The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1879-07-17

osi oubot suu uiS uct suo biTu uSCouu
cd. Bravo little swallow. The
thread at every glance became short
erl A life depended on IL. Th,
bird at last disappeared at the Gu
trance of the pit.
But what prospect hal he after
all ? He shuddered at the though
Of the slight hope. Should the bird
after reaching the open air, turn q
the right or left, how easily might
the thread by rubbing against th,
edge Of the shaft break.
But the bird discovered upor
reaching the top, that IL was NOR,
difficult TO turn TO one side, and con
sequebtly, dew right up in the air.
The three companions that hal
started out with Highborn missed
him for long time and sought dill
ligently and carefully for him. They
repeatedly came upon tho shaft with
out for moment thinking that he
might have fallen in. Once they
glanced down out Of m ,re curiosity
and found nothing but darkness
They consulted with each other as
to what first was to be done when
one of them said
"What is that near you, Potts 7
"Whero r
There, not three steps from you
to your right. is piece Of thread OF
something similar. Why, itsttetch
Oh quite u distance over the weeds !
"Pull it, said Sam Highboru
Newman's brother.
Potts pulled, and about thirty
steps from them nuttered a bird u
and fro.
"Why this poor creature is fasten
ed to it what heartless scoundrel
could have djne snch a thing
1T is a swallow, thought Potts,
"Let us see where it is fastened.
perhaps it belongs to somo one.
"Wbetner it belongs to any one
or not, l am going to give this poor
thing its freedom, siid Sam cutting
the thread.
The little bird understood this and
arose in moment aud asceuded to =
ward the skies. Sam followed thi.
thread suddenly he called to Lis
companions
"Come her, Potts, at the end oI
this threat there is u piece Of paper!
lie unfolled it ard read the follow
ing
Il am at the bottom Of the shat,
of Bottsford mounrslu-l beg YOU
send help! NEWMAN HidHBoRy.
"Great God. Potts Down in the
pit alive Not fifty steps from
here 1t cannot be, aul yet lie says
80.
Both hastened to the shaft
The bird had AjwD away an hour
ago. Newman Hishborn waited
with trembling anxiety. His eyes
watched the mouth of the pit till he
sank down exhausted, resting his
head on his hands.
1t was not long till he was arous-
ed by the falling Of bits Of wood a
ronud him. At the same time in
distinct voices sounded down from
above.
He looked mp aud recognized two
persons bending over tue eise.
Oh how he exulted. when, after
several anxious seconds there fell a
note at his feet, lie again struck a
match aud read:
I'VE ate here aud will bring help
as soon as possible
SAM HIGuBoRN AND Porrs.
He returne, su exhaultiny "nur-
rah ! but before reaching the open
air the sound died away to low
hollow murmur.
One long anxious hour passed,
two. three Night broke in. Then
something came down, He noticed
q light at the top Then heavy
rope touched his head,
Oh ! how eagerly he grssped i,
and made a strong loop aud pu. it
around him. Then ho gave the rope
. powerful jerk aud exclaimed ;
pull /
Up. slowly, cautiously, ever high
or. now stopping. now gliding back
several feet. His heart throbhed
loudly, lie soes thu stars overhead
Another moment aud no is on the
surfaoo--oxhaasted but hviug-sav'
oil.
Newman Highhorn owes the pro-
servation of his life 20 u little bird,
aud this hal flown away.