Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-09-08


toa. Just, however, as the child reached
hollow spot in the next field, the channel of
a natural drain, then dry with the heat of
summer, she saw another ruffian start up
from the bed of the drain, and, catching
him in arms, hasten toward the mill, in ac-
cordance with the directions of his accom-
plice. In moment she perceived her dan
ger, and in a moment more she formed her
future plan of proceeding. Retreating into
the mill, she doubleocked and bolted the
door, the only apparent entrance to the edi-
fee, every other obvious access to the inte-
rior being barred by means of strong gra-
tings fixed against all the windows, and then
took her post at an upper easement deter
mined to await patiently either her masters
return and her consequent delivery FROM
that dangerous position, on her own death
il it were inevitable.
"Never," said she to herself, "never shall
| leave my masters house prey to such
villains, or permit his property to be car
ried oil before my eyes by them, while ]
have life and strength TO defend it,
She had barely time to secure herself
within, when the rufiian without, holding
| the hapless child in one hand and long,
sharp knife in the other, assailed the door
with kicks, and curses and imprecations
of the most dreadful character.
"Confound thee" he said, applying the
| foulest epithets of which the free-speaking
Teutonic language are so copious "open
the door or III break it in on ye'
If you can you may" was all the noble
girl replied. "God is greater than you, and
in him put my trust"
"Cut the brats throatl' roared the i'm
prisoned ruian above; "that will bring her
| TO her reason"
Stouthearted as poor Hanchenn was, she
quailed at this cruel suggestion. For mo-
ment her resolution wavered; but it was
only for moment. She saw that her own
death was certain if she admitted the as
sailant, and she knew that her master would
be robbed. She had no reason to hope that
even the life Of the infant would be spared
by her compliance. 1t was to risk all against
nothing. Like discreet girl, she conse-
quently held fast in her resolve to abide as
she was while life remained, or until assist
ance should reach her.
An ye open not the door," shouted the
villain from without, accompanying his
words with the viest abuse and the fercest
imprecations, "I'll hack this whelp's limbs
to pieces with my knife, and then burn the
mill over your head. Twill be merry
|, blaze, | trow."
al put my trust in Cod" replied the
dauntless girl "never shall ye set foot
within these walls whilst have life to pre-
vent ye."
, The ruff an laid the infant for moment
! on the sward, as he sought about for com.
bustibles wherewith to execute his latter
. . threat. In this search he espied, perhaps,
the only clandestine entrance to the build.
= ing. 1t was large aperture in the wall
communicating with the great wheel and the
=. other machinery of the mill, and was a
point entirely unprotected, for the reason
that the simple occupants had never sup
posed it feasible for any one to seek admis-
/ sion through such dangerous inlet Elated
= with this discovery, the ruffian returned to
II II the infant, and, tying the hands and feet of
u the little innocent, threw it on the ground
: even as the butcher will fling lamb des-
!, tined for the slaughter, to await his time for
- staying. He then stole back to the aperture,
II by which he hoped to effect an entrance.
y y All this was unseen by the dauntless girl
u within.
}, In the meanwhile her mind was busted
Il with a thousand cogitations. She clearly
perceived that no means would be left un-
9 tried to effect an entrance, and she knew
y that on the exclusion of her foe depended
. her own existence A thought struck her.
e " 1t is Sunday" she said to herself " the
!, !, mill never works on the Sabbath, suppose
!, set it a-going now? 1t can be seen far off
II and haply my master, or some of his neigh
'e bors, wondering at the sight, may hasten
hither to know the cause. A lucky thought,
~ , she exclaimed, "'tis God that has sent it tc
me
c No sooner said than done. Being all hel
life accustomed to millgear, it was but tn,
~ work of a moment for her to set the ma
u chinery in motion. A brisk breeze whict
sprang up, as it were, by the special inter
~ q position of Providence, at once set the sails
W flying. The arms of the huge engine whirleC
as around with fearful rapidity the grea
nc wheel slowly revolved on its axle; tn
smaller gear turned and creaked an,
" groaned, according as they came into action
ye and the mill was in full operation.
ne ne 1t was that very instant that the rufhai
III Diether had succeeded in squeezing himsel
10 through the aperture in the wall and gettin
sn safely lodged in the interior of the grea
~ drum-wheel His dismay, however, wa
re indescrbable when he began to be whirle
'u' about in its rotations and found that all hi
80 efforts to put stop to the powerful machir
III cry which set it in motion, or 10 extricat
Ut himself from his perilous situation, wer
fruitless. His cries were truly fearful hi
'"- curses aud imprecations were horrible I
gu hear. lIannchen hastened to the spot, an
th saw him caught, like reptile as he was, i
re- his own trap. 1t need not be added tina
= she did not liberate him. She knew that h
ou would be more frightened than hurt, if
ou kept within. his rotary prison and sh
wv knew, also, that unless he attempted
at escape, there was no danger of his fallin
oiu out of it, even though he were insensib
and inanimate all the while. In the meal
~, time, the wheel went round and round wit
SUI the ruihan along with it, steadily an
N ba
no the stout-hearted girl to do her no harm
u in vain did he implore her pity on his hel
.i ne less condition in vain did he pray to a
Tue the powers of heaven, and adjure all IL
'ed powers of hell, to his aid She would IL,
vas hear nor heed him; and unheard al
unheeded of them likewise muttering curse
AK he was whirled round and round in Il
MS untiring wheel, until at last feeling al
'ou perception failed him, and he saw al
iit- heard no more. He fell senselesss on Il
9ur bottom OF the engine, but even then h
ior inanimate body continued to be whirl,
, round and as before; the brave girl n
oy daring to trust to appearance in connectit
my with such a villain, and being therefor
en- afraid to suspend the working of the m
MS chinery, or stop the mill gear and tack
from running at their fullest speed.
no. A loud knocking at the door was short
g. after heard, and she fastened thither.
ne was her master aud his family, accompani,
BON by several of their ueighbors, The una
customed appearance of the mill-sails
ao full swing on Sunday had as she antit
ma pated, attracted their attention, and th'
yer had fastened home from church for the pu
hrS pose of ascertaining the cause of the ph
'as, nomeuou. The father bore his little boy
oil his arms; he had cut the cord wherewi
ke the child was tied, but he was unable TO O
a tain any account of the extraordinary C
rus cumstances that had occurred, from the
10 frighted innocent
tne Hannchen in few words told all ; al
the then the spirit which had sustained her
hVe long and so well while the emergency Taste
OF forsook her at once as it passed away 5
ior fell senseless at once into the arms of &
lur- miler's Oldest son, and was with great di
!. Guilty recovered.
the The machinery of the mill was at on
inu iu stopped, and the inanimate rutiiin dragg
ms ms forth from the great wheel. The other RI
oy fan was brought down from his prise
urn Both were then bound and sent off to Bo
on under a strong escort, aud in due cour
as came under the hands of the town exec
toner.
ex, 1t was not long till llannchen became
aud bride. The bridegroom was the mile