The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1875-06-10

mightier than l who will aid you"
81 know it," reverently. And l will
try and do better"
How much damage one little, careless
act will often cause!
Just the placing of a wax candle only
couple of inches too near the lace cur
tain-and then the nurse-girl went out,
unconscious of the mischief that would
ensue from her act.
Then the flame, shooting up, seized
hold of the delicate lace and, famed by
the night breeze as it breathed in at the
open window, the fiery element divided
into two branches, one climbing up the
curtain and along the ceiling and the
other creeping along the white velvet,
rose-strewn carpet until it caught hold of
the dainty dressing table adorned with
foamy pillows of lace. Leaving charred
remains of these, it swept along to the
bed, where it met the other flame, the
two having formed fiery circuit around
the chamber.
Did it pause there? Did it have no
mercy? All, no! Not even though in
that bed lay the sweetest, dearest child
that ever was-little Birdie, sleeping
peacefully. Her red lips were parted,
disclosing the tiny, pearly teeth, the rosy
cheek was pressed on the round, white
arm and dimpled shoulder, and her gold
en- hair, all unbound, lay like halo of
light about her. A sweet picture of
childish beauty, she slept on, all uncon-
scious of the terrible demon lowering
over her.
The fire snapped and cracked about
the bedposts, and with fiery, scarlet
tongues it Tapped at the white curtains
and dainty counterpanes.
A pitying angel must have whispered
in little Brides ear just then, for she
awoke and sprang hurriedly out Of bed !;
but, bewildered and blinded by smoke,
she couldn't find her way either to win
dow or door, and with Mortified cry of
Papa! mammal" she sank to the floor
Suddenly Fire, firer' a loud voice
cried out below, and then other tones
took it up, and the night air rang with
the fearful word.
Mr.. Leigh and his wife were away at a
wedding, and no one at home but the
servants, and they, wild and excited, did
nothing but run hither and thither,
wringing their hands and uttering fright
ened exclamations.
"Och, me poor darlint! me poor little
Miss Birdie It's all burnt she'll be in
| tirelyr' cried Nora, the nurse-girl.
"Where is she?" hastily inquired " the
| tramp" who had left his bed in the barn
at the first alarm, and was the only per-
son who seemed to have any presence Of
mind. "Where is she? Speak, woman?'
"That's her room where the flames are
coming out of the window" said Maria,
the chambermaid.
Bring ladder-quick" shouted the
tramp. "And all get pals of water"
Ascending the ladder, he soon reached
the window of BRIDES chamber, and
with one bound, was lost to sight. With
abated breath the others watched for his
temperance. 1t seemed so very long
an age-ere he was seen again, although
it was ouly minute or two.
But in the meantime carriage dashed
up the avenue. The master and mis-
tress had returned. You may imagine
their feelings when they heard that theil
darling little child was in the midst o.
those flames! How they prayed that he
who had gone to deliver her might sue
ceed in his brave endeavor!
Presently the tramp appeared at the
window, the scarlet flames spreading
about him in brilliant fame of fire.
In his arms, carefully wrapped up ir
the coat he had taken off to protect her
was little Birdie. Ere he had gone half
way down the ladder he held out his
burden for other hands to take. This
done, his strength gave way and he fell
to the ground.
Kind friends gathered around him, ant
wept as they beheld him. His back was
only covered by charred shreds of the
old, ragged cotton shirt, his beard ant
hair were singed, and his face was black
burnt and bleeding. His fall, too, hat
injured him internally, and the fire ant
smoke had totally blinded him, so tha
he could not see the pitying faces ben
over him. Suffering terribly, he heedet
not the inquiries relative to his condi
ton, but only murmured family: "Tht
little girl-little Birdie-is she all right?'
"Yes, yes, all safe and sound. But
my brave fellow, what can we do fol
you?" said Mr.. Leigh.