The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1899-12-29
Literary Notes.

standing bare and alone on the very
top of one of the larger mounds OF
swells Of the undulaiing prairie, l.
a big pile of freshly dug earth
black dirt, yellow loan and blue
clay-the cause of il all bang q
rude windlass with a rope having b
bucket attached TO each end. Turn
ing the handle of the windlass l. Q
thick set, serious featured young
man Of about nineteen or twenty
Suddenly a voice sounds from the
depths below. "B- careful up there
First thing you know there will br
a funeral down here, and nothing
to pay the gave digger with. " The
young man pulling up the bucket OF
heavy clay turns pale through the
bronze of face exposed TO much
.outd Dor weather az he sees the cause
OF warning from the voice at the
bottom of the shaft. One OF the
posts of the wndlass has been sunk
too near the edge OF the snaft and
the weight OF the bucket of clay has
begun to crack of a portion OF the
wall of dirt. Unless he can get the
bucket to the top very soon the
whole windlass together with a great,
lump of solid earth will inevitably
cavo in and rush down the hole
burying in almost sure death the
person at the bottom.
There is only one thing to be
done. and the Young man at the top
does it with firmness and rapidity
that is admirable. He seizes the
rope at the end of which is hanging
1.-THE empty bucket, and makes halt
a tura with it about the handle OF
the windlass in such a way as to
prevent its slipping, then throwing
himself down flat on the ground on
he side Of the shaft opposite the
dangerous earth crack he pulls up
With his hands the heavy buck 4 OF
lclay a. far as he can, thus taking
its weight of the windlass.
! His quickness prevents an i'm
mediate accident. The post at the
windlass ceases to sink aud the
dangerous lump Of earth does not
crack oil. But lying down as he is
the young man cannot pull the
heavy bucket out of the shaft. AND
he is fearful of trying TO regain hi'
knees or his feet lest he jar the
ground and precipitate the mass into
the hole. Under these critical cir
lcumstances rapid dialogue take:
place between him and the person
at the bottom.
"What's the matter? What are
| you doing?"
Matter enough. Didn't you see
the diit crack up here?
"Yes. bat is it serious? Can't
YOU pull up ths bucket and then lei
down the bucket 50 | can crawl
out?"
"No it's all can do II hold the
: bucket here and keep the weight OF
/, / OF the windlass. Cool God,
Paul, if that dirt comes in it will
/ kill you sure"
: "Help, help,' the young man
( shouted with all his might. Hs
paused, thinking he heard a voice.
The person at the bottom OF the
1 shaft seemed listening also. Their
he spoke with little tremble- IL
: seems hard to die down here like .
: rat in hole. If should be kiIlel
-ltell motner-."
e Suddenly voice was heard from
the insite of the house. 1t seemed
Ito come from some one lying down
oh bed close by one of the larg'
double windows. The day was no
chilly and the window was patti,
! lpcn. "What is the trouble David?'
Mother, Paul is in danger at th'
bottom OF the well. An earth cracl
started by one Of tie windlass POSTS
caught the rope of the bucket a
} n was coming up. but can't do an,
Z more than hold it the way am
Send Ruth.
n All this was said in a loud tone
In MON en-; the voice from the in
side of the house spoke clear in'
| sweet. "Rlth is here, and | hav
told her to 20 to the kitcheI
j table and get the sharpest knit
b nthere and bring it TO you. T"
!. David lying on his face, holdin
On to the terrible weight that hs'
dlbegan to make his muscles cracl
k lnd his should. r. wrench with pain
. never forgot the quiet voice tha
V ,poke in that hour of peril II
y :allei out to Paul: "Stand owe
!, opposite the bucket. | an going
y ,ut the rope, and let the thing fall
J; There is room isn't there, withou
VI hitting you!"
MI Yes cried the boy telow.
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