National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1869-01-01

man and keep up
But he only shook and swayed
more and more, groaning, aud cry.
ing out that he was lost; and l
could see that, if he did not mind,
he would over. balance.
Get hold Of the rOd,' l said think
ing that, even sprung as 10 was, the
touch OF il would give hun cOur.
age.
where ia it boy = he said hoarse-
ly; and then looking into his face,
which was turned to me saw that
his eyes were drawn together,
squirting and bloOdshot, aud knew
that the fright had driven him blind.
So, pushing myself to him, I placed
my arm around his waist, and work
cd round to the rod, which I put in
his hand, and then l looked below
to see whether they were trying to
help us, but there was no sign. The
yard was full Of people, all running
.hither and thither; and as after
wards knew. all in the greatest con.
sternatiOn-the cradle having fallen
on one of the Overseers of the works,
killing him on the spot, and 80 oc.
cupying the attention Of those near
that we unfortunates were for the
time forgotten. was straining my
eyes in the hopes of seeing some eft.
fort made to help us, when I was
startled by horrible yell and bro't
to sense of a new danger, for look.
ing round, l saw Ben champing
with his teeth and foaming at the
mouth, and gesticulating in an un.
earthly way. Fear had not only
blinded him but crazed his brain.
Scarcely had time to comprehend
this, when he began edging his way
towards me; and every hair on my
head seemed to stand on end as !
moved away, keeping rs far off as
could and scarcely daring to
breath lest he should hear me, for
see me he could not that was my
only consolation. Once-twice-
thrice-he followed me round the
mouth OF that terrible chimney !;
then, no doubt thinking had fallen
over, he gave up the search. and be-
gan trying to get OH his feet. What
could l now do to save his life To
touch him was certain death to my.
self as well as him, for he would in
evitably seize me, and we should
both goOver together. TO let him
stand up, was to witness his equally
certain destruction.
thought of poor Mary, aud / re
mem bered that if he died, she might
get to care for me. The devil put
that .,..-.rilt into .ns raind, spp
pose but, thank God, there was a
stronger than Satan near, and, al
the risk OF my life | roarcd out, 'Sit
still, or you will fall, Ben Lloyd"
He croucl,ed down and held OF
with clenched teeth, and shaking
In after days he told me that Ii,
thought that it was my spirit sent Il
warn and save him.
sit still, | repeated from time t.
, time, with aching eyes and brail
5 for some sign of aid. Each minute
seemed to lG an hour. My lip
| grew dry, my tongue literally clav'
2 to my mouth, and the prespiratiol
5 running down blinded me. At las
, at last-hOpc came. The GROVE
l began to gather in the yard, peOpl
e were running in from distant lanes
and a sea OF faces were turned W
e wards; then some one who had 60
!, Il speaking trumpet shouted, 'kee
t heart, boys; we'll save you!
c few minutes more the kite began +
J. rise higher and higher it comes, o
> and Oh. How watched the whit
l winged messenger, comparing 1t |
e my heart to an angel and surely
as an angel it was permitted
r. come to us poor sinners, hanging o
J.; the verge of eternity. Up it can
e nearer and nearer, guided by I'll
t. skillful flier. The slack rope crosse
o. the chimney, and we were saved.
| could not shout hurrah, eve
2 had | dared bat in every beat
my heart was thanksgiving to tl
God ! had never truly known u
* that hour, and whose inerciful pro
a idence can never doubt again.
ct The block was fixed, the Grad
came up again, and Ben, Obeyii
d. my order, got in. l followed; b
re no sooner did / touch him than
I'd began trying to get out. l got no
no of him, and taking it in his he;
re that was attempting to throw hi
A over, he struggled and fought n
d, the mailman he was-grapplin
ey tearing with his teeth, shOutin
nd shrieking and praying oil the vi
at down, while tie cradle strained al
,k cracked, swinging to and fro like t
ct pendulum Of u clock. AS We cal
ne near the ground l could hear I
mt roar of voices, and an occasion
nd cheer; then suddenly all was sale
by for they had heard Ben's cries, a
ID. when the cradle touched the grou
- scarcely man dared look in. I
an first who did saw a horrible sig
COR, exhausted by the struggle
, l excitement, so soon az the era
rill stopped, I had tainted, and b
SO. feeling my hands relax, had faster
ed. his teeth in my neck t!
ere No wonder tho men fell b.
ed with blanched faces-they saw {
est Ben was crased /; but they thou
'en that he had killed me, for as d
said, he was actually worrying
% q like q dog.