THE RESPONSIBLE BRIDGE-BUILDERS

In his Legend of the Eagles George d’Espartes says that the most heroic piece of self-sacrifice known to history occurred in the building of a bridge. In the depth of winter the French army, pressed on all sides by the Cossacks, had to cross a river. (Early 1800’s.) The enemy had destroyed all the bridges and Napoleon was almost at his wit’s end. Suddenly came the order that a bridge of some sort must be thrown across the river, and the men nearest the river were the first to carry out the almost impossible task. Several were swept away by the furious tide. Others, after a few minutes, sank through cold and exhaustion; but more came, and the work proceeded as fast as possible.

At last the bridge was completed and the army reached the opposite bank in safety. Then followed the most dramatic scene, and one of the most touching in the annals of history. When the men who had built the bridge were called to leave the water, not one moved. Clinging to the pillars, they stood silent and motionless, frozen to death. Even Napoleon shed tears.

– F.W.Boreham

[Reproduced with permission from Encylopedia of 7700 Illustrations, by Paul Lee Tan, Assurance Publishers, Rockville, MD, 1984. #5200]

This material is published by the Faith Committee of the Character Council of Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. Reproduction and Adaptation is encouraged.