The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1862-11-19

they flew again.
Then as they approached the scene of
the fire. and saw the smoke and the flames
surge upward in the dim twilight, anx.
iouSly each looked forward to ascertain
IT possible, what buildings werc on fire.
Brothers. said Richard in an agitatcd
voice, "hc the fire where it may let lis work
together to cXtiuguish it,"
" he II So replied Joseph, who now frlt
that it was his mill 1--WE could always ac-
complsl, more when united. than when our
,tlorts were divided
" 1t is true added James "But we
have forgotten our fathers dying charge.
We should never have separated
His brother made no answer. Richard $
check was flushed his lip trcmuous; Jo
scph's brow was pale and thoughtful
turn in the road brought them in lul
view of the village. AS if with one i'm
pulse the brothers rose to gaze forward at
the fire \ glow of light fell upon their
anxious faces. It was the village church
which was burning,
-" Ii is too late To save it, said Richard
with a long breath. See. the roof js all on
fire
At that moment, dull sound, like II
smothcrcd explosion, shook the air. 4
cloud of smoke and ashes surged upward
and II cry vi wonder burst from the awe.
stricken crowd gathered around the burn
ing building. The roof had fallen in; the
low hclIry had plunged into the fiery
abyss
Then with redoublcd fury, the flames
burst forth. The church was all wood:
and soon the cracking blazing clap.boards
tell from the glowing timber frame. Joists
braces and beams cleaned in startling re
hct when the wind, which was blowing
strong from the north, drove back the ont
bursting smoke and flames.
Richard stopped the terrified horse at n
short dlstnucc from the iirc, on the north
side of the church.
How did the mcctiug-housc take ire "
asked Joseph of an old man.
Some careless boy must have thrown a
lrc.craukcr through the window was the
reply. " But the alarm was given in season
TO save the building, if there had only been
fire engine in the village. And we
should have had one u year ago" added
the old man stcrnly. "if you three brothers
had not acted like fools in the matter. Be
cause James headed the subscription list to
purchase an engine, you, Richard and Jo-
scph, opposed it; and so the scheme tell
through
The brothers felt the rcbukc, but no re-
ply escaped their lips.
AT that moment, there arose an alarming
cry on the other side OF the church. Rich
ard drove down the south road.
deacon Smiths house ON fire. ex-
claimed Joseph.
. This was too true. Deacon Smiths
house, situated on the opposite side of the
road from the church, had been lighted
from the great fire, and now the piazza was
all in flames.
Drive there under my shed" cried
James, "and we will go together to help to
save smiths house"
Jamcs's shed and house were close by
on the same side Of the road with Deacon
Smiths, but not 80 near the church.
The brothers lcapod to the ground
While Richard was fastening the terrified
horse TO the post. James cast an anxious
eye upward at the roof of his own house.
lie started and turned pale.
'What is that?" he cried.
FIRE.! " exclaimed Joseph.
TWAS on the further side of the roof
James ran around the house, followed by
Joseph. 1t took but an instant to see what
was the trouble. Some blazing combusti-
BILE had fallen from the church upon the
dry shingles which were now all in Il blaze.
But 10 reach the roof seemed impossible.
The housckcepcr had gone ont somewhere
to spend the "Fourth, and the doors were
locked. In vain did James short for help
at the top of his voice; the fire at Deacon
Smiths house had drawn every body in
that direction. Joseph saw but ono way of
getting to the rool-to burst through II
window and ascend by the stairs to the scut-
tie. Joseph smashed sash and pane with an
AK. lie was already inside when James
bethought him that there was a ladder in
his nearest neighbor's yard, To 20 for it
and drag it to his own door, seemed the
work of a moment But SO long and heavy
was it, that all Jamcs's strength was not
sufficient to raise il to the roof. Thrice had
he tried il, when he was about giving up
in despair assistance came. The ladder
went up in an instant, and Richard stood
by his brothers side.
1--WE must work cried Richard. In
a minute itmay be too late
The we'll was near, and down in the pcb.
bly, bottom few the bucket. driven by
Richards strong hand. James ran for il
pail, and in an Incredibly short space Of
time, il was filled with water, borne up the
ladder by Richard, aud placed in the hands
of Joseph, who was standing on the roof
The burning shingles Missed and steamed;
but still the fire ragged. Another bucket
l-anothcr-and anothcr-drawn by
James from the well borne up the ladder
by JOseph-had been applied before the
flames were subducd The united strength
of the brothers had conquered. What one
could not have done, nor two perhaps-had
been accomplished by the three
Meanwhile the flames on Deacon Smiths
house had been cXtinguished, and Of the
church nothing was left but shapelcss
heap of smoking, blazing ruins.
The brothers went together TO the well
to bathe their burning brows, after their
labor.
Our task is done, and am thankful"
said James, with much feeling. with
your help brothers, have saved my house
our house rather for il is the old family
What return can | make you
more than to invite yOu-cordially invite
you-to return to the house of your father
and cheer once more with your presence
and love the house which has been so
dreary without YOU"
81 accept our kind offer" cried the i'm
pusivc Richard. "As | was the first to
blame, let me be the first to acknowledge
my fault, and ask your forgiveness, James,
and yours, brother Joseph"
You have it, Richard exclaimed the
miller. " And you will forgive ne, am
sure. have been TO blame. The waste
wier should have been fixed"
And ] should not have flown into a
passion about a matter which proved a
benefit to my grain, after all; for you re-
momhcr that. instnnd Of ArnMnimn nr Wnsh.