Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1875-10-23
What the Freshet Brought
to Daisy SOule.
ny NJ. T. CALDoR.

"Don't stand there in the opc,
door, child. You will take cold
How raw the air is " And the OLE
lady shivered a little, and edged he
rocking chair little closer to th'
kitchen stove, where the teakettl'
was singing blithely. ..
81 forgot l was keeping the dool
open, grandmother" returned low
sweet voice. "I was listening tt
the river. How loud it roars y !"
"Ayew muttered the old woman
"the SHOWS way back on the hills
are melting, and the long rain has
helped to swell the stream. l re
member it was so at the time of the
great freshet, when Uncle Joe's
house was carried off, forty years
ago this spring. Forty years agor'
The girl also shivered now, and
closing the door, came to the stove,
and stood there restlessly for a mo-
ment, then said. resolutely:
81 am gong out to look at the
river, grandmother. l will protect
myself carefully, and the rain has
nearly ceased. | think | ought to
go, for it will be dark presently, and
too late then to help ourselves, if
there is any danger"
changer of what, Daisy7 What
are you thinking of, child 2"
The sweet young lips quivered
just an instant, as Daisy returned,
quietly:
81 was thinking if any danger
came, grandma, we have no one to
depend upon to help us out of it;
and have had an uneasy fear of
another freshet hanging about me
all day. l never remember hearing
the river roar in that way"
The old woman put away her knit
ting promptly, and rising, seized an
old cloak and began wrapping it
around her with tremendous hands.
"l,randma," began the frighten-
ed Daisy, but paused when she saw
the firm determined expression on
the withered face, "you have been
sick you must not go out"
"Hush, child! it is my duty to
go with you. l oughtn't to have
left it for a oung thing like you to
Besides, | shall know best
about the danger. 7 remember
what landmarks Uucle Joe used to
warn father must never be covered.
Bring my overshoes, dear, and the
cane, too; and be sure and wrap
yourself well, and we will 60 out
and see for ourselves; for you are
right, there are none to look after
us. Poor l)ne lamb! poor lone
lamb you have only your poor old
granny. The Lord help you and
love you, Daisy !" /
The girl brushed hastily away a
twinkling drop that clung to her
long curving eyelash, while she
brought the needed wraps; and
then she gave her arm to steady the
feeble form Of the aged woman when
together they passed out from the
humble cottage door into the chilly
air, under the dull gray sky across
which the clearing clouds were swift
y skurrying, The snow had near
" all melted away, except that on
the protected side of wall and bank
rift of dingy white still protrud-
ID above the CLASSY pool of black
water that surrounded it. o..
The river was indeed raging like
\ mad creature. Grandma Soule
pushed away the thin locks of gray
lair, and shook her head as she list
ned. Her grandmother shivered
Igain. and in her secret heart re-
'eated dismally the old woman's
words, "Poor lone lamb ~ Poor
md lonely indeed. She glanced
lcross from the tall walls of the fac
Ory, on the other side of the river,
o the clustering roofs of the village,
Who of all the multitude there
would give a thought to the poor
title cot or its inmates, even if the
lreaded freshet came Through
he gloom and mist she had a
glimpse of the fine cupola of the
grand house of the neighborhOod,
md she thought of Rose Gilbrathe
sitting there in the luxurious par
or, smiling aud happy, for all the
torm and the threatening evil
milling and happy, beloved and
lolized, and she, little Daisy Soule,
vas out there alone with her feeble
Id grandmother, shivering under
he storm. and trembling lest even