Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-03-03
Continued from first page. !

cue stOOu SILL an instant, uudDic 10
move, and then she leaned forward and
looked over the cliff. 1t was again high
tide, and the waves had nearly reached
the wall of the cliff; but it was quiet,
tapping sea; there was no binding haze
of spray to bcwildcr eyesi.ht. nothing to
hide from the mothers eyes the sight that
was then waiting for her.
Many feet down the cliff, between the
rock itself and one of the fantastic crags
that here and there project from it. lay
Reuben. He lay on his back. and the
white, upturned face looked ghastly in the
early light.
MAY the Lord have mercy ON me =
broke involuntarily from Mrs. Leir's
blanched lips; but she did not even sob
or wiring her hands, as a less self con-
tanned woman would have done. She
forced herself to act. She saw she could
not reach her son; it was impossible to
get down the face of the rock, and GER
tainly she could not climb over the rough
masses of granite from below. She must
seek help. She looked up and the huge
bird again swooped across just over the
spot where Reuben lay. She shuddered );
if she went away, the foul bird might at
tack the senseless body.
But help must De Sol.
..God will care for him better than l
can" she said; and she ran rapidly along
the way to Mercombe Mouth, They
will be stirring at Williams by now,' she
thought and the hope seemed to give her
wings.
Williams farm was few hundred yards
from the beach, abutting on the green
lawn which led from Mercombe. A noisy
chorus of pigs clamoring for their break
fast greeted her as she opened the five
barred gate but she scarcely heard them.
She felt she must almost fall down on her
knees in thankfulness in the midst of the
pig-trodden straw that Uttered the yard;
fer there stood, in front of the farmhouse
not only Joe lilly, Mr.. Williams factos
rum and the most experienced fisherman
in Mercombe, but Mr.. Williams himself.
He was dressed ready for journey, and
was busy slowing away various things in
the cart that stood before the garden-gate
for the house lay some way back from the
pig-yard, and he did not see Mrs. Leir;
but Joe lilly saw her and noted the an
guish in her face.
what ais ye, Missus Leir ?" he said,
kindly; ''it's early for We to be out doors"
The kindly voice and the look of SYM
patty took away her courage. She quite
broke down.
..Oh Joe O Mr.. Williams - she sobbed,
..for Gods sake come my boys fallen
over the cliff, and he lies there, halfway
down.
Mr.. Wiliams's head had been buried in
the cart, but he drew it out in a hurry,
his red forehead grown purple, and his
stiff. iron-g gray hair bristling up with the
shock of the widows words.
"Bless my soul dye mean it ?" he said.
"Good Heavens! how did it happen?"
Then he turned to his man. 1--WE must
leave this job. Mother'll see to the horse.
You, Joe, run for couple of men and
long ladder and ropes, and a blanket, and
follow over the beach. I'll 90 round to
the foot of the cliff. Come, Mrs. Leir.
and show me where the poor fellow isl
and then led the way down to the beach,
He did not tell Reuben's mother that he
had thus quietly set aside an important
Journey for her sake. Something in her
white, agonized face compelled him to
help her and to be silent
BY the time they reached the bay below
the land-slip the tide had turned, but they
could get noglimpse Of Reuben-the pro-
jecting crag. which looked so small from
above, quite obscured the spot on which
his mother had seen him.
"Are you sure, Missus P" said Williams.
speaking for the first time since they had
left the farm.
''rm as sure as can be-" she said sad
ly. AS she spoke great black bird
swooned slowly down and lighted on the
point of the projecting crag
Williams gave a loud cry, and the star
tied cOrmorant flew away seward, utter
ing harsh croak as he sailed overhead.
How long the waiting seemed! Mrs.
Leir paced up aud down, examining the
cliff with eager eyes to see if the least
chance of footing thereon was practi-
cable; but there was not crevice to be
found in the hard. close grained rocks.
Then she went as far as she could sea-
ward among the slippery rocks that bor-
dered the beach, to see if she could get
glimpse of the precious burden hanging
so high in mid-air She was recalled by
a joyful shout from Mr.. Williams.
Here's Joe p he cried, "and the lad
der.n
And Joe lilly and his two companions
came quickly round the angle of the cliff
that formed the near corner of the bay
1t was terrible suspense. Martha
Lelr could do nothing. She offered to
help in holding the ladder, but the men
put her gently on one side; they could
manage, they said. She could only stand
gazing with hard dry eyes. While two of
them mounted, cord in hand, Mr.. Will
liams stood by the ladder When they
reached the spur of rock she saw one of
them get off the ladder; he stopped down.
She could gaze no more. She covered
her eyes, and prayed for her boys life.
That's right; don't look said kind
MIR. Williams; ''we shall have him down
directly; keep good heart"
1t seemed so long standing there, with
her eyes hidden by her trembling hands
She started when Williams took her arm
and led her forward.
Good news" he whispered his heart
beats still -
Reuben Leir RECEIVERS slowly. He was
terribly bruised and injured in that awful
fall. His leg was broken, and he will
never walk again without stick or
crutch. Martha sits and gazes at her son,
scarcely daring to believe that he is re-