The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1875-07-01

/ think il had better be fastened
! The children might yet out and run
~ doanlto the gate 81 the foot of the
meadow, and it is but step from
= here to the creek, YOU know"
he made mo reply, stopped down
a. and looked at some part OF the har-
ness with a slightly perplexed AR.
sNfRkat 4 the matter noisp" Isaid,
with some asperity. !,
= The truth is, my husband belonged
to that numerous class OF individuals
whose motto is, never to do to-day
i = what they can put of until tomorrow,
while ], on the contrary, was prompt
and decided. With me, to will and
to do were synonymous, and | had
little mercy for such failing.
Il fancy this little piece of twine
win carry us through this time, but
will certainly mend it to- morrow, ne
replied. as | climbed into the old
fashioned phateon.
The harness being adjusted to his
satisfaction, if not to mine, he seated
himself beside me, and nodding las,
goodbye to the little faces pressed
against the window panes we drove
off.
Our cottage was situated in the lit
tie valley lying to the southwest OF
what was at that time the village OF
Lanoy, Canada A hill of consider
able height stood between US and the
village; on one side verdure-erown-
ed, gently rising slope, on the other
more abrupt decent with circuit
GUS road winding past cottages and
farmhouses of more or less pretension.
Our present errand was to shop, to
which we carried our produce as it
accumulated from time to time, and
received in exchange groceries,
clothes, etc. Our load consisted in
part of basket of eggs, consequent
" we were obliged to drive rather
..w more slowly than usual.
Mn left, as / had often done before.
" the younger children in the care OF
Grace, who though but eigh, years
of age, was never more pleased than
when entrusted with some similar du-
ty or responsibility. | charged her
not to take the baby from the cradle,
but to rock him gently back to sleep
81 if he awakened, or if he would not
sleep to amuse him with playthlngs
until our return.
1t was lovely day in the latter
part of Neutrality-suspicious. showers
400 Of rain had alternated with midsum-
mer suns, and the freshness of the ver-
dure was undimmed 1t was scarcely |
vet time for the 'sere and yellow
leaf" though the naples had hung !
out their contrast with the living |
green OF the other forest trees. The |
birds sang cheerly as they auttered
10 and fro in the hedgerows, and nu-
merous ground squirrels skinned
along the fence rails and dropped and
disappeared mysteriously.
Old Whitley ambled along in his
usual monotonous fashion, and we
soon reached our destination. had
number of articles to purchase and |
examine, as well as the merits of
new churn to discuss, and just as we
= had settled all to our satisfaction, a !
neighbor whom we had not seen for |
some time came in, which detained |
us longer, SO that when we turned |
our horses head homeward, saw
with some surprise, and slight feel
ing Of alarm, that the sun had already |
set, and the gray twilight was steal
ing up the valley.
Our load was heavy one, my hus- |
band having purchased several agrI
cultural .aplen.ents of. no grea
weight individually, bnt collectively |
slnaklng nosnlall weight f,r one horse. |
50 that, though we were necessarily |
sa anxious ~ get home, we were obliged
20 drive moderately, partieulArly as
%a ethe road vas not only billy, but
rough.
Chatting upon the various little
81 items of gossip which he had heard,
we drove on until we had nearly
reached the top Of the hill, when turn
ing to make some remark to my hus.
band, | saw change come over his
face, which struck me with sudden
terror. He was as pale as corpse.
"Look"' he said, in voice hoarse
with emotion, pointing in the dircc
ton OF our home.
Ny heart gave sudden bound then
fell like lump Of lead in my bosom
a cloud of thick, dense smoke, dis
tinctly defined against the clear SIX,
beyond, rose above the tree tops.
tried to speak, but could not utter a
word.
At last ! said steadying my voice:
h Il thinkit must be Morrlsons', isn't
tito the left Of our hourse:"
s.No, he said quickly, as he seized
the whip and urged old Whitley to
his utmost speed. Don't you re.
s- member that when we are at the TOP
OF the hill the smoke from our chin
ney rises Just over the center Of tina,
little group of cedars!'
Alas. did remember; and as he
spoke we reached tie summit and
saw enough to change our fears to
certainty. Neither spoke but each
turned aud looked at the other with
auiveriug lips and dilating eyes.
"My heaven ! and ! have locked
them n.'
was fairly beside myself with ter.
:. ror. i felt as though ! must leap from
the vehicle and fly to their rescue
Old Whitley seemed to understand
that life or death depended on his eff
forts, and he exerted himself noby.
On we few, down the hill, dashing
through the little stony brook that
crossed the road, over the tumble
down bridge, whose rotten boards rat
tied and started up from their places,
past the hedgerows, that looked like
one continuous mass of flying green
past cottages with children staring
from the doors thinking for nothing
and caring for nothing but to rescue
our darlings. buried my face in my
hands, and rocked to and fro in my
seat, almost bereft of reason, as
thought of the scene that might be
awaiting us. Imagination conjured
all the terrible tales / had heard or
read to add to my horror. Once only
raised my head and saw, or fancied
saw, slender tongues of fame cleav-