Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-01-05
Singing for Life.

The old gentleman collapsed.
| Singing for Life.
Some years ago lspent summer Will
a pleasant family in a small village il
one of the iron districts Of New Jersey
| The family consisted Of Mr.. Grey, 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
lighter household duties music, walk
ing, driving, and the like.
II was M Grey's custom to ride out
twice a week to visit some iron mines
about eight miles 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 my
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. had
taken a book with me Zone Of the vol
ume of "Hawadii') 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 deep clay pit, banked up high al
the back with q mixture of earth and
rock which formed the soil; and with 81
consciousness that it would be az ugly
place to fall into, in case the 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 i9ea OF
Charles moving from the place where
he left him-and so Charlie and | were
both left freete follow the dictates OF
fancy or inclination.
It was very warm, and partly from the
heat and partly under the influence of
the low murmuring sommer sounds, |
became drowsY, and let the rein slip from
my hands. / was reused by violent
movement on the part Of the horse, which
was rearing, kicking, and plunging, in a
frightful manner probably under the in
fluence of the bic Or sting of an insect.
| tried to seize the reins, but 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. / essayed the whip, but a
sudden backward movement Of the car.
riage nearly threw me from my seat, and
at the same instant the hind wheels
caught in some projection, and the horse
| came to a stand still.
com pretended my situation at once.
The carriage hao backed into the clay pit
over which it was partly suspended, and
only sustained in its stationary position
by one Of the wheels having caught in
some projecting stone, upon which it
rested. The slightest movement, and we
should be precipated into the pit, inyolv-
ing general and irremediable wreck.
The only hope of safety was in keeping
perfectly quiet. I dared not attempt to
leave the carriage, as the slightest press.
ure would cause a loss of balance, and
even if succeeded in saving myself the
horse and carriage weuld be destroyed.
Somehow, with the rapioity Of ightni1 g
the thought entered my brain to com.
mence singing. as the only way Of keep
ing Charley still until Mr.. Gray should
arrive. I did so at once, my very heart
almost suspending its beatings in that
hour of mortal suspense. l sang all the
sweet low songs that l could remem Der,
not pausing between them one instnnt
so that the impression might not be dis
turbed, ana all the time watched and
listened with the intense agony Of one to
whom life and death seemed to hang up
on chance.
How long this continued I 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 rapport which the music had
established between us. My songs, how
ever, were coming to an end, when nv
strained ear detected the distant sound
of approaching horses feet. Would not
Tins create a diversion in Charles brain,
bring him back to 9 consciousness OF
merely animal life, and DESTROY the last
chance of ultimate safety? The cold
respiration broke out upon my forehead,
| my last song was wail-a prayer-and
before il was ended saw, Q, joy! Mr..
G,ey and one Of his workmen walking
leisurely along from the direction Of the
mines. l 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 called by
the man who accompanied him to some
singularity in our position. The fences
were cleared at bound, both came uI
silent and breathless, and with great Ell
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 o
danger, and the reins placed in safe
hands, I found womans consolation in
good cry;;'' but have never liked to b.
left alone III a carriage with an untiec