The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1878-11-20
A BROKEN BRIDGE.


Abermaw one boisterous afternoon in
autumn, at about four o'clock, after .
long tramp over the mountains. Aber-
NAV, as its name implies, is situated at
the mouth of the river Nav, which here
forms an estuary about mile broad. The
town itself faces the open sea; the harbor
lies about half mile up the estuary,
whilst between the town and the bridge
was the outline of huge bridge. then in
the course of construction. Abermaw is
little bit of place, consisting of no.
tel, a few shops,a church, a chapel Of ease
and half a, dozen lodging houses, which
are built on a platform of sand, the work
Ofthe sea and river in concert or in con-
fllct. The old fishing village is perched
upon the rock above, tier upon tier, the
Intel stone of one house looking down
the chimney Of the house below, and is
reached by rude, rocky steps, where the
children of the village swarm up and
down, and yet rarely contrive to break
their necks. . 49,. +
The farther shore of the estuary was a
triangular spit of sand, across which was
track that joined the high road
at point where it commenced to- mount
. the shoulder of wave beaten cliff on the
fence of which it was terraced, Tor on the
further or southern side of the estuary the
sea washed up to the very base Of the
rocks that formed the ugged fringe of the
iron-Dound east. There was a ferry from
the Abermaw side to the spit of sand,
thence by detour OF several miles, you
could make your way along the southern
bank of the river to the town of Dolbadarn.
As the crow flies, Dolbadarn was not
more than seven miles distant from Aber-
NAV, but it could not be reached by any
practicable track in less than from ten tr
twelve miles, for the river to sweep to
the north, and in addition to the 1detour
thus caused, the first bridge where the
road crossed the river was at a point g.
good way wide Of Dalbadarn, so that, al
together, the distance was heightened to
that above mentioned. On the other hand
if you crossed the ferry and made your
way across the sand to the highway. the
distance was much the same, and this
latter route was of course only prss. aca-
bic to foot passengers
Although I had reached Abermaw in
the guise of a free and independent pc
destrian, yet my liberty was Of restrict
ed nature My wife and children had
gone by the regular coach route to DOL
badarn, and had crossed the mountains
by wild footpath, promising to join
them that night at Dolbadarn in time for
dinner, for had intended to take the
coach at Abermaw, which would have
brought me to the end Of my journey in
good time. This coach, however, I had
missed just five minutes. My walk that
day had been a long one, and I was rath-
er tagged, and should probably have hir-
ed conveyance for the remainder of the
distance, but the manner of the landlord
of the hotel was SO abrupt, and, as I
thought offensive, in answer to nv inqir-
les, that resolved, come what might, he
should not be sixpence richer for me.
walked on till came to a little pub
lie house at the farther end of the town.
close to the rough quarters that bordered
the estuary, and turned in there for a
glass of beer and crust Of bread and
cheese, as we'll as for the purpose of
making a few inquiries as to my route.
swell, indeed" SAID Evan Rowlands,
the landlord, there's no possible way to
take Car from Mr.. Jones s." -
- II shan't have Car from Mr.. JONES' /
said. "Can hire one somewhere else?'
Evan shook his head; there was nc
horse or car in Abermaw except the hors-
es and cars owned by Mr. Jones. ri i
Every well, tnen,' I said, II will
walk" ..
SHOT possible" said Eva; sits more
than ten miles," ss.s-=a.t .... .s.a 4
II wouldn't mind the distance, ONLY I
have walked tive-and-twenty miles al
ready"
"Dear me-" said Evan, "you're very
strong!" #.g
Cant get boat part of the way2n
then suggested.
Evan put his head out at the door.
NO." be cried, "the tide has Just turn
ed; it is running down very strong"
"Then there is nothing for it but walk
ing,"I said: ~ must go round BY Liam
tair BRIDGE" but didn't Like the idea O.
this ten miles walk through the mist and
gathering gloom.
"stop!" said Evan. .sWny shouldn't
you go over the bridge-the railroad
bridget" .@ &
"1s the bridge passible then? Can ]
get across?" ss
ooh, dear, yes. The gentlemen from
the railway come over very often. and to-
day, Hugh Pugh and David Morriss did
come over from the Dolbrith quarry II
land what distance will that save
me2"
"Four or five miles; yes, sure"
"And the bridge is quite safe?'
ooh, it is very strong and safe indeed
or how should Hugh Pugh and David
Morris come over, and the railway gen.
tlenen; yes, sure"
"And the raj way people won't object
to me going overs"
They've all knocked off for day, and
there won't be a soul near the bridge but
yourself"
"TAen Of course I'll go over it,