The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1882-06-24

also; and the unhidden tears moistenet
his eyes and trickled slowly down hi
furrowed cheek.
"Aye, child, II is the old bell Of st
Johns, that has rung out many Chime
It is tolling now its last long message
tolling its own death-knell, and the knel
of the many that this night have passed
away"
But to Ruth, the familiar sound, sol
emn and sad though it was, seemed t.
bear message Of life and hopei ant
with her young face all aglow, she start
ed once again 10 her feet, excitedy ex
claiming;
"GrandFalhet. 1 know what 1 will do
I will climb the belfry stairs, and hang
the lantern from the high window and
them" added The brave girl resoluteiy, "a
will send ont such peal from the good
old bell that help, am ure, will soon
comei"
Timid for het safety. where he was
brave for his own, the old man anxiously
tried to dissaude her from an effort 80
peirlous at this hour of darkness; but,
scarcely waiting for permission, Ruth had
already dafted away with the lantern,
leaving ber grandfather in the solemn
darkness, where be could only wait and
pray, while she was very cautiously but
swiftly climbing the old, ficketty belfry
stairs.
On through the gloom and silence the
old chIirch floated-whep Suddenly, out
through the blackness of the night, a
bright light sparkied like beacon-blazs
from q lighthouse tower: and, far above
the din of the rushing waters, h ringing
peal came forth that awakened the star
tied echoes siumbering along the rivers
bank,
"Clangr -"Claugf'-The sound now
seemed to dance along the waves, while
the brave maiden aloft chung TO her sup
port; and down in the dark the old man
was praying.
The river had now found deepet and
nerrower channel. with high, dry cliffs
once more upon either side; and, as that
strange. wietd sound rang out amid the
storm and darkness, group OF men,
with skiifs moored high, peered cut upon
the rushing stfeam, with wondering,
awe-sttuck faces.
"Egad!" cried one, it sounds like the
old bell Of st. Johns church, way up at
Chesterbrook"
"Can it be possible," asked another;--
"then it ti1ust be the wreck Of the Cheh.
terbrook village that Aoatsd by q little
ago?"
On, on came the pealihg sound, ahd
now the seaconilight shone oht full up
on them.
"As I ive" cried the first speaker, 1T
is the old church ahoat, and that bell
would never ring like that from the mo-
tion of the wateri There are living souls
within there calling for help. To the
rescue, men! Out with the ropes and
skiffs!"
In five minutes more strong, brave
hands were out in the stream; and all
unkncwt to the anxious ones within,
heavy ropes were attached to the builG-
ing; ana then, with the bell still tollihg.
the old church was towed safely and
Quickly to q haVen-like break amid the
cliffs.
And then, suddenly, with a startling
shock, the old church stood still; and
with frightened, beating heart. Ruth
gazed anxiodsly from her high little
window.
Could it be possible? Was that really
the bauk on which they were SO snugly
moored?
And then, too, there were the lights!
And then there we're figures oc men with
torches, and ropes, and boRtsl
Could it be2 Had God really so soon
sent help?
Hastily she Aew down the stairs, cry.
ing joyiully:
1--WE are saved, grandfather! Thank
God, we are saved!"
A sudden light in the dcorway-and
the next moment kindly voices broke the
silence. The lanterns soon revealed the
two lonely figures, and Hnth and the old
man quickly; found themselves by The
hospitable freside If peaceful little
hamlet, shott distance from the dan
gerous river.
Aud here they soon made new friend'
and new home, as did also more thar
one OF the few who were picked up ant
rescued from the direrul ruins of Ches
terbrook,