Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1871-09-14
Miscellany.
A NlHHT'S ADVENTURE on THE
OnID RIVER.
An Incident OF the Flood OF 1899.

OHIO RIVER.
An Incident OF the Flood OF 1899.
The river rises wonderfully fast, wife,
said jack M.r;iA, as he wiped his hands OF
tho roltr.tow.l behind the door, before
sitting down to his supper. 1T is almn>
up to the top Of the bA,k; never va
known to- be so high: and Wilson really
seems scared about it,
"Dn YOU think there is any danger.
asked Ms. M.rtin as she poured out hi
tea.
"No, we are not going to be carried
away ire,'a,,sc it is a ic,, feet above high
water mark. 1t will go uown as it came
up, whou it is ready. Come in" This wa
said Ia answer to a knock at the door, az {
was followed hv the appearance vi q bog
about thirt en- J ears Of age.
Moth. r is SICK, Ms M,rtin,' he said
Appr, aching the tab!r, "a. Il she sent mt
to k you to { me over Granny Hays i:
down win th' rl;"lnaliz, and she ht.in,
got no 70 with hel.'
~ expected it, said Mrs Martin
"What shall dor
&C, OF cour~e," said her husband. "Yor
can't do anything else
"She is very h,d," said the y land
am to 60 around and fetch the doctor"
We'll, draw up and get some supper
joe" was Jacks answer; then will put
Dolly in the wagon, aud we will 60 The
upper road AMI tnke the doctor in.'
But the children fAiher?"
"Now don't begin to worry, Molly
Sally can take care of the baby, and will
not bo gone more than al hour or So
Vn,, o1nn.p nop't Sul1v ~
guess So" WAS the smiling reply OF a
brigh eyed girl Of some thirteen years
who sat beside him.
"Thc creek i, running like mill.race
and the water is spreading all over" sai
Joe. THE trees looked standing III il
WIN I came over the hill don't be.
lievr we could get along that road"
The water is backing up thrn,' said
Jack "but it is too cold for it to rise much
farther"
Mrs Martin made hurried meal, and,
having slowed various articles in a basket,
was ready by the time her husband had the
wagon at the door. With charges to Sally
concerning the baby she stepped in, while
Jack locked the house door and.put the
key u his pocket, telling the children to
go to b. d as soon as they had get things
to rights, but to bc sure and have q good
fire and keep light burning, for he would
not be long gone.
Jack Martin and his yonng wife had left
New England when they were first
married, and settled upon the Ohio some
distance above Cincinnati. Here Jack
had built a small fra,uc.house and
brgun to cultivate his land, and here his
five childr'n were born, two OF
whom had ded-SAlly and Will
onI lo H., II 10 l,tb h.,
was happy, light hearted, Industrious
things easy" His land was productive, his
crops had sold well he had built a
fine barn, and he'd good out
houses, but his own dwelling was
the shabbicst part of the premises. 1t was
frame OF but one room, with a loft above
which had en- put up for present wants
when he first settled there, but it wa.
pastcred s,ug and tight Every year
Jack had thought he would add to it, and
when his wife represent, Il tt at it was get
ting very old, aud Was really too small for
b.. growing family, he would rul i..,r IN
with a promise cf building next sp. ing
am! c Iiiolimcn. to her housekeeping.
After her parents left, Sally proceeded to
wash up the ia :hnIs tn baby, g child
some ten m 'nths obi, WAS asleep. Turn
ing up the end Of the brown table cloth
VIII got ont hi5 slate and arithmetic, and
began to cipher, while Sally went back and
forth from the CUPBOARD to the table, sing
ing and putting the things away.
Will was slow at hgu,es; he put down
and rubbed out; anl ,thcred an scratch
ed his heal; and finally appealed to Sally
with, Just show m: this part"
Thus an hour passed. rhe baby awoke
and Was fed and played with, and the two
getting sleepy they prepared for bed
Usually thy s!>pt III the l'fI ni - the
weather was very cold, but this nix ht they
had been told to get in below wi the
baby Before undressing they rolled a
large log on the fire, and put candle in
the lantern, as they had been taught to do
f,r safety.
Tired With their walk of two miles from
school in the wind they were soon asleep
ena''. My sally was aH akened by she knew
not "ha1, e1nl was turning to 90 to sleep
agtIn, when III, r. as prnG:. np, crrak-
ing noise, and she thoug ht sl.s felt thc
house move.
Thoroughly aroused, she sat up in bed
Tho lantern was dark, and from the hearth,
where she had left great fire, came a
kissing SCUM |, and there was only the
glare of dull burning log. She thoueht
soy" ON" WAS rntting out the fire, and
Called, Father! f.,t.tr!"
There was no answer but the sol!.d cor
tlnned. Without waking William, she
sprang out upon the floor and ran towards
tue Fireplace AS she reached it her feet
sp'a=hcd in the wAt.r which was runIi! @
along over the floor Q:ic!< as light tn
thought came, rhe river is uni" She
grop'd for q candk%t!ck, and found one
with small piece of candle remaining in
it. Taking one of the long sulphur matches
used in those days, she touched it to 9
coal, AID had light.
a quick g'nnc; around told her at once
WIN, WAS the mattrr The hearth laid
with heavy stone had sunk several inches
below the floor Of the room, nd uD thro1;,h
the crevices of this calne the w.,rr which
had almost put out the fire, lcavirg ~, "
the logs burning, The door wa locked
but raising the window curtin sh
gazed out The house Was surround
ed by water; the waves we're washing
up against it ard over the doorstep As
far as her eye could reach, all around
about, was water, only water, with tree g
standing in it.
The girl had been brought up to depend
OF herself, and she had both resolution
and cnnrsgc. Running to the bed, she
snnnF .''r YIN; "Get up, Will, get up! The
n,er l. a!i around the house" The boy
1'ap h.e pup' r!!ope'. ns ey.s SUPPLY, then sank
Don't you hcar.-,',c rivrr * coIni,,a r, IN
the house" She sho"k him ar.in "'S .nSsono ~
quickly, and don't wake b.bv ) c,11 D1eI'
ready h.d her own shoes GA, and " ','' c'Il ai'
tenlog up her dress. There Was li,c 'a,'' Wv,
creak'ng noise, and the house shock, WI, WI
comprehend at last, q ID while putting or
Lis clothes ran to the window
" What are we to do?' be asked in af
fright. If father WAS only h. ret"
We must 60 to the loft and wait unit
father com y" she answered.
Taking the baby in her arms, she climb
ed the stairway and laid it on her own b. d
wrapping 1t u warmly. VIII, she cam,
down agli,, WIN, who had been loolxi 4
out, stood with the tears runniny down hi.
face o
=" Where 's father? o Sally, where i
father! am SO nfraid hc is drowned: be
mas not come homc!'
one hinged th" tender hearted boy close
NO, WIN, no, father is safe; he will ONLY
Do troubled about us. Size sludue1c.