Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1872-04-03

uaA mANts ahA AuNh hhh ~1'NhNA laNtNA"N
shrek the darted downward and elasped
the sinking beam upon which her feet bad
rested. Somebody was ringing the bell /
Aud il was not leisurrly motion. Ii
was not slowly tolled as if for a funeral,
but the hands upon the rope below pulled
with life and vigor. The shivering, cling
ing little cloud of white few down aud
the yawning bell flew up. From one
there came a srill cry, and from the other
overwhelming clang, which sounded over
hill and dale miles away. Her slender
arms, now as strong as iron, Rugged the
friendly beam. and her soft fgners wound
themselves around the rusty bolt-heads
with the ridgity of death. Then she
came to the surface huttering like dove
with her face wild with terror. She
caught but glimpse of the blue sky,
the glowing landscape, and then sFe was
down again screaming frightfully in the
midst of the drowning clamor. Her cars
began to grow deaf to all noises whatever
She came up twice and thrice. She had
to take fresh hold. Then another.
Then it seemed that the bolts we're COM
ing apart, and that they had suddenly
grown soft in her hands. She forgot to
scream; she could do nothing but hold on
tight. Even the resolution to do that vi.
tai thing presently began to fade. Deaf.
eled, dizzy, and weakened, the child
grasped and struggled for little while
longer; then there came that crisis when
to move, or even to breathe, is an invita-.
tion to destruction that last moment
when the failing muscles just hold their
own, and are capable of no more effort
Her senses failed her.
At that instant the bell stopped its
mad revolutions, and stopped as suddenly
as it had started.
Majesty's arms now bereft Of .theil
strength, looseued their hold, and she fell
upon the platform with her long hail
streaming over her face. The huge bel
was poised above her, still giving out it
dying tone. Had it fallen it would have
dealt her languied body crushing blow
but some strong hand in the porch held il
tight and steadfast. A dozen feet came
bounding and racing up the stairs, stumbl
ing in the dark, but still pushing on will
great energy Foremost among the peo
pie was the sexton, wild with anxiety
He rushed forward and caught up th'
child as if she were feather.
"Thank God," he cried, with his eye
overfowing with tears, " she is not deat
Majesty, Majesty"
Her trembling eyelids just parted, ant
then closed again.
The lady, Majesty's friend, who hac
followed close behind, it being she in fac
who had discovered the catastrophe iron
! without, now took the child into her mor,
! tender hands, and the little procession
marched down again, and across tn
broad green in front Of the church, to th
, sections cottage.
Here, during the remainder Of the da
, lay little Majesty, holding the lady's han,
{ fast in her own, and now and then bury
4 ing her face and eyes in it, as there re
CURED to her mind the scene in the bel
: fry,
t The lady sang, and tried a thousan
G ways to soothher. But she was sure t
!! find the half frightened and waxen face c
b the child intent upon an imagined bel
| whose awful image was never done sway
], ing this way and that, and which eve
t and anon gave out terrible clang as th
n mighty tongue fell in its cavern of metal
Il The night came OF and the moon AROSE
e Without upon the green aud the loft
!, trees, there was shed a brilliant ligh
l. which illuminated each quiet leaf an
!, each blade Of grass, almost as if anothe
a sun had followed the vanquished one, an
c now looked upon the earth.
: The child had now become SO quiete
il that she was enabled to put together,
y their proper order, all the events and il
k ciderts Of the day. She became rationa
d and was able to listen to the good lad
e. who without cessation lavshed on her a
the tender words and caresses that ever
5. mother knew. Little Majesty soon begt
10 to talk, and even to laugh. This encou
st aged the trembling sexton to approaC
Z her again, he having retired to the fart
e ersst corner when they first lay the Chi
ID upon the bed. He now appeared, al
cautiously examined her from a distanc
ID She called him, and put her out hal
lc with smile. lie numbered over the flo
ID and caught her in his arms.
re 20 Majesty, Majesty? what go
w would there be in life without you? /
cd baby, tell us What would be the us