Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1866-05-03
EBENSBURG, PA, THURSDAY, MAY 3, 1866.


tension, and it seemed as if the rude
hand of despair had broken them
all. The terrified husband threw
water in her pale face and strove by
all the art he knew to win her back
to life. At last she opened her Ian
guild eyes, stared wildly around, and
rose trembling to her feet. As she
stood like a heart-broken Niobe,
''all tears" a fragment Of rock
came tumbling down the opposite
bank. She looked up, she was her
self again, for half way up the as
cent stood her own dear boy.
But even while the glad cry was
issued from her lips it turned into
note Of horror. ooh, mercy, mer-
cy = The crag on which the boy
stood projected from the rock in
such way as to hang about twelve
feet above the bank. Right below
the edges of the crag, crouched a
panther. The bold youth was aware
Of the proximity of his parents, and
the presence Of his dangerous enemy
about the same time. He had roll
ed down the stone in eXultation, to
convince his parents Of the high po-
sition which he had attained, and he
stood with another in his hand,
drawing it back, and looking at them
as if to ask whether he should throw
it at the terrible animal before him.
Till then the mother stood immova-
bic in her suspense but conscious
Of the danger Of her son if he irri-
tated the beast, she rushed some
distance up the rock. Yet, with
the fearless mind Of childhood, and
| temper little used to control he
fearlessly threw the fragment with
all his might at the ferQcious animal.
1t struck one Of his feet. He gave
/ a sudden growl, Iashed his tail with
/ fury, and seemed about to spring.
* Get your rifle, Josiah :" The poor
man stirred not. His wife leaped
from the stand, and placing her
hand upon her husbands shoulders,
/ looked into his face and said: "Are
you a man, Josiah Eaton? Do you
love your child?" He started as ii
from sleep, and ran with furious
haste from the ravinc.
Again the mother looked toward
her son. He had fallen upon his
knees, and was whispering the little
prayers which she had taught him,
not in cowardlv fear, but thought
came across his mind that he must
die. The distracted mother could
keep still no longer. She rushed
up the steep ascent with the energy
Of despair, reckless Of danger,
thinking only of her son. The
rocks crumbled and slipped beneath
her feet, yet she fell not. On, on,
she struggled in her agony. The
furious creature paused a moment
when he heard her approach. True
to his nature he sprang at the boy.
He barely touched the crag, and
fell backward just as Hannah as
cended the opposite side. "Ah
said she laughing deliriously, " the
panther must try it again before he
parts us my boy; but we won't
part" And sinking on her knees
before him, she fQndly folded him
to her breast, bathing his young
forehead with tears.
Unaltered in his ferocity, and his
manner Of gratifying it, the panther
again sprang from his position. This
time he was more successful. His
forehead struck upon the crag. ''He
will kill us mother! he will kill us -
and the boy nestled close to his
mothers body. The animal strug-
gled to bring his bosom to the crag
his savage features being step
from the mothers face. $50 away,
90 away shrieked the mother,
hoarse with horror, ''you shan't
have my child" Closer, still closer
he came-his red eyes flashing fury,
and the thick painting of his breath
came in her very face, At this aw-
| ful moment she hears the faint re-
port Of fire arms coming from the
gulf below--the panther falls-his
sharp claws loosen from the rock,
and the batfied beast rolls down the
precipice at the feet OF Josiah Eaton.
! The suns last rays cleaned on
the little group at the mouth of the
gorge. They were on their knees