Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1873-12-05

Powerful watery spell. That's conf table
hey ?'
cts wet in here, but tain't so chilly.
ssThat's better Now you just take it
easy, sissy Miss Smith or none o. them
poor-house red-tapes is goin' to lay finger
on We. She never put We in the crazy -house
did she?"
! Yes-oh-h-h!'' shuddered the child
ssWhat forl and did it skeer YEP"
-"She said it was for sassin' her. She
was tellin' man what my father was, and
I said he auasn't neither And She"
#"What's your fathers name ?"
1 ssJoe Trestle.o
Joe gulped a throat full of air.
.sAnd she ketched me by the arm and
put me right in their hall. Oh, you don't
know how awful tits They're behind iron
winders; but they look into the hall and
yell and make faces, and grab like they'd
tear yer to pieces! I got down in corner
with my dress over my head, and said over
and over to myself what grandma Lane
teached me-"
I sWhat was that 2"
| For we look for better country!' Its
! in big book she calls the bible. 1t tells
heap of things, but she says that over the
most. So, says 1--we look for a better
country-we look for better country ?
. and it made me think of another kind of a
place"
ssWhat's your name % asked Joe tremu-
lousy.
''Sylvie Trestle,"
seI'm your father, amt / % put in Joe
humbly 9i.
eyes, [ knowed it,"
The storm was at full height It was au-
tumnal equinox, and full Of fury. The lit
tie girl shivered. Joe crouehed nearer and
felt for her shaggy head. He got it against
his shoulder, and cooed softly to his child.
edo you hate me %
"No,'' said Sylvie, II IKE yeH' cuddling
her hands under his neck, thus reaching
and w1inging Joe Trestles7 heart.
'sAnd I've got little girl! And that
woman buses her! And might be putin
as good a house as any of 'em over her this
minute, instead of bein' like pig! There's
nothin' and nowheres for us now' he
muttered to himself; the child caught his
last words; to them she answered, turning
up quick face
eyes, there's the better country -
The better country had seized strongly
on her imagination.
ooh that air It for nobody but religious
folks, and they'pe got to die on the square
to git in F.! That's nowhere for me p
Grandma Lane said," propounded Syl-
vie, rising to her subject and her parents
ear, 'sthat the better country's for the peo-
pie of God, and them's whoever come to
Him ~
Eyes. I know, church folks. They've
| had me up and tried to religious me. But
it come on me to drink, and drink must
| Wish there was place where l could do
better I think thoughts, but that didn't
| mend me. Ain't clean enough for this
world, and what show is that for gittin'
| into a better one ?"
Joe Trestle saw himself sneaking before
the Lord of Worlds
| Sylvie laid out her simple creed. 1t was
a rope Of only two strands: "We look for
better country through Him who died
for u.s. And though no unclean thing may
enter there, He washes the unclean, max
| ing it fit to enter"
J 1t penetrated Joe Trestle to the quick.
And the deluge penetrated to his bones
| :sSeems to me we're gittin' sWamped,
Svlvie don't you feel as if you was settin'
in water %
#. eyes, land with quick perception, ''its
the Run it's over the banks ~
"And we're hived here on the low side,
with an arm of the stream 'tWlXt us and
the bluff I was so drunk forgot !! Oh
Lord, child, we're hemmed in by water ]"
sylvie began to cry fearfully !; Joe fond
led her and felt courageous. Holding
hands they CROPPED round the tree ; such
current washed their ankles, they dared
not venture far. lightning showed them
they were in the midst of a muddy sea, the
voice of which filled their ears.
ssWeve got to climb fort ~ said Joe.
1t seemed hours before he got his little
GIL ABOVE Uuo "soFN' 'SAieN ~
again before his lax muscles dragged him
after her. They sat on sycamore limb,
he gripping her to him, and watched the
waves through flashes, like two refugees
| from Noah's food.
| "What is it about your better country p
asked Joe.
"We look for a better country ~
| Tt was long night. His child was very
| heavy on his arm. They were both stupe-
| fed with chills, and Joe was no wiser, no
stronger, than sylvie. He had weakened
! his flesh and softened his courage; but ne
held on, and the strong desire to save his
child cleared the mists of drink away.
ssWake up, grille ~ begged Joe under
his wing, ss'fraid this holler trunk is going
to be swept off did ye say We didn't like
your good-for-nuthin' father p
ssLiked him p corrected Sylvie, clinging
feebjy. -.
sLord bless may little I'm, and look at me !''
| A twist-a crack! The Run was flowing
like mill dam
These two were alone-far from help
People were housed and happy, in towns
and farm-homes, sleeping under the wing
! of the good God who keeps all His.
1"What is't ag'in, grille % breathed joe
sWe look for better
Then the world came to an end to these
two; when breaking timber, cold, fast Wa
ter, bruising logs, confused their battling
souls, Joe kept tight hold of his little girl
He struck out for support, but could not
see-was whirled and blinded. 1t was not
for long, though.
For presently, still clasped to one an
i al Hoatnd down stream and into a