The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-03-23
JUVENILE COLUMN
BRAVE uNcLE.-A THRILLING NARRATIVE.

watched over me with the care of fond
aren't. His valuable precept and kind ad-
!dvce, have often saved me from moral
legredation, for they were rendered so
hey were intended solely for my welfare.
lie never debarred me any reasonable
pleasure, and had such happy kuack Of
making my studies agreeable, that instead
IF these being irksome, as most boys be
ieve, 1T was always delight to me to take
ancle's explanation of any passage which
had found difficult at school He was a TO-
tired army officer, and every one loved to
hear him relate anecdotes of the camp and
held, which he did without any egotism,
avoiding upon all occasions, making him.
self the hero of his stories.
Well, am not going to recount his NOR
al virtues, but as his body has been con-
signed to the iomb, like to rake up remi-
niscenses Of my dear relative, that he u ay
live, not only in my memory, but in that
of others; aud thus 1 will eudeavor to
give you some idea of his personal cour-
age, by relating to you an heroic act
which saved his nephew from an untimely
death.
After some difficulty and much study on
ability, passed my examination for the
civil service, and was attached to the en-
cheering department.. / was ordered, with
several others to Aberyswitb, in South
Wales, to make survey of that rugged
coast. My dear uncle, who had always
portunity of visiting that favorite water
ing-place. He was then about fifty six
years of age, but he would rise at six
o'clock in the morning, and accompany US
throughout the day. In many parts of this
coast, the rocks far overhang the sea, the
hollow being formed by the constant rush
of the tide and currents, which are unusu-
ally strong here. I was never afraid of
being light-headed, and often would run
with the chain over proclivities 200 feet
above the sea, an act that made others
shudder. My dear old uncle would flatter
my courage, and say: I am glad engi-
neering is not my vocation, bat it is fitted
for yOurg folks like you. Youth il the
time to overcome difficulties. When you
get to my age, somehow your courage fer
sakes ,yon, and you cling to life more
strongly than when you have a greater
number of years before you.'
The next day after he had made this OBJ
servatioD, my uncle had accompanied us
over Constitution Hill. All the way up he
had pnffed and blown, and talked Of age
the top, and then our duties commenced.
My uncle sat himself down underneath the
onsy tree that could afford shelter from
the broiliDg sun. We had advanced some
distance over huge crags, and being more
veaturous than usual, had got to tho up-
Ss
rock gave way underneath my feet, and
went down some twenty feet. Here a
gorse- bush growing at the side intercepted
my fall. l grasped it with q death like
grip, and found just a footing and that was
all. I looked; there was the sea at
least fifty feet below me beating its angry
waves against the base of the rock. I
looked above, and all was dark, for the
overhangipg cliff projected SO f. I, to
Chamber up it was an impossibiimy and a
communication with my friends seemed al
so impossible. Presently stentorau
voice cried out in a kind Of assumed care
less tone:
Halo, Ned, where are you7"
just under this projection uncle; but
can't get either up or down"
60 Courage fad-cnurace !" nv dear old
uncle cried, hold on Ned; it will be all
right"
Then heard him shouting hither and
thlther, as if he was once more in command
of his company. Every now and then he
would speak some encouraging words to
me, such as: "The ropes are coming lad;
it's all right; no danger, my boy, SO long
as You hold on" Aud so the time passed
Il thought it an age. My strength seemed
to fail me, for l was Obliged to keep my
self in perpendicular position the little
fcothold had would allow of nothing else;
and even to do this had to keep firm
grasp OF the prickly -gorse. Presently l
heard my uncle say: "ThaAk God, it's
GOMEZ" and then there were preparations
ordered with military precision, and then
an encouraging shout from tue good old
man and, afterwards it was, Here ain
Ned! l am coming myself, to see what 1t
is all about" Then the "Here am Ned, -
came nearer and nearer to me, and over
the projecting rock it came. Then heard
the call, Lower, lower, lower" and then
the dear face from whence the sound ema-
mated was distinctly visible. The moment
he saw me lie SAID: Gan right, Medal
right boy ;" but rather TREMENDOUSLY he
shouted, "Above see the boats are all
right" Aud down, further down, came
my dear old uncle, He tried to be bluff,
but saw it was an effort. Presently he
said; "Will that spot hold two Nedf"
think so unclei but there is scarcely
room for two to place their feet"
he saw in a moment that for those above
to pull up was Impossible, so he placed his
foot near mine; be also caught hold of the
gorse- bust, aud, with military air, lac
E said: "Draw up the rope."-He then
turned to me saying, "God will help us,
my dear boy" One inward prayer. "Now,
lah Piazza vnur f,,Dt