The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1875-03-04

reacn very well Will my Dack and elbows
pressed out; SO, feeling myself slipping
again, 1 tried to stick my nails in the
bricks, at the same time drawing my
knees most up to my chin, when down
1 went perhaps a dozen feet, and then,
when there was bit of curve, 1 stuck
reg lar wedged in all of q heap, nose and
chin together, knees up against the
bricks on one side, and my back against
the other, and me not able to move.
For bit 1 was SO frightened that I
never tried to stir; but last of all the
horrid fix was in came upon me like q
clap, and there was, half-choked, drip
ping with perspiration, and shuddering
in every limb, wedged in where all was
as dark as Egypt.
After bit L managed to drag off my
cap, thinking that could then see the
daylight through the pot. But no-the
! chimbley curved about too much, and all
was dark as ever; while what puzzled me
was, that 1 couldn't breathe any easier
now the cap was of, for it seemed hot,
and close, and stifly, though I thought
that was through me being so frightened,
| for never fancied now but what 1 was
in the right chimbley, and wonders d
that Barkby didn't shout at me. But all
at once there came terrible creeping
fear all over me-a feeling that I've new
er forgotten, nor never shall rs long as
! I'm a sweep. 1t was as if the blood in
my body had run out and left me weak,
and helpless, and faint, for down below
! could hear q heavy beat-beat-
noise, that l knew well enough, and ND
under me came rush of hot smoke that
nearly suff'ocated me right off; when I
gave such q horrid shrek of fear as I've
never forgot neither, for the sound of it
frightened me worse. 1t didn't sound
like my voice at all, as / kept on shrek
ing, and groaning, and crying for help,
too frightenedto move, though I've often
thought since as little twisting on nv
part would have set me loose, to try and
climb up again. But, bless you, no: [
could do nothing but shout and cry for
help, with the noise L made sounding
hollow and stify, and the heat and smoke
coming up SO as to nearly choke me over
and over again.
L knew fast enough now that 1 had
come down chimbley where there had
been clear fire, and now some one had
put Jumps of coal on, and been breaking
them up; and in the fright 1 was 1 could
do nothing else but shout away until
my voice got weak and wiry, and l could
do nothing but cough and wheeze for
breath.
But hadn't been crying for nothing,
though; for soon heard some one shout
up the chimbley, and then came deal
of poking and noise, and the smoke and
heat came curling up by me worse than
ever, SO that L thought it was all over
with me, but at the same time came q
whole lot of hot, bad-smelling steam;
and then some one Knocked at the bricks
close by NY head, ana L he;tru Uuz-
zing sound, when gave a hoarse sort of
cry, and then felt stupid and half
asleep.
By-and-bye there was terrible knock
ing and hammering close beside me,
getting louder and louder every mo-
ment; and yet it didn't seem to matter
to me, for hardly knew what was going
on, though the voices came nearer and
the noise palmer; and at last I've bit
of recollection of hearing some one say,
"Fetch brandy" and / wondered
whether they meant Barkby, while
could feel the fresh air coming upon me.
Then 1 seemed to waken up bit, and
see the daylight through big hole,
while there was ever so much broken
bricks and mortar between me and the
light; and next thing I recollect is lying
upon a mattress, with fine gentleman
leaning over me, and holding my hand
in his.
"Don't," says in a whisper; " it's
all sutty."
When 1 see him smile, and he asked
me how / was.
"Oh, there amt no bones broke" 1
says; "only Barkby, him as some on
you called Brandy II half kill me-"
"What forl" says another gentleman.
"Why, coming down the wrong Chin
bit with my wrongs, "but 'twarn't my
fault" L says. "Who could tell t'other
from which, when there warn't no num-
bers nor nothink on 'em, and they was
all alike, so as you didn't know which to
come down, and him aswearing acause
you was so long? Where is he2" I says
in whisper.
One looked at t'other, and there was
six or seven people about me; for I was
lying on the mattress put on the floor
close aside great hole in the wall, and
heap O. bricks and mortar.
" WhoF says the first gent, who was
a doctor.
"Why, Barkby," 1 says, "my guv'nor,
as sent me up number seven's chin
bley."
ooh, he's not here" says some one.
{" This amt number seven, this is num-
Der ten. Send to seven," he says.
Then they began talking bit, and 1
heard something said about "poor boy"
and "fearful groans," and horrid
position" and they thought I didn't
hear 'em; for I'd got my eyes shut,
meaning to sham Abram when Barkby
came, for fear he should hurt me. But
/ needn't have slammed, for 1 couldn't
neither stand nor sit up for a week arter;
and believe, arter all, it's that has had
something to do with me being so husky
voiced.
Old Barkby never hit me a stroke;
and believe, arter all, he was sorry for
me. But a sweeps is queer life even
now, though afore the act was passed
some poor boys was used cruel, and
more than ones got stuck in a fue, to be
got out dead.
A Knowing Dog.
There was q panic in n Paris street