Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1869-06-11

end Of that short time, the bell would be
rung a second time, for FIVE minutes more.
could not calculate time feared to rise,
least the i've minutes should have elapsed,
and the ringing be again commenced, In
which case should be crushed, before |
could escape, against the walls OF frame.
work of the bell. / therefore atill con.
tinued to lie down, cautiously shin
ing myself, however, with care.
full gliding, go that my eye no
longer locked into the hollow. This was
Of itself a considerable relief The cessa.
tion Of the noise had, in great measure,
the effect of supplying me, for my attcn.
ton, being no longer occupied by the
ohimeras l had copiured up, began 10 flag
All that now distressed mo was the con
slant expectation of the second ringing,
for which, however, settled myself with
kind Of stupid resolution. l closed my
eyes, and clonched my teeth as firmly as
If they had Deen screwed in vice.
At last the dreaded moment came, and
the first swing of the bell extorted groan
from me, as they say the most resolute
victim screams at the sight Of the rack, TO
which he is for a second time destined.
Amer this, however, l lay silent and
letbargic, without thought Wrapt in
the defensive armor of stupidity, de6ed
the bell and its intonations. When II
ceased, was reused litllc by the hope OF
escape. did not, however, decide on
this step hastily, but, putting up my hand
with the utmost caution, touched the
rim. Though the ringing had ceased, II still
was tremuloIis from the sound, and shook
under my hand, which instantly rec coiled
as from an electric jar. A quarter of an
hour probably elapsed before again dared
TO make the experiment, and then found
II at rest. determined to lose no time,
fearing that might have lain then already
too long, and that the bell for evening
service would catch me. This dread stim.
ulated me, and slipped out with the ut
most rapidity, and arose. l Stood sup.
pose, for minute, looking with silly
wonder on the place of my i'm.
prisoDment, penetrated with Joy at
escaping, but then rushed down the
stony and irregular stair with the
velocity of lightning, and arrived In
the bell.ringers' room. This was the last
act had power 10 accomplish | leaned
against the wall, motionless and deprived
of thought, In which posture my com
panions found me, when, In the course of
a couple of hours, they returned to their
occupation.
They were shocked, as well they might
bo, at the figure before them The wind Of
the bell had excoriatcd my face, and my
dim and stupeaed eyes were mixed with a
lack-lustre gaze in my raw eyollds. My
hands were torn and bleeding; my hair
dishoveled; and my clothes tattered. They
spoke to me but gave no answer. They
shook me, but | remained insensible.
They then became alarmed, and hSstened
to remove me. He who had first gone up
with me in the forenoon met them as they
carried me through the church.yard, and
through him, who was shocked at having,
in some measure, occasioncd the acci-
dent the cause of my misfortune was dis
covered.
was put 10 bed at home and remained
for three days delrious, but gradually re.
covered my senses. You may be sure the
bell formed prominent topic in my raw
ings, and if | heard a peal, they were in
stantly increased to the utmost violence.
Even when the delirium abatcd, my sleep
was continually disturbed by imagined
ringings, and my dreams were haunted by
the fancies which almost maddened me
while in the stecple Time cured this as 1t
does most of our tOllies; but even at the
present day, ii, by chance, my nerves be
unstTubg, some particular tones OF the
cathedral bell have power to surprise me
into momentary start. - Bdllou's
MOatuH,