The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-12-08
THE DAILY STAR
THE GLACIER.

Henri dwelt with his aged parents and
his sister Marie in neighboring valley.
A small farm in mountain gorgt
gave him daily occupation. 1t was a
hard contest, that in which he was en-
gagged with stern Nature. He had to
raise bulwarks against the falling rocks,
and substantial angular fortresses to resist
the incursions of avalanches, otherwise
his fields would often have been covered
with the debris of the mountain.
The produce of this highland farm was
not likely to make him a wealthy man.
But the courage, industry and tact nee
essary to hold his own from constant con-
flict, preserved him from the enervation
of luxury.
Marie tended few cows that rambled
over the mountain pasture.
On the evening of our story the young
man had strolled forth through the forest t
with Marie. ..t t-.
Henri had resolved to 90 home by a
short route, over the neighboring noun
tain, though he would have to cross a
glacier on the way. This rather hazard,
Gus journey appeared no great difficulty
in the eyes of the bold peasant of the
Alps, and the moon would give him light
across the icy passage.
But the quick approach of darkness
awakened the fears OF the maiden, whl
urged upon Henri the necessity Of re-
turning by the regular road, longer as il
was, instead of tempting the dangers Of
the glacier. The young man comforted
her with the promise of his haste to
reach the glacier, and his extreme care
while passing.
'Be not afraid" said he; ri know
every block of ice in the path, and my
good Alpenstock would steady my steps
in the blackness of midnight"
She watched his form brushing by tn
pine branches till the rocks concealed
him, and then she turned with smile ol
happiness to the cottage of her parents.
Henri never reached home that night
A search must be made. The neighbors
gathered in haste TO the summons. With
the earliest dawn they set out upon theil
melancholy errand. Alas! this had moi
been the first time that they haC
searched for lost ones in their land o1
dangers. ..t..
Marie led them to the parting-place,
She marked the track the young mar
had taken. With Indian sagacity his
footballs were followed till they led tc
the edge of the glacier. Here greater skill
was requisite to mark the course
It was summer, and the snow had
disappeared from the lower part OF
the glacier. The hard ice leaves
no track; but as, at the hour of part.
ing, some little softness remained on the
surface from the days sun, Henri had
left faint tracings on the glacier, which
the subsequent nights chill had retained
The peasants noted these with Jealous
painful care. Here the Alpen stock had
left the impression of it's iron point Sud
denly the foremost of the group uttered
cry OF dismay. All crowded near. He
said nothing, but pointed with his finger.
Poor Marie sickened at the sight, and
fell insensible. There was the trailing
mark of the slipped Alpen stock, and be-
side it was the sliding track of the young
mans foot. Both terminated at the edge
of a crevasse, or opening in the ice.
They strained their eyes downward in
vain attempts to penetrate that gloomy
passage. They shouted but caught no
voice in return. He had fallen, and the
depth was terrible
'The rope!' "The ropel" was now the
cry.
Several volunteered that perilous de.
scent in search of their friend. But here
the horror came upon them with all it,
fell, benumbing power. The aperture
had so narrowed since the lost one had
sunk that there was not space for hu
man body now.
Words can not picture the consterna
ton of the party. One sought comfort
in the thought that the poor fellow mus
have been killed by the fall. Bu
another told how one had been in such
a chamber as that, from which he coulc
not be extricated; and, after he had beer
mourDed over for days as dead, he re
appeared--a ghastly but a living man
Henri might be still alive. Still, as the
ever slowly moving mass had pressed the
walls of his prison on so much closer
together, no prospect appeared of rescue
Marie revived to be made even more
desolate and terror-stricken by the news
of the closing chasm.
What moumful group returned te
the cottage!
Here the matter was fully discussed
and plans were successfully proposed and
rejected. Marie listened with earnest
attention. -.,..
Having heard the story repeated ol
the man who, returning to his wife, after
having been buried in the ice-chamber
she recurred to it, demanded particulars
and wondered how he had escaped. Their
she learned that the poor fellow had
found passage through the glacier, ano
had issued from its mouth. "
"And Why" said she, might not Henr
so returnw .s
She quailed again when told of th'
depth Of the crevasse, and the certainty
Of his limbs being broken, if his life wal
not DESTROYED at once. How could he es
cape? If he could not get out, might no
others 60 into the glaciers in search
Sage heads were shaken at the sugyes
Al L..