Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1870-07-06
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ing to rest upon but a coping barely
eighteen inches wide.
Ben shrieked out that he was a dead
man, and cried:
Tell me where can kneel, Harry:
show me whereI can pray to Almighty
God for cannot die this way
Hush lag, I said; don't lose your
heart. God can hear you Just as Well
sitting as kneeling, and if you try to get
up you Will tumble, to moral certain
ty. Think of Mary, man, and keep
up
But he only shook and swayed more
and more, grOaning and crying out that
he was lost, and I could see that if he
did not mind he would Overbalance.
Get hold of the rod said, thinking
that, even sprung as it was, the touch
of 1t would give him courage.
Where is it, boy he said hOarsely:
and then looking into his face, which
was turned toward ne, I saw that his
eyes were drawn together, blOOdshOt and
squirting, and I knew that the fright
had driven him blind. So pushing my
self to him, I placed my arm around his
waist, and worked around to the rod,
which / put in his hand, and then look
ed down to see whether they were trv-
ing to help us; but there were no signs.
The yard was full of people, all run
ming hither and thither; and, as I after
wards knew, all in the greatest conster-
nation, the cradle having fallen on one
of the OveTseers of the work, killed him
on the spot, and so occupying the atten-
ton of those near that we unfOrtunates
were for the time forgotten.
was straining my eyes in hope Of see
ing some efforts made to help us, when
was startled by a horrible veil, and
brought to a sense OfneW danger; for on
looking around / saw Ben, champing
his teeth and fOaming at the mouth.
and gesticulating in an Unearthly way.
For fear had not only made him blind,
but had crazed his brain.
Scarcely had time to comprehend
this, when he began edging his wav
toward me, and every hair on nv head
seemed to stand on end as ] moved
away, keeping as far off as I could,
scarcely daring to breathe, lest he should
hear me, for see me he could nOt-that
was my only consolation. Once, twice,
thrice, he followed me around the mouth
of that horrible chimney; then doubtless
l had fallen over, he gave up
the search, and began trying to get on
his feet.
What could now do to save his life?
70 touch him was certain death to NY
self as well as him, for he would newt
ably seize me, and we should both fall
over together. To let him stand was to
witness his equally certain destruc-
ton.
I thought of poor Mary, and thought
that ifhe fell she might yet care for me.
The devil put the thought into my mind
1 suppose, but thank God, there was a
one than Satan near me, and
at the risk of my life, 7 rOared out:
sit still, or you'll fall, Ben LOydp
He crOuehed down and held on with
clenched teeth, shivering AMI shaking
In after days he told me that he thought
it was my spirit sent to warn and save
him.
sit stiII:' I repeated from time to time
watching with aching eyes and brain
for signs of aid. Each minute appear
to be an hour. My lips grew dry, MY
tongue literally Glove to mouth, and the
presperatiOn running down, nearly
blinded me.
The crowd began to gather in the
yard; people were running from distant
lanes, and a sea of faces were turned up
ward; then some who had a speaking
trumpet shouted: Keep heart, boys,
We'll save YOU A few minutes more
and the kite began to fly; higher and
it came, and on and on. How I watch
ed the white winged messenger, COM
pairing it in my heart to an angel, as
an angel it was permitted to come to US
poor sinners, hanging on the verge Of
eternity.
Up it came, nearer and nearer, guild
ed by the skillful flyer. Tho slack rope
crossed the chimney, and we were
saved. L could not shout hurrah, but in
every beat Ofmy heart was a thanksgiv-
ing to the God 1 had never truly known
till that hour, and whose merciful prOv-
ldence I can never doubt again.
The block was fixed, the cradle Jyas
up again; and Ben, Obeying my orders.
got in. I followed, but no sooner did I
touch him than he began trying to get
)ut. got hold Ofhim, and takingitiDh
head that was attempting to throw
lim over, he struggled and fought like
5he mad man he was, tearing with his
.eeth, shouting shrieking and praying
III the way down, while the cradle
strained and cracked, swinging to and
70 like the pendulum of a clock.
AsWe came nearer the ground, I could
leRr the roar of voices and an OCCASION
Il cheer, then suddenly all was silent
or they heard Ben's cries, and when
he cradle touched the ground, hardly
! man dared look in. The first who did
aw horrible sight; for exhausted by
he struggle and excitement, soon as the
.radle stopped I had tainted, and Ben
eeliug my hand relax, had fastened
lis teeth into my neck.
No wonder the men fell back with
,leached faces. They saw that Ben was
razed, but they thought he had killed
ne, for they saw he was worrying me
ike a dog. AT last the master got to us
nd pulled Ben off.
I soon recovered but it was a long
ime before he got well, poor fellow, and
yhen he did come out of the asylum, he
vas never fit for his old trade. I gave
Ip the trade, too, soon after, finding
hat I got queer in the head when try
ng to face height. SO, you see, that
mornings work changed two mems
ives.