Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1889-01-09


ings, which he carefully unraveled,
making a circular pile of the threads
which would not srarl.
He worked eagerly yet patiently, I'M
til both stockings formed one long
thread. This he care'ully-how very
carefully TIED to the birds tail feath-
ers, and put the bird under the hat once
more; then, taking his pencil, he wrots
ON bit of paper, by the light of matches:
81 am starving at the bottom of the shaft
on Bot sforl Mountain. pray You send help.
''NEwMAS HIGBoRS."
Then, folding it mp, and tying it care
fully on the other end of the string. he
set the bird at liberty. 1t huttered
about his head moment, and then went
slowly up.
Now faint, glad hope stole into his
heart; it grew stronger as the bird still
assembled. Yes-noble little swallow
the string was growing less every mo-
ment. Perhaps life hung by that
thread. The bird disappeared out of
the mouth above.
How many chances, after all, had hel
He shnddered when he thought how
slight they We're Should the bird go
TO the right or to the left after reaching
open air, how easily, by the friction on
the shafts outer edge, would the thread
be worn off.
Little Birdie found, after getting ont,
that it was harder to fly one side, and
so sailed high up into the air.
Highborn could now see it again, the
sun shining brightly on its wings; he
knew it must be far above the surface.
The party Of three, with which Hig-
born started, had missed him some time,
and now were giving anxious search.
They had passed and repassed the old
shaft, and it had not occurred to them
that he might have fallen in there.
They had looked down into it once, out
of mere curiosity, but saw only black
ness below. AS they were discussing
what should he done next, one said:
"What is that by you, Fitts?"
"Where I"
"Ihere, not three feet to your right;
string, yarn, or something. Why, it
lays a long way TO the bushes"
"Pull it, said Sam Higborn, New
mans brother.
Fits pulled it and bird nuttere
about two rods away.
string; wonder what inhuman rascal
could have been guilty of such thingl"
"Its a swallow" said Fits.
81 wonder where it's tied !" said Sam.
"Perhaps it's somebody's fayorite
bird. said Fits.
"Favorite or no favcrite, I'm going to
give the poor thing its liberty" and he
cut the string.
Birdie knew what that meant, and in
moment was among the clouds. Sam
followed the string, and suddenly called
to Fits:
"Come here, Fits; here is note on
the end of the string" He tore it open,
and read aloud:
II am starving at the bottom Of the shaft on
Dottsford Mountain pray you send held.
'NrwMAN IIIoBoRN"
"Good heavens, Fits Down in the
hole-aivel Not twenty yards from
here 1t can't be, yet he says So.
Both rushed Tor the shaft.
The bird lad gone up the shaft an
hour ago. Newman was anxiously wait
ing no had watched the mouth OF the
shaft above, until weary, he had laid
down, resting one cheek on his hand.
He had not been In that position long
when he was suddenly startled by some
little chips of woods that were falling
about him, and at the same time he
heard voices echoing down the shaft.
He looked up, and could see two per
sons looking down.
Oh, how he shouted. A few more
anxious moments, and billet dropped
IL. -. 4,l f,l,
read
1--WE are here, and will bring helm as soon as
possible SAM HIGBoRN AND Fits"
He shouted Hurrnh back, which
was only roaring, incoherent noise
when it reached the open mir. This was
hope indeed, although three hundred |
feet above.
A long hour passed-two, three. |
Night came. -Four, five, six, seven
hours. Something was coming down.
He could see the light of a candle at the
top. Thump, thump, thump, and u
rope, stout rope hit his head.
Oh, how eagerly he seized it, and
how carefully he made knotted loop, |
and how easily he stepped into it.
Then he gave tia vigorous shaking, and
shouted:
"Pulll"
Up, up. up, slowly, hopefully-up,
surely, higher-now it stopped, and
went down a few feet. His heart came
into his mouth, Up again, slowly. He
sees the stars above him-higher, almost
"a moment more, and he is on the
broad earth again, saved, weak, but
alive.
Newman Higborn owes his life to
one little bird, and it was gone.