The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1867-10-19
SATURDAY MORNING, OCTOBER Is, 1867

he would save her, and as 1 learned to believe
in his GOODNESS and skill moro than in my own
l staod with the anxious group on shorc,cwlile
the ice tloatGd into the rapids s,t,
For half mile below us there was q rocky
rapid, though still an unbrokcn ,currcnt, and
then foaming, boiling of the river into which,
if she went, there was not the slightest posi-
bility of escape. IF she passed M Miller, there
fore, she was lost to all human appearance
True, she might outride the rapids, but she
could not survive the gulf ~ AIN. ,i,.
"Ncarcr and nearer came the futal ice-boat
bearing directly upon the rock on which Mil
lcr stood. There was nc evidence of excite
mcnt on his part; and as the little one came
within few feet of him, he spoke lalniliarly
and encourasngly-answercd, though, only by
the sobs Of the child There was no heavy
roaring of waters. and we could hear all that
lie said and stood ourselves within dozen
feet of them both. And al seemed working SO
i.vorably y-thc fake of ice coming so directly
toward the rock, as though it would land its
precious freight directly into his arms But
just as we were ready to shout cur thank full
ness, the fake vccrcd suddenly with the cur
rent, aud was swept over the rapids!
ln an instant, the feeling Was one Of horror
We were frozen TO the srot-paralyzcd by the
utter hopccssncss Of the rescue, and the awful
fate to which the child now hastnncd There
was y terribly sudden spring Of Miller toward
the pole which lay beside him, with moose at
achcd, Which he had taken tho prccaution to
prepare, but before ho was ready she was be-
yond reach.
Cob, if I had been there could, couA7
have saved her
The words were unjust but were uttered in
the awful disappointment Of the moment
"lou!"
Gle paused to say so much as lie passed
mc-.not harshly, but with an injured look
which I shall never forget then he was away
again.
II stood supplied withhorror whilcthc child
t'oated rapidly down the accelerated current.
"At this point there. was bendiRthc river.
After;lcaving US for n little distance, it came
.[ts
back around some tall elmss which grew, Upon
its margin. Running hurriedly across this
narrow neck Of fiai.l, III iIer climbed onc of the
branches I saw him perch upon one of the
limbs which grew cut over the water, motion
-calnl-witll something III the expression
of his countcnancc which gave me shadow Of
the old trust which | had felt at first.
The child was carried away by the current
and then swept back again, nearer and nearer
the shore, till she raescd from our sight, hid
by intervening rocks In moment she ap-
pcarcd again below them, and only few rods
above the tree Which Miller had climbed. I
know not why it WAS, but looked on very
calmly. saw him slip The rope little fartl-
cr from the body of the tree then nearer cvi-
IDENTIFY guaging it. to bring it in range with the
child. Then lie Slid down to the surface OF the
water. and fastened it around his shoulders,
leaving his arms free. And the child was
l'oating into his arms. I felt that there could
be no mistake, and l thanked Heaven, even
when she was in the current, that it had spared
nc my child, through the courageous efforts of
noble man.
lie took her as safely and as softly from the
ice ms though she had been an angel. as he al
most seemed TO me at that moment, and climb
ing the rope, he came down and placed her in
my arms, the tears standing in his eyes, and his
"holc form for the first time trembling like II
leaf in the breeze, but with only these words
Sweet little child, how kindly Providence
toatcd her into my arms !"