Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1866-02-23
FEBRUARY %. 1866.

sAi4 Milfr.
''ga we not save herr
Yes. vc c1ra and uriR save her said
Miller. With look Which I had never seen
him wear bcsore. and which had more o.
the revereniial than have often sen.
Do you beiieve in God. Mr.. Doane p and
be pointed calmly toward heaven With his
finger. Heaven viii not let the swce; lit
tle angel perish
The nan -as not then ~hat he Is nov
bu; he ~as such then that knew ti,e.e
words TO BE- the Inspiration Of the occasion.
ard knew that they came from his heart.
And BE- said them in such a tone of conf
dence. that the effect upon myself vss cleo
irical i feit that ! vas in the presence Of
my superior. a. well in trust. as ealnness
in the hour Of peril.
% And was very calm. A new spirit
seemed 20 come overme. relied implicit
~ uPon the man who could exhibit such
heroism A. 10 peril his life for my child.
and Who could utter such trusting words.
When all seemed hopeless. have never
seen a eAlrner hour than saw in the one
which succeeded.
% e wAs two miles down the river 10 the
rapids. and m the twO miles there vas only
the strong, deep current. The river made
4 detOur to the right. leaving a vide strip
Of woodland along upon the shore where We
stood.
"' Walk along the shore a. fast A. sbe
floats. said Miller. I will 20 for help.
and you need not fear bat viii return in
time. and she shall be rescued. Go ~i;h a
good heart. nov; and DO not speak to her
unless necessary % keep her from moving :
q" The river Was not 20 vide bat that /
could bear her When she spoke. or be heard
Il found il necessary 70 speak. Rather. /
should say. that she did not hoat 30 far
a~ay from the shore as 10 make eonversa-
ton impossible.
= And what a walk was that whica I took
along the rough margin Of the river. on
thar bright spring morning. I disObeyed
the injunction not % speak 20 her 80 far as
TO explain. a; favorable point. when she
Sas quite near the shore. that n she moved
she wOuli be drowned.
% And 80 an hour passed away. and we
reached the rapi1-. Here a ledge of rocks
made out into the stream for few feet.
and beyond stood detached bouAer By IT,
sell. close beside which the current swept
BY deep and strong; and on this boulder
stood Miller. tie had reached II BY means
of a single timber. which. BY The help Of
neishbors. be had succeeded in swinging
over the small portion q the river which
separated it from the main ledge. And I
stood uPon the shore 70 watch the issue Of
life and death. I desired 70 stand By his
side. bot be almost s'ern.y forbade. II she
couif be saved. BE- would save her; and as
learned % believe in his coolness and skil
more than in my oWn. stood with the anx-
ious group on shore, while the ice foated
into 'he rapids
4" For hall a mile below us there was a
rocky rarid. though still an unbroken cur
rent. ard then a foaming. boiling Of the
river into which II she ucut. there vas not
the slightest possibility Of escspe. II .be
passed Miller. therefore. sbe was lost. % an
human appearance. True. she might out
ride the rapids. but she co1h not survive
tie gull
" Nearer and nearer canfc the fatal ice
boat. bearing directly upon the rock on
Which Miller stood. There va no evidence
Of excitement on be part; and a. the little
one came within few fsct Of bim. be spokc
famiiariy and encouragingly-ansvered.
thosgh. only By tie sohs of the chiid.
There vas ~ hcavy roaring % waters. and
90 could bear al that be said. and stood
ourselves within a dozen feet of them both.
And al seemed working 90 iavofably-tte
fake oi ice coming % directly toward the
rock. a. though % would land b. precious
freight directly INTO BE- arms. Bet Just a.
uc we're ready o. shout our thankfal1ess.
ihe fake vcercd suddenly 9Th the clrrcnt.
and sas swept over the rapids,
'' ln an instant. the ieelins sas one Of
horror. We we're frozen % the spot-psr-
a'yyed by ih- utter hopc icssness Of rescue.
anl the aEial fate o. wbich the chiid nov
FASTENED. There vas e. terribly s1iien
spring Of Miller toward the pole vhieh lay
bc.rle him. siih noosc auscLed. ~hich BE-
bad takcn the prccaution % prepare. bit
before be- va ready she va bcyond his
rlach
go. 81 hsd been there. could. I
..aff lave saved her,
' he words vere unjsst. Bot ~cre utter
.i .u 'be s~ial dissppointment % ihe mo-