Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1875-10-20

IF it were fair wcrther should know
what to do quick enough; and don't know
hut we shall be obliged to come to ii any
way"
why, what do YOU mean, father"
asked Mrs Allen. anXinu,ly.
He pointed to the river.
IL should take the shin@lr-raft lyin"
there 10y the landing. 1t Is >ta mch au'r
strong. ana Just ;,> safe as any boat that
ever tloacd on the st. John river
Mrs. Allen had all Il mans dread OF
the water and II, heart sank at once. Bu
The idea of being compelled to remain for
two or three days in that drs"la;e spot.
without food or II chance to sleep. wa
more dreadful yet and she felt almo-t lih'
urging her husband to carry ont the d'>-
prrate lea he had announced.
'Wcve got TO deci,te upon something
very quick continue the tanner. - 1t II
be. da,k in an hour, and then we shall have
no choice
He went to the window and looked out
for a mnm nj ut tlc river. Then he came
back to the stow.
1t storms fearlullv: but then we're
pretty nigh as wet ~ we can be now.
believe We can keep in->horr without much
trouble and at the rate he stream is run
ming now, we should reach Woodstock H.
les than an hour. I've done it worse
weather than this
II shouldn't be afraid mySclf.' said
Tom; = bat then there's mother and the
children TO think of"
I'm not afraid. T"m,' said Mrs, Allen
" And even if were, believe it is III
only thing we can do.
..Wc'll try it Them said Mr.. Allen de-
cilrdlv Come Tom, we'v no time lc
lose. See if there is rope enough in tn
corner there for n coil To throw ashor,
when we get to he landing At Wopd>l"cl
and pat the paddles aboard. Let me take
thu baby mother. Now boys, limp on
There's room enough for :, l, -imrnt
You'll have to make up Your minds To
stand u goo deal Of water the next hour.
Push her oil,
til" raft swung slowly round from Its
tts cnnw>, and IN .nothcr inmate struck
he slulc current. which. though les
swift in N that in he middle OF III river.
was Vet So strong n L. M h. ~aft nlvir:l-
ton Il diff ut task Thu rain came with
such lindiny force LAT was almost i'm
possible, Ia see the shore, and HI increasing
du~ threatened To grow intntotal darkness
before the end of their pcrilouS Journey
was rea he'd.
1t was barely three quarters of an honr
from the time they left their starting
point when The raft touched the landing
place at Woodstock. and Tom. rope in
hand jumped on shore. TO throw the loop
over the post which had always stood
there.
To his di>mav. the post was gone. and
a. the raft swept along he felt the rope
slip through his fingers. in spite of his
ende;,vor> to hold it. There was another
point. lower down. where the raft nigh,
strike, if his father could keep il ont of the
current 10y his single arm. Beyond that
the river male Il sudden bend. and if the
landing should be missed there. no power
could keep them from going down the
river
He hurried to the nearest houses of the
village and gave the alarm, and then flew
down the street. which ran parallel with
the river, to the lower landing. He was
Just in time to see his father spring from
the raft. holding the rope, and rushing in
the water up to his waist. caught hold of
it to a~-iSt Their united strength babe
fair to bring the raft into the eddy. and
the shouts of rapidly advancing men. who
ha been reused ry Toms brief warming
gave them additional energy. Two min
utc> latter halt Il dozen strong arms We're
aiding Them and the raft w l. slowly draw
inc TO- the shore when the rope suddenly
parted.
With wild scream. the mother rose
with her babe in her arms, as if to plunge
in the river. Then. seemin to remember
the cnl trcn VINO clu.- to her garments.
e sank down again. and the next mo-
ne t he ii"-rc current had swept them
away in the darkness.
There was but one hope more. If the
ferry. five mites lower down. could be
reached in time. they might be saved; and
the almost distracted father and son,
mounted on horses provided by symrathiz-
ing friends, ga.loped there. Too ll;c, The
ferry keep L had seen some black object
rush hv in the tiar kneSS, and heard cries
for help. which he was unable to give.
They were in the hands of God, and lie
only could help them.
All that ninht Farmer Allen paced the
floor Of his desoL,te home. the friends
who came to comfort him found their en-
.'envnrs vain. He wished to be- acne
with his SORROW. Tom had remained at
the ferry. determined to taxi boat at
early daylight and follow down the river
There WAS lie s'cep that GIT IL
Woodstock. and long before The Usual
time for the village to tie astr little groups
were abroad in the rain, discussing the.
sad event of the preceding evening. Sud
denly there was Il stir in the direction of
the little telegraph office, and the opera
tor who slept there came rushing out with
a sealed envelope in his hand. in a state
of gret' excitement.
"Whn'll carry this over to Farmer AL
len's?" he she uted.
What is it? Any news? Is it about
his folks"
Hell tell YOU. rs his news I've n"
right to tell you. l wish | had. Who'll
take il?'
Il will! will.' exclaimed half IA dozen.
eager to be the bearer of the news.
The message was entrusted to one of
the tlcetcSt-f ,otol boys of the will tge who
sped over tie mile which l,v between
the Office and Farmer Aliens like Il grey
hound.
Here's something for you he pln'ed
AS he burst into the house without knock
ing.
The farmer took it mechanically. with
out Il though, that it concerned those whom
he already looked upon rs in heaven.
Breaking the seal. he opened the folded
slip of paper and glanced at its contents.
Then with a fervent Thank Godr' he
fell upon his knees. and the feelings so
long pent up found vent in tears of thank
fu;ness.
The message was brief one. 1t ran
"FREDRICTON, N. b., April 10Th.
" JOHN ALLEN:
Your wife and children were picked
mp at light this morning, on shingle-raft
three miles above this city. All safe An
swer."
Swift as were the feet of the messenger.
they had hard work to keep pace with
John Aliens on the return. The news
spread like wildfre. and within half an !