Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-07-11
NEW SERIES. NO. I'll

rent was too strong for US. So W
tied upto crape.myrtle, and waite
for the crumbhng bank to reach US
The moon went down, and ther,
were only the silent stars above th,
low monotone of the waters. ,i 9,i
/ Silently we waited and prayed
We were warm and dry, as only the
bottom mattresses became soaked
4 About the break, of day the house
began to lean. The negroes on the
leyee had retreated from the widen.
Ting river, and their fire been SUBJ,
merged. As'the sun arose the house
slid slowly into the stream. We
could hear the crash as the chimneys
tore out of the timbers and sank
and then it foated away, slanting
in the water, and little to be seen
but the rent roof Once or twice it
grounded, or caught on snags in the
bottom, and then hurried down out
Of sight. The power of the water
was making fierce tugs at our hem
pen rope, and it was soon broken.
Two or three times we slowly ro-
tated in the side eddy, and then as
If caught by some unseen hand, we
shot out into mid stream. That was
we'll for US, as we avoided the falling
timber of the still widening banks,
and also the worst of the hurrying
drift. Steam would not have taken
as faster, and in less than an hour
we, two women on a raft, were out
on the broad bosom of the MissisS
sippi. ETs,r.s-- -,.-..-
The night was over, but not the
peril. AS our raft was buoyant we
we're only shaken, but not sucked
down by the whirlpools. We had
lights to prevent the danger of be
ing run over by steamboats, at night, |
and on that great highway we were
sure of being picked up, There
were barns, fragments of fences, |
some times mills and small houses
floating down; but it was noon be-
tore We saw any human being.
Then fine boat came breasting the
current, and while we were half
mile away, in the dead water near
swamp, they saw our table-cloth on
a cane, which was our signal. They
.ook US for negroes, and hailing US
ls such, bade US take care of our
selves, but made no pause. Sick
at heart were we as the
white jets of her steam escapes faded
'ut of sight up the stream. There
vas fair prospect of floating all |
light near enough the swamp for
makes and wildcats to swim to US,
'r of hurrying down the current to
Unseen perils. One more boat
passed US, and seemed not 10 see
ur signal against the background
# gray moss. l cried like baby,
nd aunt Sarah tried to console me.
t was nearly night when a great
teamer passed up on the other side,
'ut the people seemed to see US.
suddenly the roar of her whistle
anne across the mile of food, and
he slowly rounded towards US like
|. huge white swan. She had to
ollow US little down stream, but
Vhen salvation was sure l must
AVE tainted. / think l was a little
onscious of the jar as we touched
Ter sides, and of being lifted by
trong arms. The first heard was
wel-knoWn and loved voice say
ng, "Mary, my own wife, don't
7ou know me 2" Faithful Sarah
vas dancing for joy, and telling
everybody of the Providence which
made the two boats pass by, but
stopped the one which held my
anxious husband. That was years
ago.
Aunt Sarah received her freedom
md that of her family, but has never
eft me- She is never more pleased
han when she can gather children
)r grown people TO listen to the
narvels of Mississippi night.