Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1881-09-14

ltCONbI HUH NIX w III
terson had gone.
Supper money and doctor for Nellie
Could it be true? The boy unclasped bis
hand and looked at the precious bills
Yes, ii was true!
As he ate the bountiful meal prepared
for him by the bakers good wife, the bob.
bin-boy pictured Nelle's delight when he
should return and tell her of what had
happened to him and, later, when he faced
the dreary storm, homeward bound
with great basket, heaped with bun;
and cakes and oranges from the baker
shelves, upon his arm, his heart was light
and his laugh rang merrly out across the
darkness and the rain, rs he thought oil
how boldly he would meet mis- Cr,.w-
ford" and how astonished and puzzled
she would be when he paid her-not a
week, but a month in advance!
Its ju,t like a fairy story!" said he
half aloud, as he climbed the sloppy steps
of his bording house." just like u fairy
story. with great big, splendid, rich
man fairyw
1t was almost morning. Already the
black curtain of night, rent here and there
by the furious wind, was slowly lifting
toward the east and the dull gray dawn
appearing, forming somber background
upon which the leafless trees that fringed
the far-away hills were painted in waving
silhouette.
Since ever the sun had gone down the
wild storm had continued, and even now
the rain, driven by the mighty wind. fell
in long slanting lances npon the town
and the frothing river, that, filled with
great masses of broken ice and debris
from all up-country, roared and plunged
between its banks and shook with giant
hands the foundations of the mills beneath
which it ran.
At the head of the dam, where the chan
mel was narrowest, and directly opposite
the lower Watterson mill, was an ice jam
Piled block upon block, until it lowered
high in the air, pressing with terrible
force against the mills, upon the one
hand, and the natural wall of rock upon
the other, the broken ice had formed a
great white barrcade. growing each mo-
ment, which checked the mad rush of the
water and sent it whirling backward in
eddying waves, which beat furiously upon
the mills and threatened each instant to
engulf them.
Along the higher shore the towns peo-
pie had gathered, powerless to aid, but
simply awaiting the catastrophe; and
among them, pale and haggard, was the
proprietor himself, already ruined man.
As he passed to and fro intent upon the
scene before him, hoping against hope
that the jam might even yet give way in
time to save his buildings, many a watch
er turned aside with plying word and
look, for Mr.. Watterson was a man below
ed by all OF his employees.
Suddenly there was movement in the
crowd-a fastening toward a common
center-and with eager faces, both men
and women gathered about newcomer,
who was speaking earnestly,
Yes. If that timber could be cut, it
would break the jam! 1t lies just so that
it holds"
The owner ofth mills burst through the
little crowd,
"What timber? Wherep Quick! Tell
mel Can the jam be broken?"
" Yes, sir" returned the other, respect
fully touching his hat. 81 have just been
below, and hom there saw that a great
loo which has logded at the very crown
of the dam is all that holds the ice. If
that could be cut, the Jam would be bro
| KEN"
/" But how can it be reachedP" queried
Mr.. Watterson, anxiously. "Can any one
get ut it to cut itp'
Yes, SIR" replied the man; " in one
way"
"And that is-'
"Over the ice itself!'
A shudder ran through the listeners,
and even the propretor's face grew more
pale. Who would venture upon such q
bridge on such an errand?
With i common impulse, the crowd led
by the workman who first discovered the
log, turned hurriedly away from the rivers
brink, ran through IL side street, and gain
ed position lower down the stream, from
whence the dam could be plainly seen,
The report was true. The jam was held
in place by single timber-a great square
stick, doubtless torn by the angry waters
from some bridge far up the country, II
that could be cut, the blockade would be
broken, the ice would no longer clog the
stream, and the mills would be saved.
For IL moment silence fell upon all
then, suddenly, Mr.. Watterson's voice
hoarse and thin, rang out above the noise
of the storm and the war of the waters.
"A thousand dollars to the man who
will cut that timber"
The women in the little group looked al
each other and shuddered; the men fixed
their eyes upon the dam; but no one re.
piled. The roar of the angry stream in
creased and the waters deepened beneath
the mill walls.
Two thousand dollarsm
The proprietor voice was hoarser than
before; but the women closed their lips
firmly and shook their heads. The men
moved little uneasily, and one drew his
hand across his mouth, rs if he would have
spoken; but still no one replied. and the
white foam from the imprisoned river was
dows of the mills, while the corners of the
buildings were beginning to crumble and
waste away before the grinding ice.
Three thou"
81 will go!"
The two voices sounded so closely TO-
gether that it was not until the Grove
turned their eyes upward and saw the one
who had answered, that they fairly under
stood the reply.
Running from third-story window o.
the lower mill directly across the river
above the DAM was a long endless chain
used to convey power from the mighty
water wheel of the mills 10 the machinery
of n little box factory, located upon the
opposite bluff. This chain was at res
now, and there appeared at the window
near it the figure of boy. in blue blouse
CARRYING in his hand an ak, He it wa,
who had said Il will go!'
When the people saw him, and realized
what he was about to attempt Qor already
he had fastened rope around his body
and was passing the end over the chain
; evidently with the intention of sliding
along the same until he found poin
from which he could lower himself within
: reach of the timber) when they realized
this, great murmur went up from thu
crowd. and the women cried out in ter
ror, while many turned TO Mr.. Wattersor
and urged him to order the boy back.
Who is he?" said the proprietor, in
dazzed manner.
IT'S Jerry, sir. Jerry the bobbin-boy,
, said a man, stepping forward An or
phan, sir, an starvin' to care for his sicl