The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1867-01-08

lbNf-lllC Oitl. OlNl ilOuSc.
Bot as he approached over the slope of
the co'nfirld that half surrounded it, a
wild figure arrested his steps, her gray
hair streaming in the wind, her wrinkled
hands DO ,koning with imploring gestures
1t vas grandmother Beck
"Lizttc Liz ttcl" she cried.
"W hat of Lzette ;" SAID the farmer
"ShcS safe in school, isn't she"
In hurried, broken accents, and with
hands that eagerly dragged him forward,
the old woman explained, that Lizctle
and her fellow pupils had received an un-
expected halfhoi'lay, and Lizctte had
ccme homs and gene up in her room to
lie down; she was not very well. Grand
mother Beck was asleep herself when the
fire broke out, and had made her escape
through the kitchen. Lizetic's room was
und Il C pointed roof OF the building, and
Just beside the great stone chimney that
took in almost one silc of the house
and which was falling, falling, before
their very eyes.
Farmer Hope dll not wait to hear
more. Shouting to the men VIII, were
Fastening with ladders and buckets, he
disappeared in the smoke CT flame which
surrounded the entrance. a great tongue
of fire lcapcd fitrccly across the doorway
a. lie vanished.
Encrgctcally, as for life, the ncighbors
worked but in tn Sc lonely countr; dis
irrctS such efforts are of little avail A
lire once breaking out in one of the old
frame buildings, snatchcs up its prey and
dcvours it before there is barely time to
escape with lie from its cnchroachiug
power
~ the farmer CROPPED along in the
b'iHding smoke and falling tinbers there
wa. bat one thought in his breast-to
reach and save Lz,tte. Lzette the
child asleep in the very arms of death.
God could he rescue this irail little life,
he would never grumhlc again at the hard
ship. through which hs was passed -
Over thr great stone. chimney from which
plank and plaster had shredded away,
writhed and lissed the hungry flames -
They wrapped the doorway o. Lizette's
little room. Before it the passage way
yawucd, "A grlf Of flames Every timber
had fallen in. With but one glance across
the abyss, and "A cry that rung out amid
the crackie ard crash of the falling build
inC-a duuih. dcspairng cry that had no
words to make it II prayer, he sprung
across the chasm. lis hand touched the
latch of Lizrttc's door, it yielded to his
touch. bot the sndlen weight of hl.
heavy frame ooscned the trai, dccnyed
timhcrs that yet supported it, and, with Il
crash, it icl. dragging him with it down
into the scc'hing flames.
Helpless, scarched scarce recognizable
in ihc SCOT and llood that covered his
,isagc, farmer Hope was dragged, uncon-
scious, from the ruins md as thoy did
50, the great stone chimney settled, with
Il heavy. iatcfu sound, down. down. upon
the roof, which, yielding beneath the
pressure, fell with Il crash; Il sparkling
fountain of flame sprung triumphantly
upward, as the black Roof shrivclcd from
sight, anl farmer Hopes old mansion was
"a total wreck.
"LErtc. Lizette." he moaned, as
the awe struck crowd of neighLor. gather
cl around.
AT that moment, grandmother Beck,
bending low over the PROSTATE figure, and
dHshin! the cold water into MS face. raised
herself Suddenly erect her fixed and eager
eve CLEANED out from her tlishevclcd hair,
with sudden, wonderful light. She
pointed toward the meadow there.
breaking through the edge, flying toward
them with breathless speed, a htIe
figure appeared; it lcapeI, it flew across
the field, sprung painting into the excited
group and fang ITSELF sobbing, upon the
neck of the unconscious man, who lay
Ike one dead, in their mid-t.
I.izNte. oh, Lizctte!" he mnrmured
Llzetto. . Oh, Lizrtte where have you
been ?' cried grandmother Beck.
:" Been for backbeuies," said Lizeiic,
with hcr quaint simplicity, and accustom
ed subuis,venesS to granlmother Beck.
" /. st 'em all in the hedge, though, when
| caught sight of the fire.
Lizrlte had, for once, pract,cd little
deception on the oil lady, and icignel her
illness and need Of rest, in order 10 escape
from question.
The old house was gone, but Lizoite
was safe. She hal, as grandmother Beck
srcwdly Observed learned 4 living" by
picking blac@Lcrgics.