Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1846-08-14
Life in Prairie Land.

as well 10 observe by way oil Introduction,
that the husband had gone, with some of the
elder sons, to a distance on business, and il
was during his absence the scene here dc.
scribed occurred.
"The only window Of her cabin looks over
the plain and there she stands gazing as il
the daylight rested on it, and she hoped each
moment to see the long wished-for object
heave in sight. Presently a strange lipht
CLEANS on the blackened sky! What sho1ld
il be? not lightning, for it rose instead of
falling, and hung longer on the sight than
the electric flash. But it is gone now
again it comes, stronger, and looks as if the
bright, frery sun had lost his place, and
without any precursor was rushing up the
southern sky. Again it almost disappears
but the faint tlnge is soon increased, and a
broad glare bursts up which overwhelms that
widowed heart. The dreadful truth pierces
her very heart, and makes her whole frame
tremble. The prairie is on fire Oh, God
what a conviction A.! She remembers now that
they have talked of prairie fires, and promised
themselves much pleasure in beholding them.
But she never dreamed of the red demon as
an enemy, and one to be encountered in this
dreadful solitude.
"Her heart sinks within her. There are
no means to avert or escape it. The only
living things about her are the children and
the faithful dog. The former are sleeping
quietly, and the latter sits a I her feet gazing
in her face with a mute sympathy that brings
tears to her eyes. She does not need to look
for the light now, for it has gained SO that
she cannot escape its glare. The wind is
bearing the fire almost with its own speed
across the immense savannah. She cannot
calculate the distance at which she first saw
1t, but if it were at the extreme southern bor-
der, 1t must, with such a wind, reach her in
a few hours, nay, even less!
But what to do, where TO 90! She
rushes to the door. Nlerciful Heaven! 1t
is all one sea of dry combustibles around her.
Grass, dry grass every where she can find
no refuge. The very tree-tops, if she could
gain them, with those she is bound to save
or perish with, would afford her no protec-
ton from such a sea of fame as is roaring
yonder! The wind increases, the elements
seem to grow madden as the fame approach
es, and aggravate lis fury. With every blast,
1t towers and curls, and then, as if enraged
at its W impotence, sinks d moment sullen-
ly, TO gather strength for a fresh effort.
"There is a large creek about four miles
away, and on this the lone woman hangs
her last faint hope. The wind will not be-
friend her, and she can only hope that the
waters may arrest the flame. Hapless wo-
man! she little knew the strength of the de-
vastating demon that was let loose that night!
a slender thread of water to separate her
from such a surging sea of flame! But if it
did not protect herl What then? IL the
last extremity came! what should she do 7
She could have but few moments to deliber-
ate, after the dreadful foe crossed this line.
Bewildered, almost Supplied, by the terror
OF her condition, she had not walked her chill
dren. She had contemplated her dread
ful fate alone, almost in silence, and with lit
tie action, after she opened the door, and was
overpowered with the conviction that to leave
the house was more certain death than to
remain.
"Now, when the time grew short. and the
hot breath of her relentless foe rushed fierce
ly around her, she addressed herself ,rapidly
to the care of her little ones; she awoke them
with much difficulty, and with much more
brought them to comprehend the danger that
awaited them. One lively boy enjoyed the
spectacle, and clapped his hands, and almost
maddencd his mother by rushing out to get a
talrer view Of the scene. Bnt where was the
dog, the noble dog, who was her only intel
ligent friend in this fearful time? Her quick
mind had counted on his protection, in case
she should escape and were shelterless. But
where was he She stepped to the door;
the light was now strong, and revealed dis
tinctly every object. He was nowhere to be
seen! She made the wood ring with his
name, and presently a low supplicating bark
was borne to her ears on the hot wind.
1.-The fire had crossed the creek, and was
tearing Its way, like an infatuated demon, up
the plain. A few minutes must decide her
fdte-she fell on her knees and commended
herself and her helpless babes to the mercy
OF her Ged and then rose, calm and collect
ed Tor the event. She had not, hitherto, con-
templated the wonderful scene apart from
the dangers with which it was franpht but
now for the first time, she was struck with
its grandeur and sublinity. 1t was an un-
broken line of flme, wide as the eye could
relch, mounting, roaring, cracking and send
ing up columns Of black smoke which as
they rose, became rarer, and rising still high
were re-lllumlnated so as TO appear anoth-
devourlng demon sweeping the heavens.
Mercy and hope seemed alike cut of by its
glare. The fiery wall shut out the
behind, except occasionally, when a
blast cleft it, it opened upon a black chasm
that looked like the funeral vault of nature.
"Scarcely had she taken this brief sur
yey, and noted the nearer approach of the
lame, when the dog came bounding to her
side, and, with the most earnest petitions,
her attention without the door. She
followed him a few steps, scarcely thinking
what she did, but, finding nothing, and see
ing him make rapidly for some distant place.
she turned back, closed the door, and sat
before the window, to watch the pro-
gress OF the fire. In an instant he was
there, paving, whining, bowling, and, by ev-
cry means in his power, soliciting her atten-
lon. Before she could open the door to adj
him he bounded through the window.
"' Mercitul God what have you done
shall all be consumed-there is no hone
now He stood at her feet the strong
intelligence of his face fascinated her eve in
spite Of the danger. What could he mean ?
an instant the sagaciry of his instinct
flashed upon her, To the ploughed field =
Ies, there was hope, and there alone. She
selzed the two younger children in one arm,
and almost lifting the other by the hand, she
ned alOnn fha trnAIou 49, 4.