Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1885-05-29
MiseellameoMs.
ONE NICHE THE HIGHEST

The scene opens with view of the
great Natural Bridge in Virginia. Ther
are three or four lads standing in the
channel below, looking up with awe to
that vast arch of unhewn rocks, with
which the Almighty bridged over those
everlasting butments, when the morn.
ing stars sang together The little
piece of sky spanning those measureless
piers is full Of stars, although it is mid
day. 1t is almost five hundred feet from
where they stand, up those perpendicu-
lar bulwarks of limestone to the key Of
that arch which appears to them only
the size Of mans hand. The silence
Of death is rendered more impressive by
the little stream that falls from rock to
rock down the channel.
The sun is darkened, and the boys
have uncovered their heads, as if stand
ing in the presence chamber Of the
Majesty Of the whole earth. At last this
feeling begins to wear away; they look
around them, and find that others have
been there before. They see the names
of hundreds cut in the limestone but
ments. A new feeling comes over their
young hearts, and their knives are in their
bands in an instant. "What man has
done, man can do. is their watchword,
while they draw themselves up and carve
their namesa foot above those of n hun
dred full-grown men who had been there
before them.
They are all satisfied with this feat Of
physical exortion except one, whose ex-
ample illustrates perfectly the forgotten
truth, that there is mo royal road to
learning This ambitious youth sees
a name above his reach "A name which will
be green in the memory Of the world
when those Of Alexander, Caesar and
Bonaparte shall rot in oblivion. II was
the name of Washington. Before he
marched with Braddock to that fatal
field, he had been there and left bis
name foot above any of his predeces-
sors
II was glorious thought 10 write his
name side by side with that of the great
Father of his Country. He grasps his
knife with frmer hand, and clinging
to little jutting crag, he cuts again
into the limestone about foot above
where be stands; he then reaches up
and cuts @ place for his hands. IT'S a
dangerous adventure; but as he puts
his feet and hands into those gains and
draws himself up carefully to his full
length, he finds himself foot above
every name chronicled in that mighty
wall While bis companions arc re-
garding him with concern and admira-
ton, he cuts his name in wide capitals,
large and deep into that hinty album.
His knife is still in his hand and strength
in bis sinews, and new-created aspi-
ration in his heart. Again he cuts an
other niche, and again he carves his
name in larger capitals. This is not
enough; needless Of the entreatics Of
his companions, he cuts and climbs
again. The gradations Of his ascend
ing scale grow wider apart. lie meas
ures his length at every gain he cuts
the voices Of bis friends wax weaker
and weaker, till their words are finally
lost on his ear. He now for the FIRST
time casts look beneath him. Had
that glance lasted moment, that mo-
ment would have been his last. He
cliDgs with convulsive shudder TO his
little niche in the rock. An awful abyss
awaits his almost certain fall. He is
faint with severe exertion, and trembling
from the sudden view Of the dreadful
destruction to which he is exposed. His
knife is worn half way TO the haft. He
can hear the voices but not the words Of
his terror-stricken companions below.
What a moment What a meager chance
10 escape destruction ! There is no re-
tracing bis steps It is impossible TO
put his hands into the same niche with
his feet and retain his slender hold
moment His companions instantly per-
ceived this new and fearful dilemma,
and await bis fall with emotion that
"freeze their young blood He is too
high 10 ask for his father and mother,
his brothers and sisters to come and wit
ness or avert his destruction. But one
Of bis companions anticipate his desire.
Swift as the wind he bounds down the
channel. and the situation Of the fated
boy is told upon his fathers hcarthstonc.
Minutes Of almost eternal length roll
on, and there are hundreds standing in
that rocky channel aud hundreds on the
bridge above, all holding their breath
and awaiting for the fearful catastrophe.
The poor boy hears tho hum Of new and
numerous voices both above and below.
He can Just distinguish the tones Of his