River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1873-09-23

49, H.' "V"u W hccp bhc uicb away from
the bald place for flies like bald places,
yon know, ana how they can bite -
mamma was down stairs reading, puss Law
comfortably stretched out on the rug
where the sunshine fell warm upon her
fur, and even Dick, the canary. sat
drowsily upon his perch: everything was
still, when suddenly the front door slam.
med, pair of little boots clattered on the
stairs, and in burst eight-year old Fred, all
perspiraiion and excitement:
40, papa may l. can !, 0, please,
mayD't run 10 the fire y
The red handkerchief was whisked
away IN an instant, leaving tie poor bare
place to care for itself, for Mr.. Maynard
owned block of stores down town. and
fires he dreaded more than even flies.
!" Where is it, my son?"
90, they amt none now but maybe they
will be, and Tommy Herrick he runs TO
'em, and his pa lets him, and it's lots of
fun May = Please, papa, | want to
awful " and the boy paused for every lack
of breath, and waited with great anxiety
for his fathers answer.
"Certainly, certainly; but don't bother
any more,n and with sigh of relief the
tired gentleman threw himself back upon
the sofa, and stretched the red covering
over his head again, while Fred, delighted
beyond thanks, rushed out TO tell
Tommy Herrick Of his success, and to,
listen with longing ears for the sound of
the bells.
But no bells rang. That day passed
and many others, yet the city was not
visited by the dreaded scourge. Fall came,
and amid apples, melons, grapes, and ali
the lesser fruits Of the season, Fred found
pleasures on every hand. and forgot his
wish so that even when the great bells did
send their warning notes abroad they did
not call it back to him. The matter had
passed from papa's memory the very
moment the boys question was answered.
Mamma never knew of Il; and SO time
went on ard winter came overcoats and
mittens, sleds and snow-balls took up the
little boys attention, and be had no
thought of ever running to the fires that
SO often rage by night and day In itime
of year.
1t was December The chill nc .th-east
wind had blown all day, bringing with it
the flying snow fakes, and as night settled
down the storm grew more and more
furious, and great drifts blockaded paths
and doOrways up and down the town. The
street. lamps threw but faint and ftful
CLEANS through the darkness, and solitary
pedestrians fought their way homeward
with aching fingers and frost chilled
forms.
Fred sat by the open CRATE and gazed
at the glowing embers. Suddenly out OF
the brilliant Goals there came memory
back to him, memory Of the permission
which papa had given SO long, lond ago
and he had never yet taken advantage Of
il, he had never been to fire.
The longer he meditated, the stronger
the desire grew, 40, if there was only a
fire to-nigbtw and the boys eyes danced
in anticipation Of the fun it would be TO
plunge into the deep snow and face the
dying storm How grand, TOO, in this
fierce wind o, a fire would be Jolly ii il
could only come tonight But his reverio
was broken by mammals call, Fred,
como It's bed timew and away he went
TO be tucked warm and coy in his nest,
there 10 dream out the fancies that filled
his little brain.
The hours slipped by. Twelve, one,
halfpast one. A distant clangor sounds
through the nightair. Nearer and nearer
it comes louder and louder until the
boys chamber is filled with the wild crash
Of The frightened bells, and Fred springs
from bis bed to see the snow all aglow
with the strange red light, 10 see the flying
sparks drifting away overhead, TO hear the
uproar outside, and TO know that there 10
really a fire.
How quick he dressed Had il been the
breakfast.bell ', ..ich called the boy from
his bed, an hour would hardly have been
timo enough 10 make his toilet, with
mammals help, too but now, within ten
inmates, he was creeping from his room
in oyercoat and tippel, pants tucked
in boots, and warm cap tied tight over
his ears.
Down the broad stairway, through the
dim hall, and with turn OF the key the
front door opened and closed, aud Fred
was running to a fire.
The wind whistled around tho corners
and tossed the drifting, binding snow in
his eyes the cold pierced through over
coat and coat chilling his body the
strange, wierd light Harsd up and down
in the night, but he kept on. Men passed
him, great rough men, swearing as they
ran the engines ploughed their way
through the deserted roads he heard the
distant cries Of the firemen, but still he
kept on. More than mile in and out OF
the winding BIO ran, until, at a sudden
turn, the burning building burst upon the
sight in oil It's wierd and fearful beauty
II was wooden tenement house, six
stories high, and ere Fred reached the
spot the flames had wrapped Il in a
bla ing robe. How the fro leaped from
open window 10 window, or crept along
the trembling roof How the wind sucked
in and out tho doorways, and then rushed
roaring away as IL in terrible pain, carry.
ing great clouds Of sparks riding on the
iun colored smoke How the engines
ratified. the water Kissed, and the Hremen
yelled o, Il was wild storm and wild
FIRE, but little Fred enjoyed il all.