The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1862-04-23

moment the friends were there. Mrs. Eff
fngham was at the window, but they i'm
plored her to come down stairs and open
the door.
O. cannot" was her frenzied answer.
"The stairs are gone"
Ida and Carrie appeared at the next
window and stated that Robert had gone
for a ladder, to rescue his mother, and
that they too could have saved themselves,
but would not leave her. John Winthrop
joined in the search for ladder, while
Allan went round to the back of the house,
to find something which might facilitate
their escape, but there was not even
wisp of hay. "Throw out your BEDS"
he called, but ip vain. Mrs. Effingham
was an invalid, and the exertions Of the
two delicate girls the day previous had
so weakened them that they were unequal
to lifting the heavy beds.
When Robert and John returned with
the ladder, they were able to rescue them,
but with great difficulty, the house being
now burned nearly to shell, in spite Of
the efforts of the fremen who had now
surrounded it, and who had been trying
to work their way 10 it for some time.
When Allan had rescued Carrie and her
mother, he permitted John Winthrop to
60 for Ida, but she had already sprang ir-
10 his arms from the other window, impa-
tient of the slow process of the ladder,
and beginning to be saturated by the wa
ter that was pouring in from the engines.
While he held that form in his arms,
he whispered sentence that was ever af-
ter to be engraven upon the girls heart,
ineffacable by time. Just such as wife
.-one who could earn the title of an San
gel" by her goodness, he had in vain
been looking for. He had wealth, intelli-
gence, and refinement. He had not
relative IN the world to share his wealth,
and he longed for some congeuial spirit
to bless his earthly lot. The fine ladies
of society he could not love, although ear
nestly sought by them. He wanted a
companion-a second self. Ida Effing-
ham, he believed, was such an one. Great
occasions develop the character, and he
knew her better in a single day, than at
ordinary times he might have known her
in months, perhaps years. AT all events,
that day had fixed his destiny and hers
for life. That of Allan and Carrie SEEM
ed already fixed.
The pretty white cottage was wholly
destroyed, and the family found home
with the Fairfelds where Winthrop con-
tinued to remain. There was work for
every one to do, and no hand in that
house was idle. Winter was fast ap-
preaching, and although liberal help came
from abroad, there was a wide field Of
benevolence left for the inhabitants
Houses were to be built, but furnished
and provisioned, to say nothing of the
clothing to be made. The young men
found enough to do, after hard days
work out, to wind yarn for the two elder
ladies, and thread needles for the young
er.
"I have good news for your said
Winthrop, one day, as he entered with
glowing cheeks and sparkling eyes. " Cap
tain EffiDgham's ship is just outside the
harbor. He will be in before night"
A joyful surprise, indeed, for he was
not expected so soon. The coming Of the
CHEEKY old sailor was great event.
Thankful for the safety of his family, he
cared not for his house. 1t was soon re-
built, and, better still two Others were at
the same time erected, parted only by the
clumps of green trees which the fire had
spared. The streets of Brentwood were
I not long in regaining their houses, and
with much improvement upon their form
er appearance. Captain Effing hams gift
to the town was handsome engine house
upon his own ground; and fire can new
er bo met so unpreparedly as the one we
have described. One event Of joyful
nature certainly grew out of the misfor-
tune, and perhaps it was not solitary
one. At all events, there were never so
many marriages iu Brentwood as in the
year succeeding what is always called
there, the great fire.
A long time has passed since them
Captain Effingham and his wife lie be-
meath the shadow of the church, and their
daughters children are beautiful young Ia
dies, just what their mothers were at the
period of the fire. One of Ida's, the fair
est and loveliest, went to grace the home
of another, making great void in the
pleasant circle at Brentwood; and it
grieves me TO say that the last mail from
a distant land brought the news of her
early death. Thus life weaves its min
gled web of black and white. Let US ac-
cept it. In the land beyond the flood,
we shall see how evenly, after all, are life's
compensations balanced. And there, too,
what on earth seemed dark and strange,
will then be clear and bright !-BalloIs
Magazine, May, 1862.
A DISTINGUISHED divine on GER
tain occasion while preaching with his
usual eloquence and power said: " Breth-
rem, | sometimes illustrate my subject in
,h;s ,,,onnar.n and puttinp his handker-