Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-06-03
LEFT IN CHARGE.
A STORY OF A FLOOD.


winter s'urm- fiurteI ID down from the branches,
and cha--d each other over the damp grass and
muddy ioYf The little river Spsthy rushed
and IoaFed amidst q many windings, as In it
found 'tS banks quite too narrow, and wished to
Heap over them; the white crests Of foam sped
one after another, hlrrying down the the river,
and tn wind ~his led sngrily as IL stroye in
vain 10 Keep them back; bat they sprang up de-
family and slipped through the gusts, which
Gleu NalHly 10 catch the N, and only succeeded
IN oresking many Of them into thousands Of
SPRAY at ms
WiGO~ Grey's ho-se stood close 10 the river.
and her little son George sat the window
seat, watching the angry fight between the
WIND and the waves, and learning his Collect for
Easter Day; but his thoughts sadly wandered,
what with watching the foaming river and
thinking or what the master had explained to
he boys that wesk-that spring might be con-
siderec type OF Resurrection, and that as the
green leaves should burst forth In their due
season uPOn the trees which noS looked so dead,
60 our BODIES at the fitting time should rise to
new and fresh glory. What q mystery it all
seemed to the boy s mind, He was looking alb
gently st The bare trees, when his mother came
her umbrella in her hand.
WY, mother, wherever are you going?"
''TO the shop. lis Easter eve, Won know.
and the shOIs won't be open again till wednes-
DAY; so YOU see, my lad, there's no help for it.
DER cradle; so you'll not have much to hinder
sour lessons II baby wakes, you'll take her
up; and be sure you don't open the door whilst
'.I'fl DO M the fire, mother, bat wish you'd
Yet me go to The shop for you. I'm sure you'll
mo, thank you Gsorgie; you're a good lad
for thinking 0f it, Z II must do my shopping
to-day myself. Law: but IL Is a wet day, not nit
70 turn dog OHt. Goodbye, my boy; take
good care Of the baby, and give her tea IL I'm
not back in time; dont come out in the wet"
50 saying she shnt the door; and George
crossing tie bTfcge over the Spzthy.
When she was out Of sight the boy m sde up
the IRE. looked round the simply furnished
kitchen. and then seating himself on a low
stool by the cradle, began his Collect again.
The cradle was made out of an old box fas
work in summer; 30 be looked a. IL with no
small pride, and then stiIl more proudly at the
dimpled baby face 80 costly nestled amidst the
pillows
His lesson was soon finished, and he took a
book which he had borrowed from the Sunday
School library, and became much interested
In II that he forgot even whore he vas, when
y suddenly bis attention was arO1ssd by roar
4ng sound in the distance; scarcely had he run
20 the vindO~ to see what va. the matter
when he saw the oh bridge half down and the
rest totteriDg and rocking; IN another moment
there was a second crash, and the rest of the
stones were swept away; en- Instant later the
impatient Spathy had leaped over its banks,
and the water began flowing swiftly over the
UeSGow below the house.
George had heard before Of the rivers over
flowing. and that the low, one-storied cottages
Ike his mOther's were not considered very safe
NJ such time; but 10 harm had 80 far happened
TO any OF them, SO lie did not feel afraid; only a
ceep feeling Of thankfulnesS came over him "a
he Remembered how very lately his mother had
crossed that bridge; how dreadful n would have
been II sbe had been carried away with il :
Then he began wondering how she conld get
back 70 hem, and whe Their they would lave 10
remain alone all night As he thOaght this, IL
seemed TO him hat the baby moved; so he got
up 10 see, bat u was still sleeping placidly;
and, after giving the fire poke, he returned to
the wiLGO~-seat-
Wbat with Hatchir z, and thinking, and read
Ing, more than an hour had passed since Mrs.
Grey l6f. the cottage, and IL was growing dusk.
George knew she must be on her way home. and
- GEshf he fndo ka oar cd mt
toward The bridge. Bot what sight met his
eyes: The Spathy had already rushed triumph
antly over the meade ", and was fact creeping
up TO the door Georges first thought was Of
fight, but when he ran to a back window to
look out he found that the river had broken
through at another sindng and was rush
cottage
The poor BOYS heart failed him: and sim v,nId
1t have done 80 had b. known that the sadien
Else inhhe river was c-1sed, not by the rain, but
By the bursting OF a mill reservoir further Up
. great danger, and, like a faithful guardian mis-
rrst thought was not .f himself, but OF his baby
eister-what was The safest place to put her in?
one story 20 the Gotta ze; and as there WAS no
manner OF creeping iLto the roof, or at least
taken the baby, there seemed very little choice.
AT last. however, In his despair, the boy
thought Of two hooks Of refuge. His father,
who had only been &c al year, had been q
fisherman, and, like many men or that class
! was ind of turning OIL boats to account. He
chips, ard, when Il was finished, had contriyed
cupboard out OF an oil fishing boat fastened
into the corner, and nto which he had stuck
shelves Georges idea was TO hoist baby's
cradle on the tOpmost shelf, tie the little girl
Into IL, and trust tO God . keep her safe there
he had always been taught that God helps
those who help themselves, but that unless we
DO all we can for ourselves we cannot expect
70 De helped, 80 he did not, as many boys would
Rave done, sit down hOrelessly, or even trust
only to IrsyiDg for safety though all the time
ne was working he was calling upon God to
First be lifted the still sleeping child out or
fhe cradle and put her OF the window seat; then,
with much difficulty, Ii pulled the box on to
the shelf, pat an old shawl Of his mothers
round IL, and In such a way that IL could be
tied round the baby, ard then lifting her In
fastenf q her securely down. All this took far
fore the baby was safe In her nook, the water
had crept In under the door, and WAS even
.plashlng up sgain:t The window; George felt
high piece Of furniture IN The room was an old
fashioned eight-dsy clock by the help OF q ledge
The boy scrambled up here, held himself steady
by the beam, and not on,y felt In greater safe
~ ths1 below, but was 40 close enough to his
Ole; and u WAS no small Jmfort for him t. feel
This, a. he knew she vas certain to cry IL she
woke and found herself alone.
Time went on; the water came In faster and
faster, and from his perch George could see the
foaming, rushing river, springing angrily up at
memory OF the storm OF the Sea OF 0alileo and
from his he art burst forth the prayer: lord
; help US, We perishl" Surely God would hear
them, or did he intend that they should glorify
him By their deaths7 Perhaps he did, thought
the boy; and q strange feeling OF awe filed his
heart, and for q few minutes left scarcely any
room for fesr-so WONDERFULLY had God an
swered the prayer for help. rt was as II he
mad said: Peace, be stu 10 the chlld's trem-
bling heart, and had Gained Its anxious beat
. Ing on, how the thoughts pressed and
fhronged bis mind - the water grew higher
and higher His poor mother, how Rrfeyed
ha y
back and found her children both drownedi
He could Dothelp praying that at least the baby
might be spared ~ comfort her. Then he re-
membered that his mother would certainly
come very soon with help, and perhaps God
might save them still and as the dead feeling
of terror returned and became stronger and
stronger, he tried to drive 10 away by saying All
the prayers and verses OF Psalms he could think
OF, nnding In each new one fresh comfort.
More than all, the verse, "Yes, though walk
through the valley Of the shadow OF death,
Will fear no evil, for Thou art with me, Thy rod