The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1873-10-31

y
rough chap, but he's all right at tht
core; ; and don't you mind how she
used to pray for you in them old times
Don't you mind the evenin' we hearG
her praying down by the old spring? L
she's watching you among the stars
how proud she'd be to hear you pro
mise. And John" she continued, drop
ping her voice to whisper, 81 pray
too, sometimes. 1 haven't never told
you, but I've been feeling right serious
here of late. I've taken to readin' my
Bible, and I've just made up my mind
to live better'n used to; and pray fol
you, too, and it seems like God hears
me-" And she laid her head on his
shoulder to hide her tears.
His arms slipped around her, but he
still kept his eyes turned stubbornly
away from hers. At last, laying his
face against hers, he spoke earnestly,
eyes, Nancy, I promise.
Presently, starting up, he exclaimed,
If [ haven't stayed till plum day
lightr'
go John come and kiss baby afore
you go, he looks so sweet. Sammy
Sammy wake up, honey, and kiss
"BIess his sleepy eyes! Pappy's lit
tie man I'll bring him some candy
when / come home ag'in."
All day Nancy went about with such
a light, CHEEKY heart as she had not car
ried in her bosom for many day sing
ing snatches of old hymns, and think
ing happy, hopeful thoughts of him
who, all those long hours, was working
his rudder against the strong current OF
the Missouri.
That evening the stars shone brightly
down upon her, when she knelt by the
little window, and asked Gods bless
ings Oh her husband and his good reso-
lutions.
But she was awakened, a few hours
afterward, by rush and confusion, a
shower of glass and hail across her bed
and catching her baby in her arms, she
sprang up, frightened and bewildered.
It was terrible storm one long to be
remembered by all who felt its terrors.
The deafening roar of the wind and hail
almost drowned the loud thunder-claps.
A binding fash OF lightning showed
the trees almost bent to the ground,
and the house rocked to and fro like a
cradle. She suddenly felt a 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 started TO
spring up, but something held her
down. A shock of pain darted over her,
and putting out her hand, she felt a
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! o was her child unsheltured
from that pitiless storm? His screams
grew louder. o she must reach him
She could see nothing through the thick
darkness, but she knew that he was not
far off. What if he, too, was fastened,
crippled? She stretched her arms
every movement made her pain mote
She strained every nerve
she could almost reach him. What if he
vas free and could come to her? go
Sammy Sammy ~ she called, "come
20 nanny" The child ceased crying.
She heard him move. His warm body
ouched her hands that were cropping
n the darkness. She caught him in her
rms and hugged him to her breast.
She felt of his head, his arms, his feet;
ound and whole. How thankful she
vas for that. But how those cruel hail
tones must have bruised him. She
ested him on the ground and crouched
'ver him she could move just enough
or that. The frightened child ceased
rying, and put his arms about her
leck. If she could only find something
0 cover them from the storm. She
cached round, but could touch only
old mud.
o that terrible pain! She had almost
orgotten it in her anxiety for her child.
t grew more and more intolerable. 1t
eemed as though the hail-stones struck
through into her brain. What if they
Tiled her Was she afraid to die ?
1isions of eternity, of the heaven of her
aith, rose before her. Should she
well with God and the angels forever?
Vas it possible that there would never
'e an end? No, she was not afraid of
eath. But her chilli, her husband
low could she leave them? Not yet !
w. hOy "1Oh llIS ODCAON OO4OAO 4S1
,he must live to help John keep his
God would spare her for that.
low long it would be until morning.
low could she bear the pain so long?
} it would be terrible if John should
ONE and find her lying there, cold and
tiff. John did love her, 0 80 we'll. He
lad loved her so long. It seemed SO
nany years since he first told her that
Le loved her it was on the mountain
ide, in dear old Tennessee. How far
way it seemed. How the sun shone
nd the birds sang. How dreamy and
,ewildered her thoughts were. How
till the baby was. Yes, she could feel
lis heart beat. She no longer felt the
'elting of the storm had it ceased?
Her thought was answered by rush
f wind from a new direction. She felt
he great weight lifting off from her.
,he was free Then-something struck
.er.
The train went snorting into Winthrop
ust at daylight. John jumped off, and
7as the first to reach the ferry. He had
ever seen Atchison so quiet. With the
RECEPTION of those who had crossed on
he ferry and few early risers who
7ere hurrying up the street, the town
eemed asleep but as he passed Com
nercial street, he saw man who was
iding a mule, coming down in great
laste, who cried out, Chow d'y,
ohm p
"Why, Jake r' he replied, ''Is that
ou? 1 allowed you was half way to
Denver afore now"
"We started yesterday, but we had a
owerful storm on the prairies out here
asst night. We chanced to be right
ear house and they let us in but it
ent our old wagons rolling over and
yer across the prairie, like patch of
and our oxen all stampe-
ed Tn on the hunt of EN-"
at don't look like it had reached |
.tchison."
mo recken it just took streak"
John hurried on down the river. The |
Dad ran so near the bank that the |
beady swash of the water seemed under |
is feet. The birds were singing in the |
rees, and the sunshine came creeping |
own the bluffs overhead. How eager
6 was to get home that morning. His