The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1879-06-10
SAVED BY A BIRD.


deep, and long tunnel in the noun
tains of Bottsford, were the only re-
naming traces of work having been
| done.
Newman Highborn, while rowing
through these noun tains became sepa-
rated from his companions. He had
reached the forsaken shaft, and was
precipitated into the fearful abyss. His
walking stick which struck the rough
side walls here and there, broke the
swiftness of the fall. But down, down
he went to the bottom, where, IL is
| true, he reached very much mangled,
but alive.
Although agonizlng with pain, he ex-
perienced feeling of thankfuness for
the preservation of his life. Still he felt
there was no help for him two hundred
feet below the surface. He was only
saved here to famish. Throughout the
whole dreary night he planned how to
escape, but nothing occurred to him.
He must stay here to perish.
The next morning he consumed the
bread which fortunately he found in his
pocket The space he occupied was but
a few feet square, and with the help of
matches he soon explored it most
thoroughly.
Highborn, under ordinary circum-
stances, was not easily discouraged, but
now the terrible situation in which he
found himself, gradually began to OPP
IN q nj fu 10 ho ta1
on it, the more he became discouraged.
He began to be tortured by thirst, and
there was no water there, not even a
drop, which usually tickles down so
abundantly in places of that kind.
The day passed, night came. He
covered down weary and hungry, and
fell into deep sleep. He dreamed of
woolen stocking.
1t was an old story which he had
often read in his boyhood of work.
man in England, who was left on high
chimney after the scaffold had been re-
moved. He unraveled his stockings
and let down the thin yarn to the
ground. With it he pulled up q cord,
with the cord string, and with the
string a rope strong enough ON which to
descend. SO ended the story, and SO,
also, ended his dream.
He awoke.
What was the cause of his dream?
He had known this narrative for many
years. He did not find himself ON the
top of chimney, but deep down in the
earth. His situation was quite differ
ent. AS he was thinking over the
dream a swallow futtered down the
shaft and fell by his side to the ground.
The poor bird was frightened, but not
dead.
Suddenly thought flashed upon the
mind of Newman Highborn, and he
thrust his hand over the swallow. 1t
was but a weak ray of hope. He took
off his shoes and stockings, and care
fully unraveled the latter. The threads
he laid over each other in circular
manner so as not to become entangled.
He labored industriously and patient
ly until the two stockings formed one
long string. This he fastened securely
to the tail of the bird, and again placed
it under the hat. Then he took a lead
pencil and aided by the light of match,
he wrote on piece of paper.
&C. am at the bottom of the shaft of
Bottsford mountains-I beg you send
help NEWMAN HIGHBoRN."
After he had folded this and tied it
securely to the other end of the thread,
he set the bird free. 1t huttered for a
moment around Highborn's head, then
slowly ascended.
Now rose glad though only weak
hope in his breast; it grew stronger the
higher the bird ascended. Bravo little
swallow. The thread at every glance be-
came shorter A life depended on it.
The bird at last disappeared at the en-
trance of the pit.
But what prospect had he after all ?
He shuddered at the thought of the
slight hope. Should the bird after
reaching the open air, turn to the right
or left, how easily might the thread
by rubbing against the edge of the shaft
break.
But the bird discovered upon reaching
the top, that it was more difficult to
turn to one side, and consequently, flew
right up in the air.
The three companions that had start
ed out with Hlghborn missed him for
a long time and sought diligently and
carefully for him. They repeatedly