The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1875-04-15
JACK AND MIN0RlE.

JACK AND MINORlE.
Two CHILDREN lived, long time ago,
in little brown house by the sea. They
lived alone with their old grandmother,
for their father and mother were dead.
Grandmother was very kind to them, and
they loved her dearly. They did all
they could to help her. Jack brought in
water from the we'll, and chopped all the
wood, and little Minorie swept the
hearth and busted the chairs, and sang
all day long. When the work was DINE
the children ran on the sandy beach and
picked up shells and wondered where
the vessels were sailing with their great
white wings. Jack had heard of won
derful, far-off countries, but Minorie be-
lieved them to be sailing right into
heaven, through the beautiful soft clouds
which came down to meet the water as
far off as she could see. They longed to
get into these boats and to sail Off out
of sight.
One bright day the children wandered
along the beach, playing with the shin
ing stones and hunting for bright sea-
weeds among the rocks. On and on they
went till, tired at last, Minorie sat down
to rest.
"Why, Jackw she exclaimed, sudden
ly, 81 have never been so far away be-
fore. cannot see our house anywhere"
"No," said Jack, 1--WE must go back. :"
So with no thought of danger they
turned to retrace their steps. Alas the
tide had risen, and as they turned a
point on the beach the water covered
the sand and the high rocks frowned on
them from the other side. What should
they do! How get home to grandmother!
Little Minorie began to cry; but Jack,
though the tears came to his eyes, kept
them back, for he felt that he must be
Minories comforter and protector.
"Come, Minorie," he said, eve must
go back, and perhaps we can find our
way home on the top of the rocks" but
poor Minorie was very tired and fright
ened and she continued to cry. Jack
ran on, but found they were in little
cove, with water covering the two
points, so shutting them in; the great
rocks behind them, the sea before them,
and the tide rising every minute.
Jack was brave, strong boy, though
he was little one, and he knew that all
depended on him. The water would
soon cover the beach. He looked up ;
but the rocks were too high for him to
climb. He took Minorie's hand, feeling
they must keep very close together
They ran on few steps, when, looking
up again, Jack saw a great crack in the
rocks. Could they climb into that he
thought they might be above the water.
He showed it to Minorie, and, with hard
climbing and many scratches, succeeded
in climbing himself and in helping her
up into narrow ledge of rock. There
they crept into the opening and found
themselves in little cave, where they
could nestle down.
"Will the water come up here, Jack?"
said Minorie.
"Oh, no." said Jack, eve are all safe
now"
"Hold me tight, jack" said Minorie,
and the children sat with their arms
around each other, Minorie trying not to
cry and Jack trying to feel brave. So
they waited for hours.
"Oh, JACK, it's getting dark" '" whispered
Minorie. "Oh, grandmother"
and the angels will take care of u.s." So
the two children kneeled down and said
"Our Father" and Minorie put her head
in Jacks lap and went to sleep. Jack
soon found himself nodding too, but he
felt too anxious to sleep. He was con-
stantly looking out to see if the water
was nearer. 1t was very near now, al
most at his feet; he bent down his head
and kissed Minorie's curls, and prayed
the dear Lord to keep them safe. Then
he watched iand waited. The water
came no nearer, and by and by Jack was
quite sure that the tide was beginning to
go out, for he could see by the moon
light dark line of wet sand above the
waters edge, and he knew that they
we're saved; he said Our Father" again
very thankfully, and in minute was
fast asleep.
Jack did not know how long he slept
but was awakened by noise and shout
ing. He opened his eyes and saw email
boat, and heard man calling "Jack,
Jack p "Here, here p cried Jack
there we are, both safe upon the rock"
"Heaven help the lambs" cried
tremulous voice, which was the old
grandmother's; "God be praised that
He has saved you, my pretty ones "
By this time Minorie was awake, rub
bing her eyes, not recognizing her strange
bed. The kind neighbor sprang on shore
and in a moment had climbed the rock
and lifted both children safely down into
the boat, when grandmother held then
tightly in her arms, covering them with
tears and kisses as they rowed quickly
| home.
And such a supper, and such a nice
bed, and such happy family, you never
saw before !-Churchman.