Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1868-10-16
PARIS, MAINE, FRIDAY,

'S"N 's 'ciScly masses OF bloom
TO the general stock Of beauty the birds
s'''' sang checrfuiiy as they aut,ered to and
iro in The hedgerows. and numerous hu,e
ground squirrels skinned along the fence
rails. dropped suddenly. and dissppe ared
mys'eriously. Everything in nature seem
ed Jabi!ant. and over all hung that soft veil
OF mist peculiar to the beautiful season Of
Indian summer.
Old Whitley smbled along after his usual
monotonous fashion, and we soon ,r,ch.d
our ues'lnaiioa- had a number OF articles
TO purchase and examine. as well as the
merits OF n new churn To discuss. and. lust
as we had settled all to our satisfaction. a
neighbor whom We had no, seen for some
little time came in. which detained n, sill
longer, so that when ". turned our horse,
bead bomeward. | saw with some surprise.
as well As Sigh, feeling OF alarm, that the
sun had already set. and the soft gray of
twilight was stealing up the valley Our
load was preity heavy one. my husband
having purchased several agricultural i'm.
PIGMENTS. OF no great weight ini.viIuilly.
but collectively making no small load for our
horse, so that though we were necessarily
ANXIOUS to get home, were obliged still
/ to drive moderately, particularly as the
road was not only hilly. but rough.
! Chatting upon the various little items OF
gossip which We had heard. We drov. on
until We had nearly reached the top OF the
hill. when turning 10 make some remlrk
to my husband. saw change come over
his face. which struck me with sudden ter.
ror he vas n pie a. a corpse. "Look!n
he said. IN voice hoarse with emotion.
pointing in the direction OF our home. NV
heart gave sudden bound, then fell like
lump OF lead ia my bosom A cloud of
thick. dense smoke. distinctly defined
against the clear sky beyond, rose above
the tree tops. i tried To speak. but could
no, utter word AZ las, I said, steady
ing my voice we'll rs was able, II think
It must be- Morrison's, isn't it to the left Of
our honseI"
INC !! bc said. quickly. as he seized his
whip and urged old Whitley to his utmost
speed; 'dont you remember that when we
arc at the top OF the hill the smoke from our
chimney rises just over the centre oil that
little group OF cedars'" Alas. did re-
member. and rs he spoke we reached tho
summit. and enough to change our
fears to certainty; neither spoke, but each
turned and looked at the other with culver.
ing lips and dilating eyes
4
was lairly beside myself frantic with ter
ror felt as If mus, leap from the wa.
gon aud fly 10 their rescue
Old Whitley seemed to understand that
life or death depended upon his efforts, aud
he exertei himself nobly. On we flew.
down the hill. tashing through the stony lit
tie brook that crossed the road. over tho
tumble.down bridge, whose rotten boards
ratified aud started up from their places.
past the bedgerows. that looked like one
continuous masses of hying green past the
little cottages with the ,tartled children
staring irom the doors, thinking II nothing.
caring Tor nothing but to rescue dar.
lings. buried my lace ia my hands. and
rocked TO and fro in my seat almost bcreft
OF reason. a. thought of the scene which
might be awaiting US. Imagination con-
jured up all the dreadful tales 1 had heard
or read. To add to my horror. Once only
] raised my bead, snd saw. or fanciei saw,
slender tongues OF flame eleIving the mass
OF smoke. which had by this time increased
icsriuly ia volume and density.
Al last. after wha, seemed al age. bu'
was ia reality only few minutes. we reach.
ed the bottom Of the lane which led to our
cottage, the angle was sharp one. and we
turned With such speed to send the hind
wheels OF tho old wagon spinning high N
the air. Howl got out never knew.
am sure I liI not wait Tor The horse 10 be
stopped. Rushing 20 the door, threw
myself against il with such force a. to break
It To-. The room was foil Of smoke, but. as
the Opening Of t's door dissipaied ia little.
saw tha, it was empty, then ,uffocated Icy
the smoke, anI overpoWercd by excitement.
| fell fainling to the floor.
When consciousness returned found NV
scli iu the |. use Of q neigbor with the cbil
dren all about ne, pretty well frightened
OF course bnt cnurcly uublrt How tue
FIRE originated was my stery which We rcv
or could unfavc.. Grace. was snting with
her back 10 the stove. and with her atton
ton entirely absorbed by the pictgr,s in
the old family BiDlc. did not see il until
Rover the Newfoundland log. who had
been before quietly DOING by her side. at.
traclcI h,r notice by his evident uncas
90. ~. .-nL-h hn .rranr lLrnurh tho