Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-06-03


Scarcely bad he done 20 when the cradle was
washed of the shelf; the screams OF tue fright
ened child rose even above the storm, and
George made q clutch at the shawl which tied
her, when with q loud noise large wave
T us he'd MP into the room, and the next instant
the side of the house fell In, and baby, cradle
and all were whirled out of the cottage and
carried away by the foam4ng, sngrv river.
Almost faInting with horror, poor George
chung to his beam, feeling every moment nearer
and neal er to death; the rafters shook more and
more with each wave, and the boy felt that IL
he was not drowned he should be killed with the
falling IN OF the roof A duIl feeling came over
without her?
1t wss almost dark now, and George peered
Gut anxiously, hoping even at the last for help,
y hen with crash the chimney fell down, the
rsfter on which he sat followed, and, almost in
sem ible from fright, the poor boy was carried
s"sy, sun elinging despsiringly to his beam.
few moments more and he became quite in
sensible. :.
1t will be well now to return to poor widow
Grey, and see what has become OF her. She
finished her shopping very early, and was re-
turning home, when she met q neighbor, who
exclaimed, THANK God, you are here, Mrs
Grey; =! hope the children are with you:''
ono! / left them ~ home !" ans yered the
widow. "Why do You asker
The neighbOr looked shocked. "Hayen't You
heard, )" he asked, "that the reservoir at Hoult.
son has broken, and the Spathy has over
whist can we do? what can we do?" cried
the widow, wringing her hands and bursting
:" Nay, don't take on so,'' said John Marsh,
soothingiy; and after moments thought he
went on -" The best thing is to go to solomon
hite sand borrow his boat; IN go along with
the village, he said TO two or three men whom
they met, " Lend a helping hand, chaps; here's
widow Grey's lad and lass left down in the cot
tage in the food!" The men willingly Joined,
but they found the road to Solomon's cottage
quite covered with water, and had TO 60 round
another way. This caused great delay; and the
old boatman, who was q selfish, hard man, at
first refused to let them have his boat At
length they persuaded him TO lend Ii, but the
current was so strong that they could scarcely
just reached tie cottage in time to see the roof
swept away.
The mothers sharp eye soon spied George
whirled past them, and as she screamed and
POINTED, one of the men caught hold of the
beam with his boat-h0ok, and with much dam
ger and difficulty drew it towards him; and in
iew minutes the boy was safe In the boat.
though to all appearances quite dead. or the
baby they could see nothing, and, after vainly
searching for some time, gave up, feeling that
every moment George was out lessened the
chance of his recovery. The river was running
like mill stream, and the men had the great
est difficulty Ia fighting their way back; at
length they reached the village. where large
crowd was gathered waiting for them, and as
at lat the boat landed, the brave Iowers were
greeted with shouts and cheers, changed soon
10 gentle murmurs OF sympathy, when ii was
seemed to be dt ed.
The clergyman, who was foremost In the
crowd, took George from the arms of his half
fsintIDg mother, and carried him at once to the
reetory, where everything was possibly done to
restCIe him to life. For some time it seemed
useless; at last signs OF life began to return and
after many disappointed hopes, George opened
his eyes ard asked in faint voice, ''where's
faby?" then. as the dreadful remembrance re-
turned. Lis head fell back, aud he once more
became insensible. 1t was long before he was
fra r1l
were, 81 uiedto save her, mother, but she was
washed away!" and . shudder passed through
him, and then came a sudden burst OF tears.
g He will be better now" said the doctor;
'but he must not talk"
MIR. Grey stopped over him, and said, 81 know
you old 20 n best, my darling, my brave boy.
hnt try 10 sleep now; wherever baby is, she is
eafe with God.D
0eorge seemed soothed, and putting bis hand
into Lis mothers coon fell asleep and awoke
much better; and sad as the widow was when
she thought OF the fate of her poor little girl,
her heart felt full OF thanktulness whom she
looked at her boy, restored 10 her as II by
mir; Gle.
That was sad Easter In little Wilton. The
river stiii ragged at its will, and many whose
farms lay close TO the Spathy FL, 'iaI they
were very likely TO be ruined.
George got over the effects --is accident
very slowly; the remembrance OF those hours
OF misery and suspense seemed 10 cling to him;
the angry waves came always before his eyes.
III he Tell asleep 1t was 10 dream OF the lost
baby; and he awoke to weep for his little sister
bg toy though he was, with 4 misery nothing
at last hir. oakley, the clergy man, strove to
rouse him up by showing him how his present
state was irving his poor mother, whose sorrow
FOR her little girl was at least a. great as his,
though Tor ber sons sake she struggled against
II as much as possible. MIR. Oakley saw that
Georges nerves were completely over-wrought
By his dreadful adventure, 50 he spoke very
gently and tenderly, though he JAGGED rightly
that II the boy cJuld feel that he was acting
selhshly, II would rouse hi N more than anything
els-.
Nor was he wrong. With q deep feeling OF
peLit nee the lad noticed for the first tlne Low
woTn and weary his mother looked. AMI begged
Der 10 lie down and get little rest. Airs. Grew
unr flliDgly agreed, aid the eler gyman, to quiet
her, promised 10 cit with the sick boy till her
return.
Seeing how impossible Il was to keep George
nom dwelling on the past, Mr.. Oakley thought
II be could put some new idea into his head with
references TO little Mary, it might be better for
bun than brSooing over Ler lose; 50 he asked
him wht Their he did not think IL would be q good
plan II they thought Of some text which could be
engraved on the cross which they intended
placing 10 the churchyard.
OF doing something Tor Mary's sake, said he
thought the beet text would be that for the
holy InDOcents' Day, "RAchel weeping for her
children, and would not be comiorted because
al don't think that would sou said the clsr-
gyman- For one thing, hardly think that
Il
don't think that we, before whom the thoughts
OF the glorious resurrection have lust been
brought, should refuse to be comforted. We
oDght 70 try to feel that what the Father does
Is best Jobs words would be better for your
choice-'The Lord gave, and the Lord hath
taken away; blessed be the name Of the Lord
But now think you had better try to 20 to
sleep; You have talked enough for the present
God bless You, my boy, and make you patient
In your present uouble;" and SO saying, Mr..
Oakley rose, and eat down by the window with
q book.
AT nrst the boy could not sleep; he wa, irving
to say with dob in his trial, "Blessed be the
lame Of the Lord" but 1t seemed too hard for
HIM; yet from his heart went up the PRAYER
'LoTo, teach me 70 bear It," snd we know thai
such p ayers are never long unanswered. He
grew by degrees quieter and more drowsy, and
AZ last, for The first time since the inundation,
slept quietly. After some hours he woke up
much refreshed, and was rewarded for his
struggle to be uDselfsh by finding his mother
much restored by rest.
From that time he gradually improved, and
BY New Years Eve was fairly well again.
He was sitting reading book which had
been lent him by MIR. Oakley, when the doctor
came In to Zee him.
"Thats right, man." he said "yours quite
wen again, I think. Do you know whore Mr..
Oakley is?"
As he spoke the clergyman came INTO the
room, where George was sit
fin0 h.