Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1873-07-25

EXPLOIT OF a BRAVE LITTLE VISION
SIN GIRL.-Thomas Velfe and wife with a
family OF small children, settled in this
county something more than year ago.
They were poor, and after many hardships
erected a small dwelling and cleale ed few
| acres OF land, but they were in the wilder
ness ten miles from neighbors. A few
weeks ago the father and mother left their
family, consisting of Il girl aged twelve
years, one aged nine years. and two other
children aged respectively three years and
thirteen months. on n trip TO the settlement
TO get COW and bring in some potatoes to
plant. After the parents had been gone
few hours the house took fire, and the old
est girl Immediately rushed to the root
with water, but not being able to remove
the shingles she could do nothing to stay
the flames, which gained rapidly, spread
ing on the inside of the roof, until, burst
ing through, they drove her from her work.
She then turned her attention to saving her
brothers and sisters. Coming to the door
of the building, she found that the child
next to her own age had got out of TIE
house, bringing the baby with her, but the
little three year-old had crouched under
shaving horse in the further corner of tho
room. There being no chamber floor, the
fire was dropping from the burning roof
between the child and the door, and when
asked 10 come ont il refused to do so, say
ing, 81 am safe here, the fire don't drop
here" The brave girl hesitated only a
moment, but rushing through the falling
embers brought the little one to safe place,
both having their clothes somewhat burnt.
But now comes the hardest part of the task
before her. Scantily clothed and with no
food, she took the babe in her arms and
with the other children started upon the
trail for the settlement. After going few
miles she encountered Il rapid stream,
swollen by the spring rains, so that in ford
ing it the water came mp to her armpils
She first carried the babe across, and then
the three-year-old, aud lastly half lead and
half carried her next younger sister through
the water to the other bank. Three times
during the remainder of the day she strug-
gled across the swollen streams in her way
until night set in, the deep forest surround
ing her. Cold, wet and hungry, she sought
Il"Ce W c"ulp, anu ny SoOu fortune found
an old camp, left by the Indians, upon
which abont one-haf of the roof still re-
manned. Under this she placed her little
flock and then collected pine boughs and
made rude bed. Placing the little one in
the middle, the heroic girl stripped of her
dress and spread ii over the children, then
covered them with boughs to keep them
from the chilly night air, and sat down be-
side them to watch them through that long,
cold night, comforting the little ono when
1t cried, and speaking words of cheer to
the older one. The long, dreary hours of
night dragged slowly by. and at the first
peep of day she resumed her toilsome
march and had nearly reached the first set
tier when she met her parents returning.
An older and wiser head might have found
an easier way out Of the dilemma, but we
feel certain that no one could have acted
Drawer or have endured more than the lit
lie daughter of Thomas Velfe.- Wis River
Pilot.