The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1846-06-25
LIFE IN PRAIRIE LAND.
ny ELIZA W.

OF lne husband ana ldtNers
THE only window of her cabin look
over the plain aud there she stands gaz.
ing as if the daylight rested on it, and
she hoped each moment to see the long
wished for object heave in sight. Pres
emily a strange light CLEANS on the black
eued sky What should it be2 not
lightning, for it rose instead of falling,
and hung longer on tho sight than the
electric flash. But it is gono!-now
again it comes, stronger, and looks az if
the bright, fiery sun had lost his place,
and without any precursor we're rushing
up the southern sky. Again it >almost
disappears; but the faint linge 's soon in
creased, and a broad glare bursts up
which oyerwhelms that widowed heart.
The dreadful truth pierces her very heart,
and makes her whole frame lremblc.-
The prairie is on ire!. Oh, God what
a conviction She remembers now that
they have talked Of prairie fires, and
promised themselves much pleasure in
behoIding them. But she never dreamed
OF the red demon as an enemy, and one
10 be encountered in this dreadful soli0
ludc.
"Her heart sinks within her, There
nre no means 10 avert or escape it. The
only living things about her are The chill
dren and the faithful dog. The former
are sleeping quietly, and The latter sits at
her feet gazing in her face with a mute
sympathy that brings tears to her eyes.
She does not need 10 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 CAL
culatc the distance at which she first saw
it, but if it were al the extreme southern
border, it must, with such a wind, reach
her in a few hours, nay, even less
"But what 10 do, where TO go! She
rushes to the door. Merciful Heaven i
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 10 save or petish
with, would afford her no protection from
such a sea of fame as is roaring yonder :!
The wind increases, the elements seem 10
grow madden as the flame approaches,
and aggravate lis fury. With every blast,
it towers and curls, and then, as if enragS
ed at its own impotence, sinks q moment
sulienly, 10 gather strength. for a fresh eff
fort.
There is a large creek about four
miles away, and on this the lone mi
hangs her last faint hope. The wind will
not befriend her, and she can only hope
that the waters may arrest the fame
Hapless woman !! she little knew the
strength of the devastating demon that
was Let loose that night! A slender
thread of water 10 separate her from such
a surging sta of flame! But if it did not
protect her What then? If the last
extremity came! what should she do g
She could have but few moments 10 de-
liberate, after the dreadful foe crossed this
line. Bewildered, almost supplied, by
the terrors of her condition, she had not
waked her children. She had contem.
plated their dreadful fate alone, almost in
and with lille action, after she
opened the door, and was overpowered
with The conviction that TO leave the house
was even more certain death than 10 re-
main.
CHOW, when the time grew short, and
the hot breath of her relentless. foe rushed
around her, she addressed herself
TO the care Of her little ones she
woke them with much difficulty, and
with much more brought them to cons
prehend the danger that awaited them
One lively boy enjoyed the spectacle, and
his hands, and almost maddencd
his mother by rushing out to get a fairer
view of the wonderful scene. But where
was the dog, the noble dog, who was her
only intelligent friend in this fearful
Her quick mind had counted on
his protection, in case she should escape
and were shelterless. But where was
he2 She stepped TO the door the light
was now strong, and revealed distinctly
every object. He was no where TO be
She made the wood ring with his
name, and presently n low supplicaling
Dark was borne 10 her cars on the hot
wind.
1.-THE fire had crossed the creek, and
tearing lis way, like an inlurialed
up the plain. A few minutes
must decide her fate-she tell on her
knees, and commended herself and her
babes TO The mercy Of her God
md then rose, calm and collected for the
event. She had not, hitherto. contcm>
plated the wonderful scene apart from the
hangers with which it was fraught but
for the first time. she was struck
with its grandeur and sublimily, 1t was
IN unbrOken line Of fame, wide as The
Eye could reach, mounting, roaring, crack
ing, and sending up columns Of black
smoke which, as they rose, became rarer,
md rlsinn sill hinher. wera r~e>illnminalA