The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1872-05-09

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Her mother looked up from her work
and smiled such a wan and weary smile,
as she replied: 81 will try, my daughter
When 7 get this garment done, / will
take it home, and the money that [ get,
wall buy us some coal and have enough
to buy you a pair of shoes
II hope it will, mamma, for ever since
the cold weather came have had to stay
in, because was barefoot"
on are dear, pat1en. little girl, and
if 1T is possible You shall have the shoes.
We will try and be content with bread
and meat for our Christmas dinner"
And she again bent over her sewing
while tears nearly blinded her eyes, but
she resolutely forced them back. Her
tears she could control, but not the mem
cries Of what she had suffered for the
past few months.
Her home had been in the beautiful
little village Of Peshtigo, in the northern
part Of Wisconsin. 1t was there her hus-
band and she hal commenced their mar
ried life. There babes were born to
them, and there trey had lived for the
past eight years, surrounded by every
con- fort. He was an industrious mechan
ic, labOring for the comfort Of his little
family, which he loved with his whole
heart, and she a true, loving wife, max
ing home the dearest spot on earth to
her husband and children, little Minnie
and Willie, a Iosy checked little fellow
OF three years. thus far they had been
blessed and prospered, no clouds had APP =
poaIed IN the horizon of their married
lille
It was Sabbath in October, 1871. All
was calm and peacefuI,-a day Of r. st for
poor weary mortals. Fires had been
raging around tue village some DAYS pre-,
vious. but had been subdued, and ali felt
safe. The Sabbath passed as usual.
N ght came and all had retired to rest.
on that some good angel had babe them
swatch just one little hour"
The wind had commenced to blow as
the sun went down, and by ten it was a
perfect hurricane. The fire again broke
forth, and the inmates of houses had bare
| ~ time to rise and flee for their lives.
Peter Gray and Nellie, his wife, lived in
the on skirts OF the village in a neat lit
tie cottage surrounded by fruit and orna-
mental trees. Their home was one of
peace and comfort Their ewes were
hardly closed IN sleep on this night, when,
! horror, what a noise and tnmult broke
upon Thorn SpTinging from their beds,
the glare of the flames the denseness of
the smoke, and the heat so overpOwered
them, they hardly knew which way to
turn.
"God help us, Nelly, take Minnie and
run tor your life" exclaimed Peter,
throwing light quilt over her shoulders.
kun for the river, and will follow with
Willie"
But what a sight met his gaze when
they reached the door. Men, women and
children, screaming and crying; horses
and cattle rushing through The crowd,
trampling down whatever came in their
way, in their mad haste to reach the riv-
er blazing brands Of fire, blown by the
fierce tornado, falling on and setting
ablSze the few garments the poor, fright
ened people had time to wrap around
them. Peter and Nrlly had gone but a
short distance before the quilt was in a
light blaze scOrching her shoulders.
stop a moment, while wet tue blank,
ct IL this water, said Mr.. Gray, as they
were passing the town pump. He placed
his boy on the ground, sock the burning
built, and saturated it with water; then
wrapped it around his wife's shoulders,
All this had been but the work of a mo.
ment, but when be stopped to lift the
chUd again In his arms, to his amazement
ana horror, his boy was gone. The
crowd had forced it onward, and bis
chlld was lost, perhaps trampled under
loot bruised, bleeding, and mayhap
burning.
On what agony for the heart broken
parents But they had no time to grieve.
Inc excited father urged his way among
the crowd, lnqui1ing and looking and re
tracing ms steps, but all to no purpose
the child wa8 gone The ire, in the
meanwhile, had increased, and the whole
village was III flames
10 the barn, to the barn ~ was shout
ed and large crowd, Peter included,
rusheQ Tor the barn. 1t was new build
Ing, that stood some quarter of mile
from the burning town, in an open field
Lhey crowded in, some fifty or more, shut
the doc" to keep out the sitting heat and
smoke, and then had time to draw fresh
breath. They were bewildered; thew
gaZed IN each other faces like strangers.
conId 1t DC that they were safe had they
indeed escaped the fierce fire fiend?
"Ot = thought Peter Gray, eff my wife
ana Minnie were only here in safety, /
would be reconcled to the loss of nv
poor boy"
Hardly was the dread of danger re-
moved from their minds, when there
came such an overpowering sense of heat
ana suffocation, that they were compelled
to throw open the doors. Tongue cannot
describe the feelings of the doomed ones
as they looked forth Fire, file above
around, and beneath {; the air was literally
body of flame. Fire seemed to be