Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-12-16

"Oh. my precious babies! They are
| gone-they are drownedr'
YES" replied the father. hoarsely,
$ they are gone. l must get help and
drag the pond My poor wife, you had
better come homeI"
| But Deborah shook her head and
crouched down upon the shore of the vel.
| low pond. And there she sat, with the
pitiless storm beating ON her unsheltered
head, waiting and watching in the very
patience of despair.
Her husband went for help and his
neighbors responded to his call. They
hurried TO the spot by scores and the pond
was dragged, but the bodies of the chill
dren could not be found. Again and
again they repeated their efforts, but with
alike result.
The storm had spent its fury, the thun-
ders ratified far away in the distance, and
through the riffs in the black clouds full
summer moon poured down its silver
light The men stood round the yellow
circlet of water, regarding each other in
silent perplexity, when far away came the
sound of a tremulous cry. The father
listened lntently. 1t came again--a long
and mournful cry.
"'Tis Gyp,' he said, dashing off in the
direction of the sound he'sfound 'emr'
Debbie and her neighbors followed,
through the dripping, moonlit forest. As
they neared the spot the dog heard them
coming, and the howl changed into joy
full bark. He came bounding out TO meet
them from beneath little coppice, thick
ly rooted with vines.
There they were, side by side on the
reeking moss, little Totty fast asleep, with
her curly head pillowed on Marks arm.
Mark was wide awake, his eyes as bright
rs diamonds,
The moment he caught sight of his
mother, he burst into tears.
"Poor mother" he cried out, was
naughty boy to make you suffer so; but |
didn't mean to be. We met Tom Saunders
in the wood and he told us there was some
Jolly big strawberries down by the pond,
and thought we'd get 'em to please father.
But Totty walked SO slow, the storm was
up by the time we got there. But got
the strawberries, and bouncing big fellows
they are. Here they are, father; l held
on 10 'em. BY the time got my basket
full the wind was blowing great guns, and
Totty began TO cry. | took her in my
arms and tried TO run, and the wind took
my cap off and whirled it plump into the
il did RANT The drops hit my head like
bullets! But Rugged Touy tight, and
ran and ran, but somehow couldn't run
right: the storm had turned me round. l
saw this place at last and we crept in, and
poor Totty soon cried herself TO sleep, and
/ dozed a bit too, for the first thing /
knew, here was Gyp putting his cold nose
on my cheek"
They journeyed homeward through the
glittering summer woods, and as they
reached the cottage the Sabbath morn was
breaking, fair, and sweet, and holy-a
type of that eternal morn which is to
come the east, one blaze OF gold and pur-
pie, birds twittering on every spray, lamb
kins bleating from the green hill-tops--
Gods blessed peace resting on all things
like benediction.
The grateful parents bore their little
ones in, and Debbie hustled about prepar-
ing hot draughts and dry garments.
And now" she said, when everything
was done, and Totty lay asleep in her ia
TIERS arms, her brown, chubby feet peep
ing from beneath her snowy frock-" now,
husband, we'll get 'em 10 bed, and let 'em
have a good sleep; poor little dears, they
need ii.
She led the way into the bed chamber,
and turned to arrange the little uundle-
bed but she recoiled with u cry of sur
prise and horror.
The white pillows and dainty coverlids
were one mass of charred and sulphurous
ashes; and one corner of the room was
all torn and splintered. In their absence
the lightning shaft had struck their dwell
ing, expanding its deadly fury on the pill
lows where the little heads OF their chill
dren would have lain had they been
at home. There had been death and dan
ger, and out in the wild night safety and
deliverance. Gods providence had saved
theml