The Placer herald., 1871-10-21

flames growing louder and louder, coming
nearer and nearer to me- the smoke came in
black, choking waves and nearly suiiocated
me; the darkness had given place to vivid
light, and with almost superhuman strength
dragged myself to the window and called
in my weak voice for aid Who would help
ME what presumption to suppose any one
would risk himself for me! saw great
crowd of people below me, but between me
and them the flames roared and cracked
and wreathed about the old weather-beaten
building; no one saw me, and | heard the
cry go up, call saved!
What dreadful blank! l shuddcr as l
recall it, | seemed to be wandering in black
ness-in impenetrable darkness; pains al
most too torturing to endure racked me, and
YET it seemed to be no existence-all seemed
a void, chaos. lived l had being, and
yet was unconscious of the fact; l existed ,
that was all.
How painfully consciousness returned to
me, after ages it seemed, had elapsed! |
could not move, could not speak, and yet |
knew that l lived-memory returned. The
remembrance of my early days, my reverses
of fortune, my illness, my buried love and
trust that fearful night, the flames around
and above me, that was all, where was |?
slept-again woke, and weary, slum-
bered again--how entirely passive was;
how perfectly at rest-not u pain-I Won
dered if I was not in heaven, such was the
blissful sense of security and happiness felt.
One morning opened my eyes; felt the
same calm and happiness but more strength
looked around me; not the low walls OF
the garret chamber, with its dirty curtains
and bare floor, met my view, but pleasant
apartment with cheerful pictures adjoining
the wall, everything rich and tasteful l
gazed in wonder Where could be-where?
was not in the land of spirits, but where?
Lutte"
Very low and very tenderly was my name
called" Lutte" | raised my eyes to the
face bending over me--wherc had seen it
before-thosc deep, dark eyes, that waving
glory of dark chestnut hair! remembered
one very like it, only more boyish, and less
sad and thoughtful, Iraised my poor, wasted
arms with glad cry upon my lips.
"Charle Graham"
Heaven be praised that you know me,
my little one. Yes, | am Charlie Graham,
your own Charlie, come back to claim you
for his own; he never was false to you,
never! told you once, darling, when |
was worthy of you, when had riches and
honor, would come to you; never heard
of Your misfortunes, but it will be all right
now."
recovered; good nursing and cheerful
spirits and necessary medicine did their work.
| am strong and well now, Notwithstanding
the quack's assertion that my lungs were
entirely gone.
AS for Charlie Graham and l. But what's
the use in letting you into any of our little
business affairs, reader; enough that the
night is past and the morning has dawned!
The ENGLISH THRoNE.-The frequent
spells of sickness of Queen Victoria are at
tracing marked degree of attention, and it
is not believed that they can be of the usual
harmless character of those that trouble the
mothers of large families in their declining
years Judging from English papers and
English correspondence, there is a well-seated
feeling of alarm in the kingdom about her
Majesty. She is now ffty-two years of age,
rather pethorc in person, and free liver,
and has been complaining ever since her hus-
band died. That, under the circumstances,
she should pass away suddenly, should not
be surprising. 1t is not the death of the
Queen that the English people look forward
to with fear and trembling, but the accession
to the throne, as her successor, of that King
Edward the Seventh, who, as Prince OF
Wales, has given so few evidences of pos
sessng the qualities that should adorn the
monarchs station. 1t is not now absolutely
necessary that an English king should be a
statesman, for after all he is but figure
head, but it is desirable that he should be a
gentleman, not in manners merely, but by
instinct and disposition. Unfortunately, the
Prince resembles more his grand-uncle George
the Fourth, than any Of his predecessors.
The British people are not likely to tolerate
another such royal debauehee. The acces-
sion of the new king, therefore, will have the
effect of accelcrating the overthrow of mon
archism in England. 1t is doubtful if King
Edward could keep lis place on the throne
five years after he should be crowned in
Westminster Abbey.
\
Nor long since our friend Brown was on a
visit to Lookout Mountain, Georgia and was
much struck with ts fact that a fine jet of
water was thrown mp above the top Of the
emiuence Oh which the hotel stands. Walk
ing around The jet admiringly, he accosted a
plain countryman with:
"My friend, is this water forced up by a
ram p meaning, of course the hydraulic
contrivance so named.
GA raml' exclaimed the countryman.
Yes ram, | say"
"What on airth-no, sir; it's darned
big mule! and its tremendous hard work for
him. Come here, and I will show him to