The Worthington advance., 1879-01-09
: Singing tor Lite;

: Some years ago Ispent q sumner With
q pleasant family in 4 small VILLAGE in
one Of the iron districts Of New jersey.
The family consisted of Mr.. sGro1. his
invalid wife, and two daughters: and
while Mr.. Grey attended to his business
in the iron.works, which formed the
chief support of the inhabitance, and Of
which he was part owner, our time was
agreeably occupied in attending to the
lighterhousehold duties-music, walk
ing, driving, and the like. !, =,
Itwas M. Grey's custom to ride out
twice week to visit some iron mines
about eight mills distant in which he
had an interest. On these occasions he
would take one or other of the ladies of
the family with him, and on fine warm
Saturday afternoon in July it came nv
turn to be the companion of his short Jour
ney. We started in high spirits, and had a !
merry ride, and arrived safely at the |
point in the road where Mr.. Grey usually |
left his horse and carriage. some fields
near the entrance of the mines. I had |
taken book with me Zone of the vol
ume Of "Hawadji') to occupy the time
while sitting alone, and prepared myself
for the enjoyment of cosey, comfortable
half-hour with favorite author under
the shade of a large tree, beneath which
Mr.. Grey drove the horse before leaving
me. On the opposite side of the road
was a deep clay pit, banked up high at
the back with mixture of earth and
rock which formed the soil: and with
consciousness that it would be an ugly
place to fall into, in case tho horse
proved refractory, had suggested to
Mr.. Grey the propriety of tying him to
the tree before mentioned. Mr.. Grey
only laughed, however, at the i1ea Of
Charles moving from the plcee where
he left him-and so Charlie and were
both left free tc follow the dictates OF
fancy or inclination.
1t was very warm, and partly from the
heat and partly under the influence of
the low murmuring sommcr sounds, l
became drowsY, and let the rein slip from
my hands. l was reused by violent
| movement on the part Of the horse, which
was rearing, kicking, and plunging, in a
frightful name, probably under the in
| fluence of the bie or sting of an insect.
tried to seize the reins, bnt could not
at first reach them, and in the meantime
Charlie had commenced backing into the
road, in spite OF my utmost endeavors to
prevent him. cssayed the whip, but a
sudden backward movement of the Car.
riage nearly threw me fiom my seat, and
at the same instant the hind wheels
caught in some projection, and the horse
came to stand. still.
| comprehended my situation at once
The carriage had backed into the clay.pit
over which it was partly suspended, and
only sustained in its stationary position
oy one of the wheels having caught in
some projecting stone, upon which it
rested. The slightest NOV. ment, and we
should be preci pated into the pit, involv
ing general and irremediable wreck
The only hope of safety was in keeping
perfectly quiet. l dared not attempt to
leave the carriage, as the slightest press
ure would cause a loss of balance, and
even If succeeded III saving myself the
horse and carriage woald be destroyed.
Somehow, with the rapidity Of lightni1 g
the thought entered my brain to com.
meucc singing, as the only way of keep
ing Charley still until Mr.. Gray should
arrive. l did SO at once, my very heart
almost suspendin9 its beatings in that
hour of mortal suspense. I sang all the
sweet low songs that l could remember,
not pausing between them one insinnt
so that the impression might not be dis
tu,b bed, and ali tie time watched and
listened with the intense agony of one to
whom life and death seemed to hang up
on a chance.
How long this continued l know not.
1t might have been half an hour Of time
it seemed an age Of torture: but the
horse moved not, and no sound had come
to mar the rappor, which the music had
established between US. NJ Sings, how
ever, were coming to au tnI, when my
strained ear detected the distant sound
of approaching horses feet. Would not
this create diversion in Charles braip,
bring him back to 4 consciousness OF
merely animal life, and dsstro5 the last
chance Of ultimate safety2 The cold
perspiration broke out upon my forehead,
my last song was a wail-a prayer--and
before it was ended I saw, o, joy! Mr..
Grey and one of bis wogkMen walking
leisurely along from the direction of the
mines. dared not raise my voice, but
waved my handkerchief eagerly, and still
kept on singing so as not to break the
spell. A horse and wagon were now in
sight, and fear became terror lest this
should reach us before Mr.. Grey be-
came aware of our situation. Fortunate
| ly, while yet at some distance, the clat
tering trot subsidized into slow walk, and
the attention Of Mr.. Grey was .allea by
the man who accompanied him to some
singularity in Our position. The fences
were cleared at bound, both came up
silent and breath!ess, and with great et
fort, one holding the body of the carri.
age, while the other guided the wheel, we
were extricated from our perilous dilem
ma. Relieved from the terrible sense oI
danger. and the reins placed in safe
hands, l found a womans cen ISOLATION in ;
''good cry;'' but I have never liked to be
left alone III carriage with an united
horse since that time, and have no desire
to try over again singing for chance of
life.
How Mr.. Lincoln Made a Match.