Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1871-09-14
Miscellany.
A NIGHTS ADVENTURE on THE
OHIO RIVER.
An Incident Of the Flood OF 1881.

An Incident Of the Flood or 1882.
"THH river rises wonderfully fast, wife, "
said Jack Marin, az he wiped his hands on
the roler.towel behind the door, before
sitting down 10 his supper. sIt Is almost
up to the top Of the bank never was
known to be so high; and Wilson really
seems scared about II"
"Do you think there is any danger"
asked Mrs. Martin as she poured out his
tea.
"No, we are not going to be carried
away because it is q few feet above high
water mark. II will 90 down az il came
I'D, when il is ready. Come in" This was
said In answer to knock at the door, aud
was followed by the appearance of boy
about thirteen years of age.
mother is sick, Mrs. Martin" he said,
approaching the table, "ald che sent me
TO ask you TO come over. Granny Hays IL
down with the rheumatic, and she hain't
got no one with her."
al expected It," said Mrs. Martin.
"What shall I dor"
"Go, of course" said her husband. "You
can't do anything else. 7"
"She Ii very bad said the by, "and /
ain to 20 around and fetch the doctor"
We'll, draw up and get some supper,
Jee," was Jacks answer; "then will put
Dolly in the wagon, and we will go the
upper road and take the doctor H."
-"But the children fatheri"
"a. Vow don't begin to worry, Molly.
a.,,r. an take care of the baby, and will
30, he gone more than an hour or SO.
Vnr can ret along, can't you, Sally?"
81 g,,ees 90" was the smiling reply of q
br;,ht.eved ri Of some thirteen years
"a @T he creak i, n, inning like mill Trace,
and The water is spre.' ding all over" said
Joe. "Tfe trees looke>f standing Ia it
when came over the h.u dont be-
Iieye we could get along that .'oad.
1.-THE water il backing up then, said
Jack; "but 1t Is too cold for 1t to rise much
farther"
Mrs Martin made hurried meal, end,
having slowed various articles In 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
kew in his pocket, telling the children to
90 to bed 10 soon as they bad set things
10 rights, but to be sure and have good
fire and keep a light burning, for he would
not be long gone.
New England when they were first
married, and settled upon the Ohio some
distance above Cincinnati. Here JACK
had built small frame-house and
begun to cultivate his land, and here his
Ave children were born, two OF
whom had died-Sally and Will
and the baby being all that were left. Jack
was happy light hearted, Industrious
man who worked his firm and stock
things easy." His land was productive, his
crops had sold well, he had built q
Ane barn. and had good out.
houses. but his own dwelling was
the shsbbiest part Of the premises. II was
= frame of but one room, with loft above
which had been put up for present wants
when he first settled there, but 1t was
mastered snug and tight Every year
Jack had thought he would add to 1t, and
when his wife represented that 1t was get
ting very old, and was really too small for
her growing family, he would put her of
with 8 promise or building next spring,
and compliment TO her housekeeping
After her parents left, Sally proceeded TO
wash up the tea. things. The baby, child
some ten months old, was asleep. Turn
ing M the end Of the brown table cloth,
win got out his 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 1t figures; he put down
and rubbed out; and bothered and scratch
cd his head; and finally appealed to sally,
with, Just show me this part"
Thus an hour passed. The baby awoke
and was fed and played With, and the two
getting sleepy they prepared for bed.
Usually they slept In the loft unless the
weather was very cold, but this night they
had been told 10 got In below with the
baby. Before undressing they rolled .
large log on the fire, and put candle In
the lantern, - they had been taught 70 do
for safety.
Tired with their walk of two miles from
school In the wind, they were soon asleep.
Suddenly sally was awakened by she knew
not what, and was turning to 60 to sleep
again, when there was groazing. creak-
ing noise, and she thought she felt the
house move.
thoroughly aroused, she sat up In bed.
The lantern was dark, and from the hearth.
where she had left great fire. came .
hissine sound, and there was only the
glare Of dull burning log. She thought
some one was putting out tho nre, ana
called, "Fatheri fAtherl"
There was no answer, but the sound con-
tinued Without waking william. shs