South-eastern Independent. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1871-1871, 1871-09-08

dows, of which there were twoin the lof'
one looking back on the hills, the other il
font on the river.
}" Their father did not come
n Ii was not dark night, and they coult
-e see that the water spread over tn
st meadows almost to the hills. The barn
IS and all the out-houses stood surrounded
y They could hear the geese gabble in alarm
and the ducks quack, for they had beel
/" driven from their shelter.
is 1t was a strange sight, and one well cal
culated to fill them with fears. They
d spoke little as they sat hugged together
/ except to say, "What is that?" IS tht
e creaking noise they had heard grew loud
$ er. Will, who had always been delicate
d was dependent, loving, sympathizing
Y boy, whose bravery was shown in bear
ing-he was accomplishing but sympathet
|, ic, Sally, who had often kept the house
e for weeks together when her mother was
S i'll, and cooked her fathers meals, and
t even done the washing, was sturdy, and a
little rough to others, but to Will she was
always tender. Now her heart ached for
the lad she held in her arms.
/ The little wooden clock on the mantel-
shelf below struck two, and moment after
there was a great noise, as of something
tearing away-a jarring and a jerk
ing; the house swayed to and
fro, and, as if struck with some
thing, went down one side, and up the
other. With a smothered exclamation,
the children covered up their heads and
clung closer to each other. A violent
motion was followed by calm. They
looked up. There was tearing and
pushing along the sides of the house, a
violent thump, the window glass ratified as
it broke and fell, and the opening was
darkened by branches of trees. A moment
more, and all was quiet again. They were
still. Presently Sally stood up and said,
ave are moving, Will; the house is NOV
ingl" She ran to the front window and
looked out They were afoat on the
broad Ohio. Alone, without help, in this
old house, they were moving down the
surging stream.
With wild scream Sally sprang across
the floor, and looked out at the back win
dow. She saw the barn and the wood
house and the tops of the fences, with
chickens roosting on them. Great trees
which had been uprooted, and in whose
branches wood and logs and other debris
had caught, were swaying where the house
had stood, apparently pinned by some
thing remaining there. Even as she gazed, |
the distance between them and these IA |
miliar objects increased, and she knew they |
were on the broad, swift current of the |
river, helpless.
The boy saw the terror in her face, and, !
clinging close to her, he looked up and
said, softly, as a big tear swelled from
cheek, "Don't cry, Sally; God will help
us" The girl, Always more given to de-
pend upon herself than to seek higher aid,
clasped him, and relieved herself by a
loud burst of sobbing.
Awakened by the noise, the baby cried,
and had TO be taken up and fed; this took
the attention of the children for some
moments from themselves and their situa-
ton, which they Lcould not fully realize.
The raft of trees and driftwood coming
against the old house, already swaying in
the water, had forced it from its founda-
tions and swept it out into the open river,
bearing it past the great trees on the bank,
the boughs of which had broken the win
dows and tore off some of the weather
boarding from the side.
Somewhat herself again, Sally laid the
baby down, and, drawing Will with her,
crept to the window. Crouching, they
looked out Just then the piece of candle
fared up, sank again in the socket, flick
cred and went out. ut will soon be
tie boy said, in answer to Sal
ly's clasp as they were left in darkness.
"Then the people will see us and, come
and take us away" was her reply.
The clock had struck four. Kneeling
there, they passed villages and high bluffs,
and saw distant towns, all of which
seemed submerged, for there were lights
cleaning from upper story windows in the
houses. and moving about as though son
the water. Dark objects went swiftly by
them, and every little while the house :
would dip and rock, as a log or tree or /
other weighty object struck it.
Heavy as their hearts were. they spoke
TO each other of the great flood and |
ikened themselves to Noah in the Ark. l
They were in the current and went swiftly G
IN Five o'clock struck, then six; they
began to see objects distinctly in the !
lawning light.
See l'' exclaimed VIII, "there is some e
hing on that bale of hay, and there is I
,oop, full of chickens tool" b
Look at that settle and those chairs Z
md their is dog-house turned upside /
lown, and the poor dog is clinging to the I
,utside with his paws; he is chained to it" Il
sally pointed towards the spot. q
Hay, straw, articles of furniture, bales I
# cotton, wood, and timber of all kinds, b
trewed the face of the river. n
"OhI" The house careened as though II
.oing over, as some large object struck Il
gainst it, and the children were thrown L
ack upon the floor. 1t righted again, and n
they continued to watch the G.
7aters, their thoughts diverted from them
elves from what they saw. al
There was strange noise at the back 81
7indow, scratching and clawing and IT
humping. They drew near to see what et
was, and found that the cat, which had II
robably been on the shed, that plank by al
lank was falling away from the house, "
ad sought the refuge of the window-sill ts
Tithout, where she was disturbed by the
Id ram, also on the shed, and making Il
-antic efforts to reach the same position hi
18th puss, IS he felt his unsafe foothold G.
uiver beneath him. As he bounded up, dc
r climbed against the house, striving to q
AXE away with his horns, the cat would OF
raw back and spit and hiss at him. th
unused despite themselves, the children 10
pened the window and the cat bounded be
/, while the old ram was left to his fate c.
With the light, all Sally's resolution and
nergy came back to her. A
They passed towns and villages. She
new they must be nearing Cincinnati, of
-hich she had heard, and there, she had TO
vague idea, they would be rescued. la
Taking the sheets of the bed, she fast
med them to q couple of Stats from the h'
and put them out of the win as
ow, as she had seen persons do on the dc
ver-bank when they wished to attract OF
ttention and get steamboat to stop. IN
.fter several attempts she succeeded in al
ailing the stats to the window-sill. to
Stationing VIII at one window, she u
laced herself at the other, her heart pal th
itating with expectation. on
The sun had now been up some time; 10
lie had clear view of the scene, and be- 70
IN to realize the danger and to shudder 70
every creak of the timbers of the house. OF
They passed a solitary dwelling half eV
then several, then town with m
esmboats at the landing, and skiffs and IL
1gouts padding through the streets. at
hey were sure that the men in them saw IN
lie house-they pointed to it, and they re
ere talking of it; but still no help. st
On they went The waters were more sh
rbulent, the surface of the stream more he
ickly studded with floating articles. te