National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1870-07-29
4 HOUSE LOST.

"A ih's '''+ ''V''''
Have You seen ary house going along
here ?" was shouted suddenly mt me
through the darkness by some one | !
could not see. But before | had enough /
recovered from my surprise to answer, a
boat drove upon the wet turf at my feet, /
and the speaker. the headmost of two
stalwart oarsmen, half turning upon his
seat, eagerly repeated his odd question.
A house is not the most perambulating
thing in the world, yet the inquiry was
both natural and to the point and not
long before | had seen cary house go
past, and i'll a most undignited and tli-
multuous hurry too.
u say, mister have you seen AIRY
house 60 past here 2
John Barnard, is that you q | an
swered, now first recognizing the voice
" Mr. Truax - cried he. excitcdly,
knowing me i'll turn. Yes. sir, and
Lihet
That is, his brother, Eliphalct Barnard
- did see one, | continued, answer
ing his question. " You don't say the
old house is off ~
Yes. For Gods sake jump in, Mr.
Truax'
remembered the rapids and the bridge
far below, my knowledge of the river and
boatman's skill and strength, the immi-
nent risks into which the sturdy but in
experienced brethren were about plung-
ing and stepping lightly past them to
the stern, | seated myself, took IA steering
oar, and, without further word, We
glided backward, turned short about, and
with powerful, steady pulls. the sharl
slItf shot away through darkness rain
howling wind, and boiling, roaring. mud
dy tlood-water.
While We drive down the stream may
briefly explain the emergency. Tn,
Connecticut river, on which We wrr,
ahoat, was swelled 10y food-terlifc
sudden, and extensive beyond any re
corded in memory or history The hous,
in which the Bamards lived had stood il
the level meadow which reached back
little way from the great river, rs tn
neighbors call it, upon the banks of
small brook, entering the river in tn
town of Suilield, Hartford county, AM
near the Massachusetts line. Their fathe
was dead and they. together with thei
siSter-who, however. had only recent
returned from some wears absence a
pupil or teacher at various sChools-weT
managing the farm, and caring for the
old and bedriGden mother. Indeed, tn
bodily and mental inhrmities of old Mr.
Barnard might well be counted us IL
cause of our night expedition, for, as ii
young men soon informed me. she Ina
ohstnatoly refused TO leave the house
which she had been born and where Il
her life had been passed 1t was 10 pleas
her that they had forcgorc their purpo
of removing her the previous day. Al
ticipating some possible dangcr-thoul
not the trightful peril now actually upC
their mother and Sistor-they had load,
the lower floor OF their old-fashion,
farmhouse with stone, and rs the wat
had surrounded them in the night al
cut of all escape except by boats, tn
had again cndcavored to remove the q
lady But she would not hear of it, sa
ing that her death was mt hand, and ii
she could not die except there. \
would Miss Barnard, her youngest n
dearest child, leave her mother and
stout farmers were fain to yield. As
only remaining precaution, they had ,
parted in boats to obtain ropes from
ncighhOr whCrcwth to anchor the
building to the strong naples near
doors and being detained much bcyo
their expectations. they had returned
find the house absolutely gone, and
flood still rising with fearful spc
Coasting along the cove above the po
upon which ! was standing, i'll the h'
that the house might bc embayed III
they had found me. | had been th
for some time, for the tempest and
flood together were too sublime II SCI
to he lost and even i'll the cold and III
darkness Of the March morning-fo
was three O'clock was watching
enjoying and, besides think ! eN
rienccd some prescntiment that my u
would be needed. II was while u
this watch that | had seen the house
dim. indefinite mnss--gidc swiftly
me, unrccognizable i'll the darkness,
tcrly silent, and presumably deserted
had supposed that II contained
helpless women should hardly have
manned there to study the sublime.
Thus much | quickly learned of
ease of the Balnards, and | cndavoro
combat the unaccountablc ngit'
which appeared in the voices of the st
farmers by counting the chances
rescue.
lt's full three miles to the hri
and five TO the Rapids We must
doubleday catch them above the brt
Besides, the ncighbors vii! hear ,hcl
only wonder did not
"Twns rninin aud BLOWN nltog,
too hnrd," said John, the elder o
brethren. :" And what's more,
Jest what's likely to be the wust on
don't like some ncighbors."
what do you mean, John p
quired, quite unable to comprehen
evident apprehension under whic
spoke
Them Gases live half mile
us, he said "thcy'll have tho sa,