St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1867-05-24

the guilt OF toamlng waters, as If to de-
struction, then slowly rising again, still
struggling towards the rock. The aged
pair stood for a moment like statues,
gazing on the scene before them, until
the little bark shot into the shade made
by the cliff, and was lost to sight. Instead
of running frantically about, accomplish
ing nothing, as is too often the case in
scenes Of alarm and danger, the sold
mlor' was put on. Bidding his wife
advance to the ed &c of the cliff with the
lantern, Mr.. Richards, with the speed of
one some two scores of years younger,
went to the house, procured a coil of
rope and a fishing line, and was back TO
the cliff nearly as soon as his wife.
At this place the cliff rose forty feet,
perhaps, above the level of the sea.
About two-thirds or more of the way
down was shelf, projecting out three
or four feet. 1t was here the boat came
ashore.
Husband :" said Mrs. r. wringing
her hands in agony '"wha. can be done
Father in Heaven, couldSt thou not have
spared them TO us ~
peace, wife, peace. would.t thou
chide thy Maker Say not a word, but
attend TO me; it is no place to be wo-
manish here. Now wife pitch your voice
to its shrillest tone, above that of the
wind, and see if the poor boys are alive,
to give answer"
The woman did as she was bid, and
bending over the cliff screamed in high
sharp tone-"John. Samuel my chill
dren ~
Her voice rang shrilly above the
dash of the waves and the blast Of the
gallo.
"Quick-thc light-there is hope :"
said Mr.. X, Immediately the lantern
was lowered down 10y the line, and by its
feeble light the oldest son could be seen
on the shelf, leaning back against the
Jagged rock, looking upwards.
There Is but one-it Is John :" said
the old man wildly, as he bent in eager
ness teartully over tue edge of the cliff.
The rope, wife, the rope, ~ shouted
he. In second it was lowered down
swayed 10 and fro by the wind. John
was not long in possessing himself of ii.
But what WIS the old man. horror when
he saw his son cast Oft his Jacket, and
grasping the end Of the rope walked
to the edge OF the shelf, rs if to Jump
into the waters that ioamed at his
feet.
What is he doing! lie is lcaping
into the sea Mercitul Parent Bov.
boy, will you leave me childless in INV
old age - shouted he, in Il voice hoar<e
with emotion, as lie saw his son dive
into the sea. .1le stood transfixcd with
horror. In few minutes. however, John
appeared on the shelf, and made sign.
for those above TO pull the rope The
old man commenced giving directions
to his wife to watch the motions of John.
He soon made signs 10 stop hauling. and
then was seen TO lit the apparently life
less body OF his brother on the shelf.
After examining the rope he made SIGNS
for them TO hoist again. 1t was SIGHT
TO witness the old MIN. by the uncer-
tam light of the fire, the rain beating
upon his gray head. straining himself 10
raise the corpse of his own son from the
dark depths below-and when the BODY
was raised TO the cliff, to See the aged
mother clasp it in her arms. and hear
her voice, thick with agony Samuel.
my son. would to God | could have de
for you THE wind and the rain the |
while beating down upon her uncovered
head, and tlinging her gray and tangled
tresSeS TO the air.
The old mans attention was then
directed toward reScuing his other son. !
who was IN imminent danger, rs the tide |
was setting III, and ere long would prob
ably wash him oft, the force of the wind |
having raised it more than its usual
height. lie made fast the rope to
neighboring tree, and bending over the
cliff, gave directions to his son TO avoid
the sharp rocks that jutted out, as he
attempted the perilous ascent, steadying
the rope and encouraging him the while. |
''Father, your hand :" said John,
breathing thickly, lifting his arm to the
edge of the cliff, well nigh exhausted.
At the moment he uttered these words.
the rope, which had worn against the
sharp rocks, parted, leaving him dam
ling over the horrid depth below, hold
ing by one hand to the edge of the cliff.
and by the other to the tired arm of his
father.
"Wife wife !" shouted the old man,
in voice hoarse with agony, "leave
the dead, and attend to the living"
His wife was SO absorbed in grief she
paid no attention. ''Woman,' shouted
he, i'll voice of despair, "will We sacri.
flee the living to the dead ? Will YOU
see your first born perish Quickly, for
my strength fails"
"What would ye, my husband" said
she, starting up; and seeing the situa-
tion of her husband, stretched on the
ground at full length, holding one arm
of her son, she sprung forward, and
bending down, grasped the other hand,
and almost supernatural strength, by
one effort raised her son on the cliff.
and then sunk beside him with no more
strength than child. She soon recov-
cred, and the excitement of the moment
being over, their attention was turned
to.the younger son, who lay Stretched
out on the ground without sense or mo-
tion, exhibiting pale and CHASTITY face,
as the light of the fast expiring fire oc-
casionally flashed over it.
''Is he dead, father" said John, as
he gazed wildly in his face ''It was an
ugly blow the main boom gave him, as
we struck
"Heaven he praised :" said the father,
''that We have one lett-and thankful | |