Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1872-11-16

D41-O~ anu Ahulcu IN every ulfeC-
ton; while the thunder ratified from
hill to hill, and the winds tore and
shTieked amid the trees, like a pack
of demons. And presently the ram
began to pour down in great,
drenching sheets. Poor Deborah
wrung her hands in agony.
ooh, my children" she cried, ''my
poor little Totty, what will become
Of her?"
The father hurried on, followed
by GyP, on and on, till they were in
the very heart of the wood. But no
trace OF the children appeared.
"Gyp," said the father turning TO
the dog again, "can't you find the
children? Come, good dog, try"
And Gyp, with his nose to the
ground, went of like an arrow.
The parents followed, needless OF
the pelting storm. On and on, into
the heart of the wood, and round TO
the shore of the pondl There the
poor fellow stopped, with the pecu-
liar cry.
The father and mother hastened
mp. There, in the yielding earth,
were little footprints, the unmis-
taxable impress of Totty's chubby
shoes, and strewn about were bits
of moss and broken flowers; and
presently, away out upon the yellow
angry waters OF the pond, they es-
pied Marks little cap.
As she recognized it, the poor
mother uttered a piteous cry.
s'Oh, my precious babiesl they are
gone-they are drowned y
% Yes" replied the father, hOarse-
ly, "they are gone, l must get help
and drag the pondl Ny poor wife,
you had better come homer
But Deborah shook her head and
crOuched down upon the shore Of
the yellow pond. And there she sat,
with the pitiless storm beating on
her unsheltered head, waiting and
watching in the very patience of de.
spair.
Her husband went for help, and
his neighbors responded to his call.
They hurried to the spot by scores,
and the pond was dragged, but the
bodies of the children could not be
found. Again and again they re-
peated their efforts, but with like
result. The storm had spent its fury
the thunders ratified far away in
the distance-and through the riffs
in the black clouds q full summer
moon poured down its silver light.
The men stood around the yellow
circlet of water, regarding each 9TH
er in silent perpleXity, when faint
and far away came the sound of a
tremulous cry. The father listened
intently. 1t came again-a long and
mournful cry.
""Tis Gyp," he said, dashing off
in the direction of the sound, ''he's
found emp
Debbie and her neighbors follow
ed, through the dripping, moonlit
forest. As they neared the spot the
dog heard them coming, and the
howl changed into a joyful bark.
He came bounding out to meet them
from beneath little coppice thickly
rooted with vines.
There they were, side by side on
the reeking moss, little Totty fast
asleep with her curly head pillowed
on Marks arm. Mark was wide
awake, his eyes as bright as dia-
monds.
The moment he caught sight of
his mother he burst into tears.
Poor MOTHER" he cried out, Z" 1
was a naughty boy to make You suf,
fer so, but indeed l didn't mean to.
We met Tom Saunders in the wood,
and he told us there was some jolly
big straw berries down by the pond,
and l thought we'd get 'em to please
father. But Totty walked so slow,
the storm was up before we got
there. But got the straw berries,
and bouncing big fellows they are.
Here they are, father; | held on to
'em. BY the time l got my basket
full the wind was blowing great
guns, and Totty began to cry. L
took her in my arms and tried to
run, and the wind took my cap Off
and whirled it plump into the mid
die of the pond. Oh, my buttons,
but it did rain! The drops hit my
head like bullets But | hugged
Totty tight, and ran and ran, but
| could not run right-the
storm turned me round. I saw this
place at last, and we crept in, and
poor TOtty soon cried herself to
first thing L knew here was Gyp,
putting his cold nose on my cheek"
They journeyed hOmeward amid
the slittering summer woods; and
as they reached the cottage the Sab
bath morn was breaking, fair and
sweet and hOly-a type OF that eter-
nal morn which is to come one
blaze of gold and purple; birds
twittering on every spray, lambkins
bleating from the green hill-tops-
Gods blessed peace resting on all
things like a benediction.
The grateful parents bore their
little ones i'll, and Debbie hustled
about preparing hot draughts and
dry garments.
''And now," she said, when every
thing was done, and TOtty lay asleep
in her fathers arms, her brown,
chubby feet peeping from beneath
her snowy frock-''now, husband,
We'll get 'em to bed and let 'em have
a good sleep poor little dears, they
need it."
She led the way into the bed
chamber, and turned to arrange the
little trundle bed, but she recoiled
with cry of horror.
The white pillows and dainty eOv-
erlids were one mass of charred and
sulphurous ashes; and the corner of
the room was all torn and splinter
ed. In their absence the lightning
had struck their dwelling, expend-
ING its deadly fury on the pillows
where the little heads of their chill
dren would have lain had they been
at home. There had been death and
danger, and out i'll the wild night,
safety and deliverGnce. Gods pro-
vidence hand saved them.