St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1876-03-24

over the north end of this hole the
mass of roots and earth rose like the
mudplaStered ends of IA log hut, afford
ing the children IL pleasant shelter from
the wind that autumn day, as they
played horse III the warm sun, calling
the hollow behind the roots their stable.
Mr.. Edwards was chnpping another
PROSTATE Trunk near where it joined the
roots. and the children were having il
merry time just on the other side of
that shaggy wall, when suddenly he
left his axe sticking in the log. and
cried ont:
Boys. it won, Ice safe to play there
amy longer"
"Why not p asked Edward. who, like
some other children | have heard of,
always wanted to know why he couldn't
do this thing OF that. and often didn't
hrlicNe III the why. after he had learned
it. Il wish you'd let us ; it's real nice
here"
But this log is most off 1t will
drop in Il few minutes, and then the
stump may drop back where You are,
10y its own weight. I've known roots
to d" such ii thing. SO away with You;
and take the baby, if Maria hasn't taken
him already"
MARIA has gone to the house, and
left us 10 take care of the baby" said
Edward.
"WelI, take good care Of him, then,
and yourselves. too"
so the boys took the baby out of the
hole, Edward giving him il ride on his
back, while George drove, and went to
play in the woods Il little further off
Mr.. Edwards continued chopping, and
the boys soon became So much interest
ed III some new game that they forgot
all about the baby while he, left to
take care of himself, aud thinking, no
doubt, the hole behind the upturned
elm roots Il very comfortable place
craw led AWAY once more i'll search of it.
Suddenly the trunk Mr.. Edwards was
cutting parted from the stump, and the
root. ns he had more than half expected,
flew back INTO its place with i dull,
heavy thud.
There. boys. he cried. triumphant
~, lyon see now uLy | didn't want YOU
to play in there"
The two boys FASTENED to the spot to
see what had occurred but the father
noticed that Edward as he ran, looked
about him alarmed and confused
What are YOU looking for, Edward ,"
his father asked. ''Whcre'> the baby ?"
''llc WAS out there just Il little while
ago. don't know where he is"
Edward >tammcrrd, and began to cry
with terror.
He remembered that it had been all
he and George could do to keep the
baby out of the hole any time that af-
tcrnoun, and that he had last seen him
Il.
WAS naturally Il good boy. and very
fond Of his little brother. and the
! thought of what had now happened
through his negligence filled him with
the widest fear and "iiet.
80: he l., killed. know :" he Shreked,
running trlnticallN around the stump,
and seeing how closely the Tremendous
mass had crushed down again into the
| hollow.
Maria. hearing the alarm. came run
nlng from the house. followed quickly
10y her mother. \ terrible scene en-
sued. The mother and children we've
beside themselves with fright aud ter
ron. And no wonder, Think of 1t
that dear little baby crushed under the
stump. which ii hundred men could not
move,
Nh. Edwards alone kept his head
clear.
'l.""k in he woods" he said to his
VIE: all about. He may he behind
some log. Edward. Maria. run to the
mcl"hb"l>, tell them to bring their oxen
and log chains quick us you can go
George. help Your mother search :"
As for himself, he ran for Il spade.
and began to throw ont the earth under
The side of the stump where he thought
the child most likely to he: working as
he never worked before nor after in all
his life.
George and his mother searched the
woods i'll vain, while the father dug as
trullrs>lN. Meantime, Edward aud
Maria ran t" the nearest ntighhors. told
them the strange, horrible story, and
Nh. Elder. Mr.. Egslrst"n, Mr.. WORTH
and their boys and men, left every thing
I" :" with their Nokes of oxen. horses
lnd chains. t" help pull the stump over
il, indeed, ii could be pulled over at
all.
But, before they reached the spot.
while the mother Was wildly searching
and the father ~ wildly working. George
cIltd out. go. mamma. | hear baby
~om,W here :"
Mamma listened. Papa listened. A
! FAINT cry came from the direction of the
house. Mrs. Edwards flew in the direc-
ton. followed 10y her husband and
George. Louder and louder grew the
cry as they went nearer and there,
after all. waS the baby in the house
which he had reached 10y some round
ahont course, having missed the hollow
/ 10y the STUMP and finding the Kitchen