The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1873-07-16
ARrave Little Wisconsin Girl.

Thomas Velfe ahd wife, with q FAM
lily of small children. settled in this
county more than year ago. They
were poor and after many hardships
erectel . small dwelling and cleared q
few acres OF LAID, but they were in the
wilderness ten miles from neighbors.
A few weeks ago the father and moth
er left their family, consisting Of a girl
aged twelve years, one aged nine years,
and two other children aged respective-
" three years aud thirteen months, on
a trip to the settlement to get q COW
and bring 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 roof
with water, but not being able to re-
move the shingles she could do moth
ing to stay the flames, which gained
rapidly, spreading on the inside OF the
roof, until, bursting through, they drove
her from her work.
She then turned her attention to saw
ing 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 the house bringing the baby
with her, but the little three year old
had crouched under a shaving horse in
the further corner Of the room. There
being no chamber floor, the fire was
droppiug from the burning roof be.
tween one child and the door, and
when asked to come out it retused to do
30 saying, II am safe here, the fire
don't drop here" The brave girl hes
tated only a moment, but rushing
through the falling embers brought the
title ones to safe place, both hav.
ing their clothes somewhat burnt
But now comes the hardest part oil
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 che encountered
a rapid stream, swollen by the spring
rains, go that in fording it the water
came up to her armpits. She first car
ried the baby across and then the little
three year old, and lastly half led and
half carried her next younger sister
through the water to the other bank,
Three times during the remainder OF
the day she struggled across the swollen
streams in her wav until night set in,
the deep forest surrounding her Cold,
wet and hungry, she sought place to
camp. and by good fortune found an old
camp, left by the Indians, upon which
about one half Of the roof still remained
Under this she placed her little flock
and then collected pine boughs
and made rude bed. Placinf
the little one in the middle
the heroic girl stripped off hel
dress and spread it over the children
then covered them with boughs to KEEP
them from the chilly night air, and S.
down beside them to watch then
through thst long, cold mig ht, comfort
ing the little one when it cried, ana
speaking words OF cheer to the oldel
one. The long, dreary hours of th'
night dragged slowly by. and at thu
first peep OF day she resumed her toll
some march, and had nearly reached
the first settler when she met her pa
rents returning .6An older and wise
head might have found An easier wa.
ont OF the dilemma, but We feel certain
that no one could have acted brave
or have endured more than the litth
daughter of Thomas Velfe.- Wsconsi'
Riusr Pilot. I