4*6 FATAL EVENT. 



The last we shall relate terminated in a more awful manner. 

 A father and two sons went out together, and, having firmly 

 attached their rope at the summit of a precipice, descended, on 

 their usual occupation. Having collected as many birds and 

 eggs as they could carry, they were all three ascending by the 

 rope — the eldest of the sons first, his brother a fathom or 

 two below him, and the father following last. They had 

 made considerable progress, when the elder son, looking 

 upwards, perceived the strands of the rope grinding against 

 a sharp edge of rock, and gradually giving way. He imme- 

 diately reported the alarming fact. " "Will it hold togethe 

 till we can gain the summit?" asked the father. " It will no 

 hold another minute," was the reply ; " our triple weight 

 loosening it rapidly ! " " Will it hold one % " said the fathe 

 " It is as much as it can do," replied the son, — " even that is 

 but doubtful." " There is then a chance at least of one of us 

 being saved ; draw your knife and cut away below ! " was the 

 cool and intrepid order of the parent. "Exert yourself — you 

 may yet escape, and live to comfort your mother ! " There 

 was no time for discussion or further hesitation. The son 

 looked up once more, but the edge of rock was cutting its 

 way, and the rope had nearly severed. The knife was drawn 

 — the rope was divided — and his father and brother weie 

 launched into eternity ! 



