Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1852-04-08
From the Drawing Room Companion,
THE RESCU b..
DY MRS. E. wELLM INT.
CHAPTER /.

~ H Al
The startling cry Of "Fire.'' "Fire!"
s'Fire!" was heard a, deep midnight, ac-
companied with the sharp, shrll rattle of
Z >ahe wa,el nan, which made many aweary
sleeper start from his slumbers. to gaze
upon The !urid glare which didused itself
over his room.
.Up betimes," said Mr.. Slater 10 his
son John. Eve must be prompt at the en-
gins--a large fire, truly" as he again
looked upon the sky, apparently redden
ed By the maddening blaze. The boom.
ing OF a dozen bells were now fairly un-
der way, aud The faithful guardians of .
ciiy's safety, the he oic firemen, were
I girded To d0ty. A pense of securi,,
stems to prevade all classes when this
hos. is fairly muslered; a feeling that they
are able aud willing to suhdue The enemy.
carries all ou, of the ranks again home
ward, in the honr Of danger. Who, then,
can lavish too many praises upon such
sentinels, whose province il is 10 protect
and defend our lives and properly.
Whence came this terrific alarm. this
tremendous glare, which threatened such
destruction! Ii was large, three story
dwelling, in a wide street. and the fire
was enkindled in the cellar, whence it
had made its way upward, through base
meni story TO parlors, theme 10 chambers,
where the sleeping inmates were aras sed
only by dense smoke, which came curl
ing through crryices until sutfacaiing
, smell had awakened The family group
Npw came the impulse to flee, aud catch.
III up such stray articles as were with
if,heir reach, The family had barely time
ifscape through a window which com
ranicated with yet nn'ighied shed, and
klhe descent was effected in safety
3ch two minutes later wohld have
bh at fearful hazard, as the roof was
nFenily in light blaze.
4 The group stood together and recount
! ed their number in terrible anxiety, and
4 rrl1iced only in the sense of present safe
N,y, when Mrs. Mellows suddenly cried
sou,. but where is Netty! she is NOT
fhers!' and she grew frantic at the thought
which was only heightened by the pale.
Iquigering lips, TO whom she continually
appealed, "ls she loSi!
Netly was the niece of Mrs. Mellows,
and had arrived bul the previous after
noon, at the solicitation other aunt. who
wrote her father that all parental care
would be extended, if he would permit
her to come TO the city and give finish
to her education, under the care of ex-
Aperienced masters. This was the miss.
ing girl, and in the agitation Of the mo
men, she was forgotten.
A horrible groan passed from the ave.
struck spectators as the intelligence was
disseminated. The lower part of the
house was completely envelopod in
flames, and as volumes of smoke issued
from the upper windows. wha, hope
could tighten ahy heart! Window after
iwlndow was crashed, and danntless 6re-
hnep, with ladders, mounted to the res
kue. But their search was all in vain.
lirca. columns Of sufiocating smoke
Annded their vision, clioked their utter
.e, and sent them back half snffocated
despairing. In the midst of this in
Sc agony OF the crowd. young man
he'd through the n ass, and with light
ming speed placed ladder between two
columns of smoke which reached to the
roof of the house, and4plunged into the
window. And now deeper anxiety
pervadcd all hearts. "He will die in the
attempl'' exclaimed many voices. "Wh no
was he!" rang with unceasing inerroga
ton from every bystander;4 but nobody
saw him enough 70 recognize him.-he
was only observed to have coil Of small
rope attached TO his waist.
The agony of this family where she
had so lately arrived. knew no bounds.
Certainly the circumstances were trying
in the extreme. Neny was an only
daughter, and her father dotted on her
with peculiar pride. She was mother
less, and This gave quicker ihrob OF af.
feciion TO his heart, made desolate by the
best Of wives. DIR. Carrows-,he father
of Neiiy-was a physician Of considera-
bic eIninence, in q populous town in Yer
mont. and this child had been peculiar
specimen of sweetness and grace al
B ways. How tenderly she had been
sS~ss bed, all the neighborhood could at
A governess had taken charge Of
udies. faithful housekeeper had
ely seen to her apparel and exter-
,Qmfort and kind and indulgens
$40 = 4.s n