The Forrest City times., 1894-02-09
FORREST CITY, ARK FRIDAY AFTERNOON FEBRU AIRY g. Is

my wife summoned the children, who were culling the golden peoples that grew in profusion along the cliffs edge to help uppack the lunch. while I, jug in hand, made for a canyon near by in search of water. I found a trickling stream dripping from the moss-clad powders and the jug was soon filled. It might have been fifteen minutes be- fore left the canyon; as soon as came in sight of camp I knew that some thing was amiss. Old Joe ran toward ne, shouting and motioning wildly; on .he verge of the cliff l saw my wife k kleeling, Mercedes beside her, but where was Lily?
 h. au instant l realized the worst Lily had fallen from the cliff. My brain -eclcd with the horror of the thought, and I called to my wife be- seeching her to leave that awful place. Why did she still kneel and gaze down upon the mangled form lying on the cruel rocks?
 ''Senor" the old Mexican was say ing, the child not hurt-she cling to the ledge. We must have ropes. Alive! l grasped sturdy root and swung myself over the abyss Far be- low, upon a narrow, crumbling ledge, Lily lay, her fall arrested by dense growth of brush.
 Quick! the ropes!" shouted to Joe. Those used Tn flashing the burro's pack in place were all we had. Joe was rapidly knotting them together. Pray God they may not be too shortw gasped the child's mother. 'Ah." the Mexican exclaimed. ''the rope too old. If the senor go down it break"
 ''Listenr cried Mercedes. ''The rope will hold me- will go to her." Even as she spoke we slipped the moose under her arms, and, as we grasped the rope, swung off the rock. would not live those moments again for wealth untold.
 Would the rope reach Lily? Would it bear the weight of both? These were the thoughts that almost stepped my heart beats, while inch by inch was lowered the brave child, per haps to her death.
 At length the strain on the rope ceased
 ''She has reached the ledge" breathed the trembling mother. ''She slips the moose from her body and fastens it un- der Lily's arms. Pull! Pull!'
 And we pulled, slowly, steadily, un- til loving mother arms reached out and 1 drew the unconscious child from the very brink of death, her tiny hand still clenched about the brilliant-hued pop pies that had so nearly proved her de struction.
 | And now for one more effort. Would the frayed strands part under the 1 heavier weight? In breathless silence the rope was lowered, and we waited the signal to pull up. l remember how, even at that mo- ment, the beauty of the scene appealed | to ne.
 The golden sunshine flooded sea and land.
 Above us bent the cloudless blue of tropic sky; and could but wonder if our Father, who made all things so fair would suffer the sun to shine and the birds to sing if that brave young fife was to be sacrificed.
 That of which write occurred many years ago. As pen these closing lines my eyes fall upon missive received this morning from an eastern convent school.
 Mercedes and I will soon be with you," it reads. I've have passed our examination and graduate in June" The father and mother have long been dead, the brothers are scattered, and Mercedes fills a daughters place in our hearts and home. Home Magazine