied him, and
offered good price for him. But you
know, sir, there will still be the Duchess
for you to get q ride On when you want to
go anywi4ore.'
Thank you, Ned" said the teacher
smiling; and Ned set off swinging his bag
Of books
Ned's father, Mr. Elliott, had a farm
about two miles from the village, and Mr.
Blair who was 4 favorite Of both parents
and scholars, often strollcd out in all eve
ming to have a chat with the farmer, and
enjoy the fresh coun.ry air. On this
evening, when near the farmhouse, he saw
Mr.. Elliott standing on the doorstep talk
irg r,lh the groom who had come for the
horse; and just as Mr.. Blair joined them
Ned came round the corner OF the house
with Peter the stable boy, and led Bright
Eye by the bride.
a fine evening, Mr.. Blair said the
farmer | ain lad to see you, sir. Here
Ned" he continued, "go and ask your
mother Tor dram for Mr.. Jones here"
Ned glanced half smiling at Mr.. Blair.
but he ran into the house and quickly re-
turned with bottle and glass The glass
was filled and handed round Mr. Elliott,
the groom, and even Ned partook, but
when it was offered to the stable boy he
declined
Halo, Peter said Ned, what's up
now ?'
Nothing" said Peter, only I'm net
Going TO drink any more whisky"
Dear me-" said Ned, '.to hear you
speak, anybody might think YOU were .
great drnkcr.
Il don't want to be one" said Peter
or course you don't; no more do l.:
bat everybody doesn't become drunkarJ
that takes drop now and then
Many one does, though; it gels 100
strong for them before they know -
More fools they said Ne6. 1T wo'd
be time enough to stopif you were begiu-
ming to like it too WE'LL
I III not going to try said Peter,
stoutly; and they both turned to give a
parting pat to Bright nye.
r'r Blair heard ,As conversation be-
tween thc boys, while Mr.. Elliott talked
with the groom; hut when at last the
horse and his rider were out Of sight, lie
walked away with Nh Ell oft without
making any remark.
\ week afterward Mr. Blair and num-
ber Of his scholars took an excursion to an
old castle, few m,les from the village
Ii was was a beautiful place, and favor
ite resort for picnics and pleasure parties
Round an old tower Of this castle, at a
great height, ran projecting ledge about
two feet vide This ledge could be reach
ed by a window leading from an old stair
case within, and it had sometimes been a
boast of the village lads to walk up the
crumbling stair and round the eagle tower;
but two fatal accidents within a very
short time had led all but the most tool
hardy to give up SO dangerous a sport
Ned Elliott was therefore much astonished
when his teacher, tapping him on the
shoulder, said quietly,
Come, Ned, let Us see who will be first
round the Eagle Tower"
Cup high there, sir, do you mean p
said Ned, with wide open oyes
"Yes, to be sure. Come.
"But are you sure, sir? Isn't it dan
gerous %
dangerous. Why should it be-"
because, sir, SIR" said Ned, g,ancing
up at the dizzy height, "mightn' we fall p
"Oh, nonsense. EVERYBODY doesn't fall
that goes round. Many an one does ii
quite safely"
eyes SIR" said the won iering Ned
''but then We might not, you know. jim
Carter thought he could do it first rate
and he fell; and it is not long since Harry
Nelson was killed too
"Two more fools, they" said Mr. Blair
"Why didn't they stop and go back when
they began to grow giddy ?" and he drew
Ned towards the foot Of the broken stairs
Ned, now in serious alarm, began tC
wonder if his teacher had suddenly gone
mad, and look ed round to Sc if any of his
companions were in sight, when Mr. Blail
turning to him with smile, said, "Why
should you be afraid to try the Eagle
Tower, when | saw you just last week
Drawing much greater danger"
"What do you mean, sir" said Ned?
"Why should you think it madness t.