Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1867-10-04
THE AVALANCHE.

On the slope of one of the beauti-
ful Swiss mountains stood n large cot.
tage' so shut in by the lofty peaks
which lowered round 1t, that it's in
habitants could hardly catch a gIymp
OF the blue sky. 1t was tho dwell
ling place of a young couple and
their only child, little boy of four
years old; and poor and lonely
though it was, yet it was tho abode of
peace and love and no king was hap
pior than Franz, when, on his retuIu
from hunting, or else from a days
work at ono of tho farms in the shell
tered valley at the foot of the noun
tain, he met his Gutchen and the lit
tie Wilhelm fastening along the
mountain.path to meet and welcome
him, as soon as they heard the dis
tant SOUND of his voice singing some
lively hunting song.
One beautiful morning Franz said
to his wife, ~ must 60 up the noun
tain to day. The sun ia shining bright
and warm, and there is a good chance
OF finding game; besides who knows
how soon the weather may change
again ?"
So, putting on his hunting coat and
pouch, and taking his gun in bis hand
he bade goodbye, in a cheerful voice,
to his wife and child, and disappeared
up the mountain>c:do. His wife had
no sooner lost sight Of him, than she
felt strange sinking of the heart,
as ii she was never to see him again.
She gazed out of the window, on
which there we're many beautiful
forms traced by the frost; but she
tried in vain TO overcome the fears
which bad taken the possession of
her mind, and she sat down again by
the fire side with her little Wilhelm
pressed closely in her arms. She
was soon reused by a rushing, crash.
ing noise, and falling on her knees,
sne exclaimed, "God be merciful to
to us, or we shall be destroyed by the
avalanche" Scarcely had she utter
ed the words, when it became dark as
midnight. The cottage was buried
in the snow!
The evening was calm, and the
stars shone brightly in the clear sky,
when Franz descended along the
homeward path with q chamois lying
across his shoulder. Ho bad seen but
little game, and had climbed many
giddy heights before he got near
enough to tako successful aim at the
timid animals. He hastened eagerly
along expecting every minute to- see
his wife and child, as be know he must
be near.'thes spot where tho cottage stood.
At length he stopped, and gazing on
the masses of snow and ice which
surrounded him, cried in disparing
voice, my wife! my child! They
are lost-buried in the cruel avaian-
che! May God help me and them p
With the first ray OF light Franz,
and party Of sympathizing friends
from the nearest cottages, were a.
sembled, with spades and shovels, on
the spot where he thought his cottage
had been buried, and commenced to
clear away the snow, in hopo to ex-
tricate Gutchen and her little one.
For three days they worked inces.
sanity, without any success. Ali
then lost courage except Franz, who
never despaired, but continued 20 dig
night and day, without speaking to
his companions, but praying ,nward-
~ to God, who gave him strength to
persevere in spite of his grief and
anxiety.
In the meantime, Gutchen believed
herself shut up for ever in her sub
terraneau prison. Their stock of pro.
vision copld pot last long, and then
she saw no prospect but death for her.
self and her little Wilhelm, who often
asked her when it would be morning,
as ny the light Of the lamp she read
in her Biblo Of .Christ's miracles, and
found comfort in praying that be
might save them, If it were possible
and if not, that he would soon take
them to His kingdom in heaven.
On. the ninth day she suddenly
heard the sound Of voices above and
at tho same moment France heard
his spsde touch hard object, which
he soon found to be the roof Of bis
cottage. He quickly fastensd long
cord around his waist, removed al
portion Of the roof: and descended To-
to the little room, where he found
wife and child safe and well. .f
And who can describe the joy of
that meetings between those who
feared they bad for ever parted in
thisIworld,i By the light Of the now
expiring lamp, they knelt and offered
up their, thanks and praise to God, :,
who had 60. wonderfully preserved
them. ,.,sihtte, ,;,a,.qi .fsw . riii.; ss,,sn,-
When Gntohen onoed more ,beheld9
the light Of the sun, and the" glitter