Litchfield enquirer., 1873-04-24

nor draw myself up one. was comforta- ble so long as I laid still :; but if I went to move, I couldn't. It wasn't no use to wriggle; and when I'd settled that, I jest went to work to fgger out where I was and how got there, and the best could make out was that the barn-roof had blowed off and lighted right over me, jest so as not to hurt me, but so't could n't move.
 We'll, there I lay. knew baby was asleep in the trundle-bed, and there wa'n't no fire in the house but how dld know the house want blowed down? Thought that as quick as flash of ightnin'; it kinder struck me couldn't ever. see, so as to be certain! wasn't materially fond of children, but somehow ones own IS different, and baby was just gettin' big enough to be pretty; and there l lay, feelin' about as bad as could, but hang in on to one hope,-that old Simon seein' the tornado, would come pretty soon to see where we was.
 I lay still quite spell, istenin'. Pres ently I heerd low, whimperin', pantin' noise, comin' nearer and nearer, and l knew it was old Lu, yeller hound of Simon's, that he'd set great store by, be- cause he brought him from the Old Coun- try. l heerd the dog come pretty near to where l was, and then stop, and give 8 long howl I tried to call him, but I was all choked mp with dust, and for while I couldn't make no sound. Finally I called, ''Lu Lu 7! here, Sir p and if ever you heerd dumb creature laugh, he parked a real laugh, and come springin' along over towards me. I called ag'in, and he begun to scratch and tear and pull, at boards, guessed, for it sounded like that; but it want no use, he couldn't get at me, and he give up at length and set down right over my head and give another howl, so long and so dismal thought I'd as lieves hear the bell a-tollin' my age.
 Pretty soon, heerd another sound, - the baby cryin'; and with that Lu jump ed of whatever twas that buried me up, and run. ''At any rate" thinks I, "ba- by's alive.' And then bethought my self if ,twa'nt painter, after all; they scream jest like baby, and there's lot of them, or there was then, right round in our woods; and Lu was dreadful fond to hunt lem; and he never took no notice of haby;-and couldn't stir to see!
 Oh, dear! the sweat stood all over me! And there I lay, and Simon didn't come, nor didn't hear mouse stir; the air was as still as death, and got nigh distract ed. Seemed as If all my life rig right LID there in the dark and looked at me. Here l was, all helpless. maybe never to get out alive; for Simon didn't come, and Russell was gone away. I'd had good home, and kind husband, and all I could ask; but hadn't had a contented mind; I'd quarrelled with Providence. cause 1 hadn't got everything. and now l hadn't got nothing. see just as clear as daylight how I'd nussed up every little trouble till it growed to big one, how I'd split Russelps life, and made him wretched, d,-how I'd been cross to him a great many times when I had ought to have been Q comfort; and now 1t was like enough l shouldn't never see him again, nor baby, nor mother, nor Major. And how could l look the Lord in the face, if l did die? That took all my strength out. I lay shakin' and chokin' with the idee, l don't know how long; it kind of got hold of me and ground me down; it was worse than all. wished to gracious I didn't believe ill hell; but then it come to. mind. What should ]. do in hoaven, af l was there? l didn't love nothin' that folks ill heaven love, except the baby; hadn't been suited with the Lords will on earth, and 'twa' likely was going to like it any better in heaven; and I should be ashamed to show my face where didn't belong, neither by rlght nor by want. So I lay. Presently I heerd in my mind this verse, that I'd learned years back in Sabbath School,-
 'Wherefore He is able also to save them to the
 uttermost'- :. there it stopped, but it was plenty for me. l see at once there wasn't no help anywhere else, and for once in my life I did pray, real earnest and-queer enough--not to get out, but to be made good. I kind of forgot where was, see so complete what was; but after a while I did pray to live in the flesh; wanted to make some amends to Russell for pes terin' on him so.
 It seemed to me as though I'd laid there two days. A rain finally come on, with a good even-down pour, that wash ed in a little, and cooled my hot head: and after it passed by heerd one whip poor will singin', so't knew it was night. And pretty soon I heerd the tramp of horses feet;-it come up; it stopped; I heerd Russell say out loud, 70 Lord" and give a groan, and then ] called to him. I declare, he jumpedl
 So I got him to go look for baby first, because I could wait; and To! she was all safe in the trundle- bed, with Lu beside of her, both on 'em stretched out together, one of her little hands on his nose; and when Russell looked in at the door she stirred bit, and Lu licked her hand to keep her quiet. It tells in the Bible about chlldren's angels always seein' the face of God, sos to know quick what to do for 'em, suppose; and I'm sure her'n got to her afore the tornado; for though the house-roof had blowed off, and the chimbley tumbled down, there want splinter nor brick on her bed, only close by the head ont a great hunk of stone had fell down, and steadied up the clothes press from tumblin' right on top of her.
 So then Russell rode over, six miles, to a neighbours and got two men, and be- twixt lem all they pried up the beams of the barn, that had blowed on to the roof and pinned it down over me, and then lift ed up the boards and got me out; and wa'n't hurt, except few bruises: but af- ter that day begun to get gray hairs.
 We'll, Russell was pretty thankful, I b'lieve,-more son he need to be for such a wife. We fixed up some kind of a shel- ter. but Lu howled so all night we couldn't sleep. It seems Russell had seen the tor nado to Cumberton. and, judgin' from it's course 'twould come past the clearin', he didn't wait minute, but saddled up and come off; but it had crossed the road once or twice, so it was nigh about elev- en o'clock afore he got home; but it was broad moonlight. So I hadn't been un- der the roof only about fifteen hours: but it seemed more.
 4o c. Simon. and I was so trembly couldn't bear to stay alone, and went with him, he carryin' baby, and Lu goin' before, as tickled as he could be. We went long spell through the woods, keepin' on the edge of the tornado's road; fort had made clean track about quarter of mile wide, and felled the trees fat,-great tulips cut off as sharp as pipe stems, oaks twisted like dandelion stems, and hicko- ries curled right up in heap. Present lv In give a bark. and then such how'll