National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1870-06-03

some OF Its great upper Feeders
perhaps from the Missouri, with its
springs under the arches of the sun
set. Then,i coming down like a
vast tidal wave, it Overleaped all
artificial barriers. 1t was the crush
ing and splintering of the massive |
timber breastwork that | had heard |
at first. Every where around me |
the moonbeams glittered on the !
ripple Of the yellow water, while !
trees, buildings, and fences stood
out of the shiny surface, and cast
delicate shadows upon 1t. Every
cloud had passed from heaven, and
the serene blue, with its calm stars,
was quiet and holy. The illuninat-
ed water was beautiful, and seemed
so gentle and harmless that | only
felt mortified because my husband
would know that the Mississippi lad
defeated his wife. The negroes who
were near at hand were crowding
on the unbrOken part OF the leVee,
some mile above, and | could see
their dark forms relieved against
the glare of the fire they were build
ing. | saw the women and children
and cattle. slowly moving up the
broad embankment to safer ground.
! felt that no great loss was like.
! ly to occur. and so said to Aunt
/ Sarah, who had silently joined me
with shawl She looked at me a
moment, and said. you won't be
ScaredN
NO said /, for | should rather
! like it were it not for the loss to my
husband, and the wettiug to you.
How did yon get wet p
She answered. i went ont wild Il
hoe when | see the rihber Citing
up, but it come too strong and like
to washed me away. ! couldn't
find lie horn to blow for de quarter
peoples
'lou foolish old woman, said |.
'NvYcy try to menI break by your
self Bot as You are safe ! don't
mind the crcVasSc.
She was silent for a little while,
and said. My lamb, dis Is no creaS
Sc; dis is cut oil
Are you dreaming ? SAID /, Will
a laugh that wds mixed with vague
terror.
: She pointed to the timbered LAM
back of the garden. where | couI'
see that the ripping water OF only
two or thlee feet depth, that lay
; around the house changed TO 4
deeper and more rapid current
Look at dem trees lcanjn' ohcr
l said she Dare, two OF 'em goe
down..
felt lay heart stand still. an,
my limbs trcmble as looked, an
comprchendrd the worst. On eac'
side ol the swift path of the waite
! the giant oaks, with their hoar
boards of gray moss, We're leaning
together over the mid current, an
; as She spoke two went down with
: splash.
!, Perhaps a thousand years bctol
>, that had been the old channel ,
y the river. Some raft or drift of
, million interlocked trees had check
= ed the rush of some past flood, an
y the retarded waters had whirle
o away to cut new channel dfoun
the elbow of some twenty miles.
IT Centuries had passed. mold ha
q. covered the sand and mud on til
Ia raft. Oaks and tall mangnoli,
l." had taken root down as they gre
m up and for half Il century man ha
ID locked out the annual flood wit
~ huge bars of earth, aud Tcdccmln
rs the virgin mold from nature, hf
IA built his hone, and gathered til,
h. richer golden fleece than Jas,
cr dreamed OF.
Now the autocrat river claim
Int its ancient bed. aud swept doy
h, with its hoarSe rebuke to the fore
ld and to man. Our home stood d
OF rcctly in the old path and the lea
ing aud falling trees showed hd
~ terribly sure was the great plO
rst making its furrow. Nature Ii
nd harncSScd the Mississippi.
he Aunt Sarah was perfectly caI
nd as she said Now you is look
I'D enough. Get all dc warm dres,
so an blankets, while | puts on 4
sh close an gets an dN.'
llf An aN,' said ; what for "
oft 10 pry up the porch floor
he make raft, my precious. /
lal house will wash away by dayblc'
he saw too that hesitation and de
.cd were over. My husbands valuaI
led papers we've first secured, and Il
Oh, clothing, money, plate and Jewel
To By the time | begun To roll
lst blankets Aunt Sarah was in wal
all dry clothes, and ! heard the era
II aS her strong arm smote down do'
and window blinds, and soon be-
dc' to cut and pry at the long nari
rel planks of the vcranda floor.
nat brought an iron bar from the t.
was room on the first iloor, aud by
ilui united strength We ovcrcaine
MS, tenacious nails, anl stripped
pet board after board. a few blows
Ills the lower ceiling made n hole,
We dropped them through, vii
saw they lay almost OF lcvil with
w water.
u never knew before that
s'y' 50 strong when excited, and
lefe soreness aud blistcred hands "
'he not thought of till the next
49,. Still it was my old nurse