Litchfield enquirer., 1873-10-30

rough chap, but he's all right at the core; and don't you mind how she used to pray for you in them old times? Don't you mind the evenin' we heard her praying down by the old spring? If she's watch ing you among the stars, how proud she'd be to hear you promise. And John, she continued, dropping her voice to q whis- per, q pray, too, sometimes. I haven't never told you, but I've been feeling right serious here of late. I've taken to Feadin' my Bible, and I've just made up my mind to live better'n used to; and I pray for you, too, and it seems like God hears me-" And she laid her head on his shoulder to hide her tears. @ still kept his eyes turned stubbornly away from hers. At last, laying his face against hers, he spoke earnestly, ''Yes, Nancy, I promise.
 Presently, starting up, he exclaimed, elf haven't stayed till plum daylight P ''Oh, John come and kiss baby afore you go, he looks SO sweet. Sammy wake up. honey. and kiss pappy."
 ''Bless his sleepy eyes Pappy's little man! I'll bring him some candy when come home again"
 All day Nancy went about with such a light, cheery heart as she had not carried in her bosom for many a day singing snatches of old hymns, and thinking hap py, hopeful thoughts of him who, all those long hours, was working his rudder against the strong current of the Mis- souri.
 That evening the stars shonel brightly down upon her, when she knelt by the little window, and asked Gods blessings on her husband and his good resolutions. But she was awakened a few hours aft erward, by a rush and confusion, a show CT of glass and hail across her bed; and up, frightened and bewildered It was terrible storm; one long to be remember ed by all who felt it's terrors. The defen- ing roar of the wind and hail almost drowned the long thunder claps A blinding flash of lightning showed the trees almost bent to the ground, and the house rocked to and fro like a cradle. She suddenly felt new, strange feeling, as if she was flying, floating through the air. She thought that she was dizzy, and caught hold of the bed. A terrible crash she never knew how it all happened Her baby's cries aroused her. The wind and rain chilled her through. She start ed to spring up, but something held her down. A shock of pain darted over her, and putting out her hand, she felt great beam lying heavily across her limbs. It seemed as though it was crushing her. Something struck her, then another, and another How they stung Oh ! was her child unsheltered from that pitiless storm? His screams grew louder. Oh !! she must reach him She could see nothing through the thick darkness, but she knew that he was not far of. What if he, too, was fastened, crippled? She stretched her arms; every movement made her pain more excruciating. She strained every nerve; she could almost reach him. What if he was free and could come to her? ''Oh ! Sammy" she called, "come to mammy." The child ceased crying. She heard him move. His warm body touched her hands that were groping in the darkness. She caught him in her arms and hugged him to her breast. She felt of his head, his arms, his feet; sound and whole. How thankful she was for that. But how those cruel hail-stones must have bruised him. She rested him on the ground and crouched over him; she could move iast enough for that The his arms about her neck If she could only find something to cover them from the storm She reached around, but could touch only cold mud.
 Oh ! that terrible pain She had al- most forgotten it in her anxiety for her child. It grew more and more 1ntolera- ble. It seemed as though the hail-stones struck through into her brain. What if they killed her /! Was she afraid to die? Visions of eternity, of the heaven of her faith, rose before her. Should she dwell with God and angels forever? Was it possible that there would never be an end? No, she was not afraid of death. But her child, her husband-how could she leave them? Not yet No, no, when life opened before her! She must live to help John keep his promise God would spare her for that. How long 1t would be until morning. How could she bear the pain SO long? Oh it would be terrible if John should come and find her lying there cold and stiff. John did love her, oh so we'll. He had loved her so long. It seemed 80 many years since he first told her that he loved her; 1t was on the noun tain-side, in dear old Tennessee. How far away it seemed. How the sun shone and the birds sang. How dreamy and bewildered her thoughts were. How still the baby was. Yes, she could feel his heart beat. She no longer felt the pelt- ing of the storm; had it ceased? ?
 Her thought was answered by rush of wind from a new direction. She was free Then-something struck her.
 The train came snorting into Winthrop just at daylight. John jumped of, and was the first. to reach the ferry. He had never seen Atchison so quiet. With the exception of those who had crossed on the ferry and Few early risers who were hurrying up the street, the town seemed asleep; but as he passed Commercial street, he saw man who was riding a mule, coming down in great haste, who cried out, ''How d'y, John
 "Why, Jake!" he replied, ''1s that you? allowed you was half way to Den yer afore now"
 ..We started yesterday, but we had a powerful storm on the prairie out here, last night. We chanced to be right near to a house and they let us in; but 1t sent our old wagons rolling over across the prairie. like 8 patch of tumble-weeds. and our oxen all stampeded; I'm on the hunt of 'em."
 s.It don't look like it had reached Atch- ison
 ''No reckon it just took streak"
 John hurried on down the river. The road ran so near the bank that the steady swash of the water seemed under his feet. The birds were singing in the trees, and the sunshine came creeping down the bluffs overhead. How eager he was to get home that morning. His heart was full of new plans and new purposes: He could keep his promise, and he would; he would never make Nancy's heart ache again by breaking that promise. He stopped sud- denly-had the storm reached Simmer? The tall buildings along the wharf were leaning roofess, one this way, another that; as if the wind, coming over the bluffs. had reached just low enough to un- roof them. He bastened around the foot of the hill, there lay the brick hotel, the boast of the town, in scattered fragments on the ground, like wasp's nest scatter ed by the housekeeper's broom. He look ed around; three-fourths of the town lay l in ruins. How was it with his home? He ran up the street until he could see 44