The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1868-08-13
UER0LSM CF A GIRL.

The winter Of 1854, which Was - re-
mdIkabiy severe in Italy On sccouRt of
the large quantity Of enow which :eII in
the more elevated portions Of tirst coaatry,
WAS even yet more severe in France and
Germany. where the most rapid rivers
we're frozen solid, and many persons PER-
ished from the intensity of the weather.
One night, which was probably IGoTs
terribly cold than any which had preca-
dod IT, when the fierce north wind caused
every living thing 10 shrink tefoEeSit, =
soldier Of the garrison Of Metz, in Lor-
raine, received orders TO mount guard at =
post the most exposed of say near the
city. Tie unhappy man, whoeo health
had been in very feeble condition Fer
some time previous, incarrrd the risk Of
mis- life from exposure TO the rigore of the
bitterly Geld sir in which he WAS placed.
Re was engaged 10 marry young
girl whose affection for hin was OF the
most tender nstGre, aud Shcn SO learned
the danger TO which tie WAS subjected she
became extremely uneasy. She feared
that he WAS not III condition ie support
the fatigue Of night watch under such
circumstances. Der reflections agitsLed
her TO such ST extent that she could not
close her eyes, nor even Tepose quietly
upon her couch. Her fears augmented
the more she thought OF lit, and ahsa The
hour arrived when he mast pvccesd 10 his
bleak post she f.ncied she could see hin
perishing with cold. Not bciug akle TO
resist the terrible inGuietude which op-
pressed her, she left her home IN tie dark
ness of midnight, and, in despite Of the
ice, the snow, and the cutting wind, che
went OK, alone, sustained only by the
courage of her noble heart, tu~ard the
post, which, indeed, was not az a great
distance, aud there she found the young
soldier performing his task as sentinel
He trcmbled IN all lis limbs, and SO much
was he weakened by the fsigid atmosphere
around him ihat lac could hardly stand
upright. She began 10 beg him, to con~
jure hin, TO 60 with her 10 the fire which
she had lighted and warm himsclf; but
he, knowing how severely he would be
punished for such fault, thanked her,
but firmly refused her friendly offer. ''At
least for a moment said she, eff but to
/ alleviate the severity Of the cold from
which you are suffering" The trembling
soldier replied to her that nothing could
save him from death if he should commit
such an act Of imprudence, and that he
should be condemned as soon as the act
should become known.
"But If you remain here" said she,
with much emotion, ''you viii assuredly
perish. You should therefore endeevor
to avoid the fate to which you are inevi-
tably exposed, even if you risk death in
| another form. Ii is not certain that your
absence will be known indeed it is not
probable that it viii be noticed Surely
heaven viii not permit you to sufer for
the attempt TO save yourself from 20
dreadful death" ''And would you,'
replied the soldier, shave me skulkingly
abandon the post which am placed here
TO guard Shall l give up honor and
duty also p "Go,' said she, with viz
vacity, "and will watch the post until
you return. l shall have much more
strength to resist the inclement winds
than you have and while you are re-
covering from the chill which Las seized
you, l will do the sentiners duty. Go