Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1881-02-04

and Americans Their children We're
climbing about the edge of the pit, as
no Bernese child would dare do.
Take care, youngsters y cried \
workman. They are tierce-thlSr
monsters down there, An English
officer fell in last spring, and though
he fought for his life, that big fellow
killed him"
"Ach See his red eyes, the muir
tGerer." cried the woman.
All the people stretched their neck>
10 look where he lay blinking up at
them; and a stupid nurSe-maid, with
child i'll her arms, stood on tiptoc to
lean further over. There was push
IA scream.
The child Ach Gott Il is gone"
The crowd surged and pressed against
the barrier. NoSs was almost crushed
upon its edge For moment there
was n silence like death rs people look
ed with straining eyes into the darkness
below. Then they saw the little white
heap close to the wall of the pit Two
Of the smaller bears were shutting it
curiously. The monster chat had
killed the Englshman was slowly gath
ering up his fore-lcgs and dragging HIM
self toward it, There was scarcely Il V
sound in the crowd, Men grew pale
and turned away sick. \ woman who
had never seen the child before fell III
dead faint on the ground. But its
mother stood quite still, leaning over
the pit, her hands held out to ii.
There came wild cry from tho crowd.
4 man had jumped into the pit. Thc
bear turned, glared ut the intruder with
sudden fury, and then rushed upon
him. He dealt Il blow straight between
the eyes; but it fell like feather ON a
stone wall.
lie leaps over him.
"The others are coming on him.
"Ach, what blows
well struck again, again"
houtcd the Englishman.
But he can do nothing. He will he
torn to pieces"
oh, the poor boy
See, the bear has torn his flesh"
He has the child He has the child
A ladder. A ladder"
But there was no ladder to hc found,
nor weapons Of any kind. The mass
Of people leaned over. praying, shout
ing, sobbing, while the struggle went
on below as silent as the grave.
The man, bleeding and pale, was
pushed to the wall, the child lifted
high i'll his arms. The savage brutes
surrounded him, There was trunk
of Il tree in the center of the pit, placed
I,Nr ll4Nh ny al, IA In
measured it with his eye, gathered his
strength, and then, with mighty
bound, he reached it, and began to
climb. The bears followed to the foot
of the trunk
"a rope, rope"
The rope was brought and flung to-
ward him.
"He has it, He will tie it about his
waist No, it is the child lie ties. He
will save it first.
He fastened the child, and watched
it swung across in saefty. When they
threw him the rope again he did not
catch it. He was looking at the moth
er when they put her baby i'll her arms.
When he had taken the rope and tied
it about him, a hundred strong arms,
English, French, Swiss; were ready To
help pull him up. As he swung across
the chasm, going half way to the bot
tom of the pit, the beast caught mt him
but its hold slipped, and the animal fell
back with a batiied growl.
There was II great shouting when the
lad stood on the grass in safety; every
body talked at once to his neighbor.
God be thankedp
THAT is a brave fellow!"
WHO is hep"
Nicholas Voss, the school master !
boy"
Where is hep"
But Nicholas had disappeared in the
confusion.
Nothing else was talked of the next
day i'll Berne. In the shops and kitch-
ems, at the balls, in the brilliantly light
ed great houses, even in the govern
ment council the story was told and
the lad was spoken of with praise and
kindness. At the theater, somebody
called for cheer for him, and the
whole house rose with the WHAT'S!
Mothers held their babies closes TO their
breasts that night, and with tears, pray
ed God TO bless him.
Meanwhile, Nicholas lay in his cot,
attended by his mother and father.
His legs We're sorely torn. But he was
merry and happy, as he always was
ut home.
In the afternoon messenger from
the council knocked at the door and
left an official document. 1t was a
deed conveying 10 Nicholas Voss a
house and pasture land in the vicinity
of the town.
He put it into his fathers wrinked
hands. Now, father, you are sure OF
a home for you and mother" he said.
He fell asleep soon otter that. When
he awoke the sun was setting, and
shone on the bed, and the happy old
people were watching him.
A few days later his father but a
little case into his hands.
Look at this, my SON. Never did
think that a lad Of rhine would reach
such high honor!'
II was the gold medal Of the HUI
name Society Of Switzerland, awarded
only TO the bravest.
"And here, said his mother Ii A
bunch of violets which little Jeanette
left for YOU.