Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-02-15

The poor mother screamed with horror as
she saw her darling snatched away by the
water, and springiDg toward the door, tried
in vain to reach the cradle. Little Lucy
sat up smiling as if she enjoyed the fun
of such an unprecedented adventure. But
the frantic mother was not the only one
who had seen the tiny craft swept out
upon the boiling river. Reubbie had fol-
lowed his mother down stairs, and taking
in the danger at glance, dashed past her,
but he could not reach the cradle. 1t had
fairly started on the current Of the river.
o. cried Reubbie, what can do ?
as he paused panic-stricken for an instant.
Then whirling round, he tore open the barn
door, dragged the horse from the stall,
m ounted him, and set off down the river
bank. The rain by this time had ceased
but the wind still blew in gusts, and shook
the cradle fercely, as it swept beyond
Reubbie, on, on, down the foaming river.
The lad dashed on across fences, through
water, through and over anything and
everything which kept him from the baby.
IF | can only get ahead of the cradle
/ said Reubbie to himself, I'm all right
But the little craft kept either ahead of or
so close to him, that he dared not stop lest
it should be swept beyond his reach for
ever.
O. cried Reubbie, as his task seemed
almost hopeless, if some branch or bough
would only stop it one minute, L could
save our darling baby On, on, on the
cradle was carried, always beyond Reub-
bie's reach. The boy stroye to whistle to
Lucy to keep the child from being fright
ened at her novel situation, though she was
too young to realize any of the danger.
And Reubbie almost screamed to see the
innocent little thing trying to put her tiny
hands over the sides of the cradle into the
water.
At last, after this chase had lasted near
ly half an hour-it seemed to Reubbie
half day at least-he saw a tree lying
PROSTATE in the middle of the river Pray.
ing silently but fervently that God would
spare the life of their darling little sister
| he urged on old Gray to his utmost speed
, managed to pass the cradle-boat sprang
: off the horse, seized the branch of tree
that had been broken by the wind, and be
gan to wade toward the old tree where the
cradle had finally lodged between the
boughs. The river usually is mt more thar
/ foot or two deep at that place but tha
day it was so high that Reubbie could
hardly force himself along. Once the era
, die was dislodged, and the boy thought i
r was out of his reach forever. But i
caught again, and after final effort Reub
bic snatched his sister to his breast. Th'
/ poor, little. wet thing had ceased to smil
long before but when Reubbie folde,
D his arms tight around her, she gave on,
delighted cbirrup, and cudded up to hin
, as closely as her little remaining strength
: would allow Reubbie fought his way
? back to where old Gray was painting OF
the bank, mounted again and rode hom
. with baby in his arms.
} You should have seen Bonnie and Tin
= caper, and the fearful thanksgiving o.
f their mother. as Lucy was handed in from
the top of the woodshed through the sec
ond-story window.
= By the time the baby and Reubbie ha,
5 been warmed and covered with dry cloth
C ing. and old Gray had been cared for, Nh
! Truesdale reached home, the storm havin!
J, prevented his coming earlier in the day
y You can imagine how terrible it was L
: him to hear Of his darling's peril and at
: ter he had brsathed prayer OF thanksgiv
/ ing TO him who notes the sparrow fall
T he said to Reubbie, laying his hand affec
T tionately on his sons head " My boy
whatever you are as a man, however grea
! and good you become, | shall never be :
e proud of you as l am at this moment
! God bless you, my son, God bless you a
e ways - Lillian @. BrorRe, IN Wort an
t Play.