The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1891-05-28

} seemed rervous. lie worked ncrecly au'
) iirelcssly, The saw sank deeper and derl
er into the tree, aud all day loag the bill
echoed si,h The sharp blows Of the maui
on the wedges.
When the evening train came in The sii
ton was deserted. The men aud boys wer'
all gathered where they conld see the BIZ
tree fall
Nigh. bad falleo. bat the wind WAS be,
ginning 10 rise. aud the work must be fin
ishsd now. The tree had been saved a.
far a. il was safe. Nick Mar was striking
furiousy upou the wedge when hc hap
psned TO turn toward the house There
was light 10 III
II Who's 10 that bousef he shouted. Run
qnick. Ralph. aud tell them TO get on. Of
II.
Ralph ran down the hill toward The
house. As be came near he saw man
peering in 1t the window, II was Big
Jim. Within the houses glance. be saw
people who had evidently just arrived
;.om journey.
He shook Jim's aim roughly.
Jiml The trees going back on 'eml Go
help 'eml Run.
Jim turned on him with q strange look.
like . man awakening from a beautiful
dream. Then be Aaug Ralph TO one side
and was gone.
Ralph rushed in. Mr.. North stood 10
the centre OF the room beside : young
lady. She was looking with pleasure at a
picture on the well, OF which Mr.. North
was evidently speaking. for he bad hand
extended toward it, although he was look
ing al her. On the other side stood an
aged lady. with very kindly though sad
face.
Ii took but u moment TO warn them OF
the danger, and they buried from the
house.
Meanwhile jim bad hurried to the tree
Nick appesled to him fiercely.
Jim Brace upl Shs's trying to 60
back Jump up and hit the wedges while
cut out the centrel Hit 'emI Hit 'em
hard JIm, and never stop.
Nick sprang up and leaped into the un
der cnt He raised bis axe, and at that in /,
slant the Tower qnivercd TO its heart with /
the blows wbick Big Jim was showering
upon the wedges on the other side. Swift
ly and carefully Nick Mar began to chop
out the centre OF the tree.
Suddenly deep. hollow. stunning crack
sounded as the wood broke. Nick Mar.
tiuglipg as II With an electric shock, threw
up bis hand. Tue great slontiDg beyel OF
the under cut was closing down upon him
The tree was falling.
Lie sprang out upon the staging and
then to the ground. ran swiftly two or
three rods TO one side. and looked up The
sjrslic top OF the Tower was slowly and
grandy describing its tremendou, arc in
mid air, aud Big Jim stood on the staging
1t the gaping saw cut, still striking tho
wedges. which now flew from under the
blows far into the heart Of the tree.
Look out jim! screamed Nick Mar.
He bad time for only one cry, for then
The descending mass struck the largest
.ree Of the clump above fquarely. : 1t bent
lar back, but perceptibly checked the mo
nentum OF the fall and the recoil whirled
he great butt Of the Tower of the stump
md projected 1t down the steep decivity
illing the air with flying rocks aud earth.
This was the successful consummation
II the dwarfs plan, for the Tower OF Babel I
ay with the butt forty feet below the |
tump, and one hundred and fifteen feet of I
he trunk uubroken.
Nick Mar was not thinking OF bis tri
amph. He called for jim. but there wss
10 answer in the stiffness that followed {
he downfall Lanterns were brought, and I
fter time Rilph aud the dwarf found G
,oor jim. hurled down the hill, with the
,allor Of death on his face.
The men bore him down to Mr.. North's i
rouse, and at the door they met the aged Q
ady whom Ralph bad seen. Her face turn 8
d white. and she threw herself down be' |
ide him with q moaning cry. 'JamieP /
Jim opened bis eyes, and his face light v
ID up with . smile. !
Mother. be sighed, flintly. She kissed
i'm aud wep', and smootbed his damp il
air, and spoka 10 him tenderly ss sie Il
ad done when he wis little boy. H. v
cad dropped, and he died 10 her arms, o
nth the light still lingering on his face. d
Mr. North came aud knelt beside her. q
cd taid: We have found bin at last. mo a
her o