Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1876-03-28
@TRANsIENT BILIs-cAsH.

utter word. At last said, steadyiug my
voice: ''I think it must be Morrison's.-
Isn't il to the left of our house Z"
"No," he said, quickly, Is he seiEed his
whip and urged old Whitley to his utmost
speed. "Don't you remember that when We
are at the top of the hill the smoke from our
chimney rises Just over the centre Of that lie.
tie group of cedSrs Z"
Alssl did remember, aud as he spoke
We reached the summit aud saw enough to
change our fears to certainty. Neither spnko,
but each turned and looked at the other with
quivering lips aud dilating eyes. wac fairly
beside myself, frantic with terror. felt %
il must leap from the vehicle, aud ay TO
their rescue.
Old Whitley seemed to understand that life
or death depended upon his efforts. and he
exeriO1 himself nobly. On We few down the
hill, dnshiug through the stony little brook
that crossed the road, over tho tumble,down
bridge, whose rotten boards ratified and
started mp FROM their places, past tho hedge
rows, that looked like one continuous mass Of
flying green past the little cottages, with
the startled children staring from the doors,
thinking of nothing, caring for nothing, bus
to rescue our darlings. buried my face in
my hands, aud rocked to and fro in my seat
almost bereft of reason, as thought Of tho
scene which might be awaiting us. Imagina-
tion conjured up all tthe dreadful tales I had
heard or read, to add to my horror Once
only raised my head, and saw, or faucicd
saw, slender tongues OF flame ceaving the
mass of smoke, which had by this time iu>
creased fearfully in volume aud density.
At last after what seemed an age, hut was
in reality only few minutes, We reached the
| bottom Of the lane which led to our cottage.
| The angle was a sharp one, and We turned
with such speed as to send the hind wheels Of
the old phae'on spinning high in the air.
How got out never knew. am sure
did not wait tho horse to stop. Rushing to
the door, threw myself against il with such
force as 20 break it in. The room was full of
smoke, but as the opening door disspated It a
little, saw that it was empty. Then, Puf-
focated by the smoke and overpowered by tho
excitement, fell fainting to the floor.
Whom consciousness returned found
myself in the house of q neighbor, with the
children all about mo, pretty we'll frightened,
of course, but entirely unhurt. How the irO
originated was mystery which We never
could uuEavel Grace, sitting with hor back
to the stove, and with her attention entirely
absorbed by the pictures in the family Bible,
did not see it until Rover, the Newfoundland
dog, who had been before quietly doing by
her side, attracted her notice by his evident
uneasiuess, after which he sprang through
tho window, fortunately taking the whole sash
bodily with him, and, running At fpllepeea
| TO the nearest house, soon returned with some
Of it's inmates. Grace. 10 the meantime. nf-
ter letting down tho two elder childrcn
throueh fhesniDdou rhinh. rna.rrIr ahrnt
i tsss7.,
the cradle. and was preparing 70 follow ehen
the neighbors arrived. The house being old,
aud built, ss such houses usually are, Of The
most combustible materials, Notwithstanding
all efforts, soon became a blackOned, smoking
ruin.
Rover and Old Whitley lived to a good old
| age, and were over afterWard held in affso.
tionate remembrance for their services on that
occasion.
One evening, about year afterwards. ~
we sat in our new house, built on the site Of
the old, but more commodious and COM
Portable in every respect, / remarked "that
| the tire had benefited rs 10 st least one way,
for unless tho old house had boeu actually
consumed, We should never have had the new
one"
II have felt the benefit Of il in another
way" said my husband, gfavely ''iI has
taught me never to put Of doing anything
which IhOuld be done At once until moro
convenient EenSou.' If the harness bad given
way on that day, where mended it %
slightly before We started, though it would
not have iuterfsred with the safety of the
children, it would have added tenfold to our
anxiety, because it would have delayed our
reaching them. i made n VOW thcn Ihst il
We were permitted to reach homo without &C.
cideni, would use my utmost endeavors to
overcome the habit Of Frocrastinstiou, and
think you will allow that / have been pretty
successful so that in nJora than ono ycsDoct
VIC have reason to regard that as \ .memora,
|