Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1875-02-24

longer, so that when we turned oW
horses head homeward, ] saw with some
surprise. as well as slight feeling OF
alarm. that the sun had already set, and
the soft gray twilight was stearing up the
valley.
Our load was heavy one, my husband
having purchased several agricultural inn
plsments of no great weight individually.
but collectively making no small weight
for one horse, so that, though we were
necessarily anxious to get home. we were
obliged to drive moderately, particularly
as the road was not only billy, but
rough.
Chatting upon the various little items Of
gossip which we had heard. we drove on
until we had nearly reached the top of the
hill, when, turning to make some remark
to my husband, saw change come over
his face. which struck me with a sudden
terror. He was as pale as a corpse.
Look - he said in a voice hoarse with
emotion, pointing in the direction OF our
home
My heart gave a sudden bound, then
fell like lump Of lead in my bosom. \
cloud of thick. dense smoke distinctly de-
fined against the clear sky beyond, rose
above the tree-tops. | tiicd to speak, but
could not utter word.
At last | said, steadying my voice, II
think it must be the Morrison's. Isn't it
to the left of our house p
"No." he said quickly. as he seized the
whip and urged old Whitley to his utmost
speed. Don't you remember that when
we are at the top of the hill the smoke
from our chimney rises just over the CEN
tire of that little group of cedars?'
Alas | did remember and as he spoke
we reached tine summit and saw enough
to change our fears TO certainty. Neither
spoke. but each turned and looked at the
other with quivering lips and dilating
eyes.
My heavens and have locked them
in -
was fairly beside myself with terror.
felt as if | must leap from the vehicle
and fly to their rescue. Old Whitley
seemed to understand. that life or death
depended on his efforts, and he eXerted
himself nobly.
On we flew. down the hill, dashing
through the little stony brook that cross
ed the road over tile tumbled-down bridge,
whose rotton boards ratified and started
up from their places, past the hedgerows,
that looked like one continuous mass of
flying green; past little cottages with the
children staring from the doors thinking
Of nothing. caring for nothing but to
rescue our larlings. | buried my face in
nv hands, and rocked to and fro in my
seat. almost bereft of reason. as thought
OF the scene that might be awaiting us.
Imagination cOniured up all the dreadful
tales has heard or read to add to my
horror. Once only | raised my head, and
saw. or fancied saw, slender tongues OF
flame cleaving the mass of smoke, which
had BY this time increased fearfully in
volume and density.
At last. after what seemed an age, but
was in reality only few minutes, we
reached the bottom OF the lane which led
to our cottage. The angle was sharp
one. and we turned with such a speed as
to send the hind wheel OF the Old phRton
high in the air.
How got out never knew. | am sure
did not wait for the horse to be stopped.
Rushing to the door; | threw myself
against it with such rprcc as Ia break il
in. The room was full OF smoke, but as
the opened door dis>ipated it q little, /
saw that it was empty Then sufiOcated
by the smoke and oyerpowered by excite
meut, | fell faintiug 10 the floor.
When consciousness returned, | found
myself in the house Of neighbOr, with
the children all about me, pretty well
frightened, of course, but entirely m-
hurt.
How the fire originated was mystery
which we could never unraveL Grace, sit
ting with her back to the stove, and with
her attention entirely absorbed by the
pictures in the family Bible. did not see
it until Rover, the Newfoundland dog, who
had been quietly doing by her side, at
tracted her notice by his evident uneasi-
ness after which he -prang through the
| window. fortunately taking the whole
sash bodily with him, and running at full
/ speed 10 the nearest mouse, soon return
! ed with some Of its inmates.
Grace. in the meantime. brayely letting
down the two older children through the
window. which was only about four feet
! from the ground. took the baby from tho
cradle and was about to follow. when the
neighbor arrived. The house being old
and built a, such house, usually are. o.
the most combu,tible materials, notwith
standing all efforts. soon became black
ened, smoking ruin.
Rover and old Whitley lived to a GOO
old age. and were ever afterward held il
afiectiOnate remembrance for their 'eTYl
ces on that occasion.
One evening. about year afterWard. a
we sat in our new house. built on the sit
OF the old one, but more commOdious an
p comfortable in every respect, | remarked
I that the fire had benefited IT, in at leas
, one way. for unless the old house ha
been actually consumed, We should neye
have had the new one
II have felt the benefit ri il in anoth
er way. said my husband, @rayely; " !
has taught me- never 70 put of doing any
p thing which should be done at once unit
, a more convenient season. II the barnes
had given way on that day, where
mended II so slightly before We started
, although 10 would not have Interfere
with the safety Of the children. it woul
have added ten fold to our anxiety, BE-
cause il would have delayed our reaching
them made a VOW then that II we wcr
/ permitted to reach home without scci
dent, | would use my utmost endeayors q
overcome the habit Of prOcrastinarion
/. and / think Won VIII allow that ! hay
been pretty successful, 30 that, in NOR
than one respect, we have reason to re
gard that a- memorable ride,