Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1877-01-04

|, NlD,. THty49D IA =
below al I633t l - \ = =
= Il VA, DOT fntsz IT. M ~
1 cro~d of peof1e L, %N -
them % enioi ~ cfxiSa
SITTING il Sc heless & Ssassss
I "HslIoo 70 thought u ~ lsaa
to resufnl Some oae 11cdk wko
! an, md then there q tpretty
gossip II the place" ] buddeniy
became aware thst ri uss pot 30
easv. ifsssgt-ia4 81 = - = eA fss'f'
&y seat ~ss . e = that /
e sSs'a g s is ;.,,s' 6 = - 5ee
and 50 high that could get no hold
There was nothing left me bat to press
my hands upon the seat behind me,
raise myself 50, and draw my legs after
me until they could rest between nv
hands upon the lantern. Then could
rise to my full height and turn around
on my own axis.
THIS way Of raising yourself every
gymnast knows and practices, but every
one knows, too, what an exertion Of
muscular strength in hands and arms is
necessary in this procedure and that any
mistake would occssion . failure-per-
haps, too, . fall below. ! . -
Now, there is vast difference be-
tween a bar. erected on level ground,
and an iron lantern on the wall of q
church hundred feet high, from which
fall upon the rough pavement must
have IN absolute fatal effect. '''~.'O
The more i considered my situstion
the less il pleased me, and there sat,
smiled feebly at the multitude below,
whichincressed every moment, ,sshamed
to cry for help, or make known my
tear.
"Well," said I to myself, ait sit
here any longer shall lose every IA
vorable chance to escape. It Is ludi-
crous to become bewildered, like child
that has gone sstray in climbing, quite
aside from the astonishment that the
story must cause, If II comes to the ears
Of my parishioners and supporters.-
Up, then! I viii close my eyes and
act as II was performing on the soft
turf Of my garden" '-.
In the space Of a minute stood on
my legs in the lantern, and wondered
at my foolish weakness, when OBJ
served to my terror, that still had the
most difficult part Of my undertaking to
perform. Raising my hands above my
head to seize the smooth stone caves, I
became aware that they were At least
foot and half beyond my reach. In
vain did rise on mr. tistaes snd strstcb
out my arms convdlsxt1 Kseealt0
highly probable that I should have 10
spend the night in Mis- situation.
This was truly no agreeable consid-
Grafton: for the seat was only just large
enough for me to sit spright in it, and
if fell asleep. which was possible,
should be precipitated headlong upon
the pavement. Then they could col
lect my bones the next morning.
At this critical moment was re.
rejoiced by the appearance of the SEX
ton on the caves. He had missed me,
and had come to seek me.
"Silbermanr' I cried, interrupting
his exc!amations of astonishment, Il
am, as you see, in a peculiar dilemma,
since cannot reach the caves. You
must help me! II is no use to bring a
rope, since YOU would not have room to
brace yourself. If you bend down, how
ever, and reach me your hand, you can
exert your entire strength, and raise me.
You are powerful man, and I am not
particularly heavy"
"Oh, sir, ! am sure that I cannot lift
you !" ".'
"My good man you must!" as
serted. 81 cannot indeed pass the
whole night in this situation, and, more
over, I might pack up my bundle to-
morrow Immediately, when this stupid
story becomes known. Do not be fool.
ish, therefore. and give me your hand. :"
In reply the sexton crouched down,
unwillingiy, and stretched out his hand
which firmly seized with both mine
by the wrist, while l swung myself out
into mid-air. felt one or two convul-
sive jerks and was drawn up about
half foot but then at once let down
again. He could not raise me.
l looked up. Such a v,sage as met
my gaze may never in my life see
again. II was pale as death: the pro-
truding eyes stared with the expires
sion Of measureless terror into the abyss
beneath Us, and a cold sweat stood upon
his forehead.
"Let go:" he cried. Curses upon
you, let 60! You will break my arm |!
I can hold on no longer, and shall be
dashed in pieces below -
He walled like child at this mo-
ment Of extreme peril. My hair rose
my brain reeled. expected myself
every instant to plunge below. NV
desperation gave me coolness, and /
was surprised Al the clearness and con-
si>tency with which I spoke.
''Silberman," ! said "Listen to me
and cease this unreasonable cIamor.-
| can feel that you are gaining the
counterpoise more and more esery sue.
cessive second. n I let 20 Of you I
shall perish: il not we both will. and I
assure YOU that I shall not let 90 IS
long as can hold on. You had better.
therefore. draw me up at once"
I saw that he set his teeth together
and closed his eyes. Then followed a
terrible exerticn Of stresxth, and I ~a,
kneeling upon the esves. The SEXTON
Law beside me in deep sWoon. now