The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1875-03-01

Eeucu very VIGIL VIII Iny pAck anu elnOWh
pressed out; so, feeling myself slipping
again, / 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 q dozen feet, and then,
when there was q bit Of q curve, stuck
reg'lar wedged in all Of heap, nose and
chin together, knees up against the
bricks on one side. and my back against
theother, and me not able to move,
For u bit I was so frightened that /
never tried to stir; but last Of all the
horrid fix i was in came upon me like o
clap, and there was, half.choked, drip
ping with perspiraton, and shudlering
in every limb, wedged in where all was
rs dark as Egypt.
After q bit 1 managed to drag of my
cap, thinking that could then SEQ the
daylight through the pot. But Ao-the
chimbley curved about too much, and all
was dark as ever; while what puzzled me
was, that / couldn't breathe any easier
now the cap was of, for it seemed hot,
and close, aud stihy, though I Thought
that was through mo being SO frightened,
for never fancied now but what I was
in the right chimbley, and wondered
that Barkby didn't shout OF me. But all
at once there came q terrible creeping
fear all over me-a feeling that I've new
or forgotten, nor never shall rs long as
Pm sweep. II was as II 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-bcat
noise, that I knew well enough, and up
under me came rush Of hot smoke TINT
nearly suffocated mo right off; when /
gave such n horrid shrek Of fcar as I've
never forgot neither, for the sound OF II
frightened mo worse. II didn't SQUAD
like my voice at all, rs kept on sllriok-
ing, and grooming, and crying for help,
too frightenedto move, though I've often
thought since as D little twisting on my
part would have set me loose, to try and
climb up again. But, bless you, no; I
could do nothing but shout and cry for
help, with the noise / made sounding
hollow and stiAy, and the heat and smoke
coming up so as to nearly choke me over
and over again.
/ knew fast enough now tlint I had
come down chimbley where there lad
been clear FIRE, and now some one had
put Jumps OF coal on, and been breaking
them up; and in the fright I was could
do nothing else but shout away until
my voice got weak and wiry, and I could
do nothing but cough and wheeze for
breath.
But hadn't been crying for nothing,
though; for soon ! heard some oneshout
up tile chimbley, and then came deal
OF poliing and noise, and the smoke and
heat came curling up by mo worse than
ever, 80 that / thought It was all over
with me, but at the same time came u
whole lot OF hot, bad-smelling aeam;
and then some one knocked at the bricks
close by my head, and I heard q buz-
zing sound, when / gave q lloarse sort OF
cry, and then felt stupid and half
asleep.
By.and.byethere was terrible knock
ing and hammering close beside me,
getting louder aud louder every mo.
ment; and yet ii didn't seem TO matter
10 me, for 1 hardly knew what was going
On, though the voices came nearer aud
The noise palmer; and at Inst I've bit
of recollection Of hearing some ono say,
Fetch brandy" and I wondered
whether they meant Barkby, while l
,oull feel the fresh mir coming upon me.
Then l seemed to waken up bit, and
zee the daylight through q big hole,
while there .was ever so much broken
bricks and mortar between me and tho
light; and next thing I recollect il lying
Upon mattress, with n fino gentleman
Gaming over me, and holding my hand
n his.
DON'T 1 says in a whisper; "it's
III sutty."
no how was.
"oh, there ain'tno bones broke II
Iays; "only Barkby, him rs some on
iou called Brandy II half kill me-"
"What for I" says another gentleman.
"Why, coming down the wrong Chin
,ley," / says; and then, warming up q
,it with my wrongs, "but 'twarn't my
ault, I says. "Who could tell t'other
rom which, when there warn't no num-
,ers nor nothink OH 'em, md they was
II alike, so as you didn't know which TO
,ome down, and him aswearing acause
'ou was so longl Where Is heip I says
II whisper.
One looked at t'other, and there was
ix or seven people about mo; for l was
ying on the mattress put on the floor
lose aside o great hole in the wall, and n
leap O. bricks and mortar.
"Whoi" says the first gent, who was
doctor.
"Why, Barkby," I says, "my guv'nor,
g sent me up number seyen's CHM
'leyo;n, W, H.. ~. ,..o - .,,,. .o,,,o ono
. This amt number seven, this is mum.
,er ten. Send to seven, lie says.
Then they began talking bit, and !
leard something said about "poor boy"
md "fearful groans," and horrid
and they thought I didn't
lear EN-; for I'd got my eyes shut,
meaning to sham Abram when Barkby
ame, for fear he should hurt me. But
needn't have slammed, for I couldn't
leitlier stand nor sit up for week artcr;
nd / believe, arter all, it's that has Ind
omething TO do with me being so husky
DICED.
Old Barkby never hit mo q stroke;
nd I believe, arter all, he was sorry for
nc. But q sweeps is o queer lie even
low, though afore the act was passed
ome poor boys was used cruel, md
more than ones got stuck in tiue, to DO
rot out dead.
A Knowing Dog.
m, = nj.