Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1885-07-24
ISLAND POND, VERMONT, july "a, 1885.

| DtSSlC, SuOulGNlS nOlQ Oh u lllIle
while; Pm going for helpp
"I've been Unconscious. I'm faint.
shall die. Don't leave me. The dirt
falling brought me to life.n
"I'll leave George here. Here
George, your dirl is in that hole; sit
there and talk to her. Don't you cry"
Georgie's lip tremblcd, but he minded
bravely, pleading the dog should stay,
but was afraid to trust him. "Gobble
tay wifi Dorgie," he said, piteously; but
that sagacious bird was already winging
and hopping his way homeward.. l left
Bessie answering Georges scared
"Halloom
If she could keep conscious till l got
back! How l thanked grandpa for his
careful habits. l knew just where the
new clothes-line was, the crowbar and
the hatchet. We-were eight miles from
any ranch, and must acs-si # there was
no one in the world to help her.
How / got back never knew. l saw
George from the top of the hill He had
crawled to the edge of the well, and was
singing little baby song l had taught
him. His cheeks were red and feverish,
and his voice hoarse.
"Bessie" l shouted.
"All right. George kept me from
fainting. l made him sing"
"Dit dirl out dit dirl outw Georgia
screamed, clinging to my skirts. pushed
him away; there was no time to pet or
comfort him.
"Run to the road, George, that way
now halloo for help. Yes, take the dog.
Tell everybody your dirl is in Byers'
we'll"
knew his white, tear-wet face would
bring the most unbelieving stranger, and
| watched his chubby form, in the
bright plaid dress, and the painting dog
disappear over the hill. All the while |
was digging deep hole with the
hatchet, and scooping the earth out with
my hands, and shouting every few mo-
mems to Bessie. / buried the crowbar
halfway, then l tried my weight; it did
not move. l had seen men wind lines
around a post to raise heavy objects.
"Put this moose around your walst!" /
shouted.
81 dare not" she answered, family.
"You couldn't help me. Oh, go for
helpm
"You must. The ends fast to crow
bar. l can't find anybody. They're all
hunting for you"
81 can't?" she cried, piteously.
"Then I'll leave your shouted. TITS
getting late; it's your last chancew
There was CHASTITY stiffness for few
moments. l wound the line around the
bar and around my waist.
'Iook out!" she screamed. / heard
the beam go rafting down, and tear
full strain frightened the cord. Thought
it would cut me in two. For moment
l thought | was going over. Happily,
the ridge of earth was protection. The
rope loosened.
"Haul easy she cried. 'I can catch
my feet in the sides; the earth is soft"
wound the rope around the bar and
myself. ! was in a perfect snarl.
Suddenly the rope grew loose, there
was no weight. Was she lost? Every
thing grew black, and l knew nothing.
When came to, there were two men
bending over me, trying to force brandy
in my mouth.
"Where's Bessie?" God be thanked she
answered me herself! She had climbed
up the last few yards by the broken tim
bers. The earth was torn up around me,
my hands were raw and bleeding, and
bear the marks cf the rope on my body
to this day.
Just then we heard a shouting, and
Mr. Little and Mr.. Gray rode up, and the
latter wasn't ashamed to kiss Bessie just
as her father did, and before all the
people.
George was up in the lap of Mr.. Lit
tie, and Smarty lay down at my feet,
worn out. A party of the searchers met
the poor baby and dog, and caught at
the fearful meaning in the baby's inco-
herent words, dashed up to the well,
and found us both on the brink.
They could not believe it was I who
had rescued her till they saw my hands
and the rope and the crowbar still firm
in the earth.
Grandpa was there, and kissed me and
cried over me, as if l too had been down
the we'll.
Miss Bessie had lost her way in the
dark after long ride across the plains,
and her horse had stumbled over the
planks and fallen through and broken
his spine. Miss Bessie's habit had
caught on projecting beam, and she
clung there two nights and nearly two
days. Yet with all the horrors of her
situation, she was only fifteen feet down.
When Mr.. Little learned that our
ranch was mortgaged, he went to Mr..
DAVIDSON, paid the money, and gave the
farm back to grandfather. He made me
present of a sum of money, and Mr..
Gray gave George like present.
In the two years since that time, our
ranch has come to be one of the most
prosperous in the country. We have a
fine herd of cattle, and an immense
poultry yard, and grandfather hires a
man to help him, while have Swede
girl to work in the house.
Miss Bessie is Mrs Gray now, and still
my best friend. She never rides alone,
and is less daring than she used to be.
am happy to say no one ever re-
preached grandfather for his carelessnesS
in leaving the well so poorly protected.
He suffered enough for 1t, and it is filled
, in now
Though Mrs. Gray never says anything,
. yet think she often mourns for the no
: BILE black horse, who, with shoes on,
saddle and bridle found a burial on the
plains-the plains where he had so often
roamed with his fearless young mistress
under the blue Colorado skies, in the
shadow of the Rockies. - Youths Com.
pGnion.
That Chunk of Ice.
When winds are cold and chill and wet
The iceman ne'er your house will miss;
The piece of ice you always get
, Is large and shapely, just like this: