Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-12-25

show me where I can pray to Almighty
God, for ] cannot die this way ~
" Hush lad, l said, "don't lose heart.
God can hear you just as well sitting a.
Eneeling; and II you try to get uD you'll
tumble 10 moral certainty. Think OF
Mary, man, and keep up"
Bat he only shook and swayed more
and mole, grosniRg and crying out that
/ be wss lost and ] could see that II he
/ did not mind he would overbalsnce.
"Get hold OF the rod" [ said, think
/ ing that, even sprung IS il wac, the touch
/ Of 1t would give htm courage.
Where is it, boy ?" he said hoarsely !;
and then looking into his face, which
was turned to me, saw that his eyes
were drawn together, squirting and
bloOdsh0t, and knew that the fright hsd
driven him blind. So pushing myself to
him L placed my arm around his waist.
and worked round to the rod, which I
put in his hand and then / looked be-
low to see whether they were trying TO
help US; but there We're no signs.
The yard was fall of people, all run
ming hither and thither; and, as l after
ward knew, all in the greatest conster-
nation; the cradle having fallen on one
of the ogerseers Of the work, killing him
on the spot, and so occupying the atteu-
AApAA VI A-A-c4 hNAAi N-2e%N VIC A-lAOA LuLld LElF
were fer the time forgotten. I was
strsining my eyes, "a hope OF seeing
some effort made 70 help us, when I was
startled by horrible yell, and brought 10
q sense OF 8 new danger, for lsokiDE
round / saw Ben champing his teeSh,
and fOsming ct the mouth, and gastR y
latiug in an unesrthly way. Fear ~
not only blinded him, but crszed Ia
brain. N7I
Scarcely had I time to comprehend
this, when be began edging his way to-
ward me and every hsir on my head
seemed TO stand on end, as l moved
away, keeping a. far OF as / could, and
scarcely daring TO breathe, lest he should
hesr me, for see me he could nO!-that
wss my only consolation. Oace-twics-
thrice-he followed me- round the mouth |
of thst horrible chimney; then, no
doubt, thinking I had fallen over he /
gave up the search, and began trying to 1
get on his feet.
What could I now do to save his life |
To touch him was certain death to myself /
as well as him, for he would inevitably |
seizs me, and we should both 60 over to-
gether. To let him stand wss to witness |
his equally certain destruction.
/ thought OF poor Mary, and thought 1
that il he fell she might get to care FOR
me. The devil put t. at thought into
my mind, l suppose; but, thank God,
there vas a stronger than q Satan near,
and 81 the risk OF nay life, rOsred ou'
" Sit still, or you will fail, Ben Lloyd ~
He crCucbed down and held on with
clenched teeth, shivering and shaking.
10 Effsr-days he told me that be thought
that IL was my spirit sent to warn and
save him.
"Sit STILL" repeated from lime to
time, watching with schiug eyes and
brain for some sign Of aid Each minute
seemed to be an hour. Ny lips grew dry,
and my tongue literally clsve TO my
and the peTspiratiOn running
down blinded me. At lsst-Rt lsst-hope
came.
The crowd began to gather in tine yard,
people were running in from distant
anes. and q sea Of faces were turned up
ward; then some one who hRd got
ipsakipg trumpet shouted, Keep heart, /
boys; We'il save yCuIn A few minutes |
more and the kite began 70 fly; higher |
md higher it comes; on and on. How |
watched the white-winged messenger, ! 1
It 10 my heart to aR angel
md surely, az an angel was it permitted /
g come TO us poor sinners hanging on to | +,
be verge of eternity.
Upit cane, nearer and nesrer, guided !
y the skiiful flyer. The slack rope l
rOssed the chimney, and we We're saved.
could not shout hUrrsh, even had l (
AIRED but in every beat of nay hesrt i
7as thanksgiving to The Coz l had -
ever truly known till that hour, and
those merciful providence | can never
oubt again.
The block was fixed, the cradle came 0
p again, and Ben, obeyiug my order, b
o. in. followed but DO sooner did / Y
ouch him than be began trying to get Il
at. ] got hold Of him, and taking it :
ltO his head that l was trying IN throw :
Inn over, he struggled and fought like Il
le madman he wRs-grapplinG, tearing II
18th his teeth, shouting and slrieklng, %
ld praying sll the. way down, while X
le cradle strained and cracked, swing
lg TO and fro like the pendulum of a
CcE. As we came near ihe ground
jUld hear the TOer of voices and an oc-
lsiOnal cheer; then suddenly sll was
lent, for they heard Bsn's cries, snd bi
hen the cradle reached the grOubd &"
srcely & man dare leOk in. The first 60
no did ssw q horrible sight, for, ex- ;
austed by the struggle and excitement, / -
soon as the cradle stopped l had J..
inted, and Ben, feeling my hands re- Il
x, had fastened his teeth int0smy A
EEK. n
No wonder the men fell back with a,
aDched faces; they saw that Ben was 90
azsd; but they thought that he hsd ~
He'd me, for IS they said, be was sctu- :.
ly worrying me like dog. At last the eI
aster got TO Us, and pulled Ben Off me. eI
! soon oame round, out 1t was q long re
me before he got well, poor fellow; and %
hen he did come out OF the asylum, he n,
ss never fit for his old trade again. / =,
we up the trade, too, soon after, find
z that got queer in the hssd when l
led to face hight. So, you see, that al
work changed two meme 81
res. al