Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1876-12-14

= : > 80 - - Co. $3.50 =
81 pray too, sometimes. I have never
told you, hut I've been feeling right
serious here of late. I've taken to
reading my Bible, and I've just made
up my mind to live better than used
to and 1 pray for you, too; and it
seems like God hears me-" And she
laid her arm on his shoulder to hide
her tears. ..sa s.s
His arm slipped around her, but he
still kept his eyes stubbornly away
from hers. At last laying his face
against hers, he said earnestly:
Eyes Nancy, promise"
Presently, starting up, exclaimed
''1f I haven't stayed till plum day
light -
ssOh John! come and kiss baby
afore you go, he looks 50 sweet. Sam
my Sammy wake up, honey, and kiss
pan eB}s,, hi, ,,senv ewes, papp,,s
little man! I'll bring him some can.
dy when I come home az in"
All day Nancy went about with such
light, CHEEKY heart as she had not
carried in her bosom for many day !;
singing snatches of old hymns, and
thinking happy, hopeful thoughts Of
him who, all these long hours, was
working his rudder against the strong
current of the Missouri.
The evening the stars shone bright t.
ly down upon her, when she knelt by
the little window, and asked God 8
blessing on her husband and his good
resolutions.
But she awakened, a few hours
afterward, by rush and confusion, a
shower Of glass and hail across her
bed; and, catching her baby In her
arms, she sprung up, frightened and
bewilderod. 1t was terrible storm ;
one long to be remembered by all who
felt its terrors. The dea fleming roar
ofithe windand hail almost drowned the
loud thunder. A binding flash of
lightning showed the trees almost
bent to the ground, and the house
rocked to and fro like a cradle.
She suddenly felt a new, strange
feeling, as if she was flying, floating
through the air. She thought that
she was dizzy and caught hold of the
bed.
A terrible crash-she never knew
how it happened! Her baby's cries
aroused her. The wind and rain chill.
ed her through. She started to spring
up, but something held her down. A
shock of pain darted over her, and put.
ting out her hand, she felt a great beam
lying heavily across her limbs. It
seemed as though it was crushing her,
then another. and another. How they
stung! Oh washer child unshelter-
ed from that pitilsss storm! His
screams grew louder. Oh! she must
reach him! She could see nothing
through the thick darkness, but she
knew that he was not far off. What if
he, too, was fastened, crippled! She
stretched her arms; every movement
made her pain more excruciating. She
strained every nerve, she could almost
reach him. What if he was free and
could come to her.
"Oh, Sammy, Sammy she called.
':come to mammy!'' The child ceased
crying. She heard him move. His
warm body touched her hands, that
were cropping in the darkness. She
caught him in her arms and Rugged
him to her breast. She felt of his
head, his arms, his feet; sound and
whole. How thankful she was for
that. But how those cruel hailstones
must have bruised him. She rested
him on the ground and crouched over
him !; she could move just enough for
that. The frighted child ceased cry.
ing, and put his arms about her neck.
If she could, only find something to
cover them from the storm. She
reached around, but could touch only
cold mud.
Oh ! that terrible pain! She had al.
most forgotten it in her anxiety fol
her child. 1t grew more and more in.
tolerable. 1t seemed as though the
hailstones struck through into he1
brain. What if they killed her! Was
she afraid to die! Visions of eternity,
of the Heaven of her faith, rose before
her. Should she dwell with God and
the angels forever Was it possible
that there would never be an end? No,
she was not afraid of death. But hel
child her husband-how could she
leave them! Not yet! No, no, when
life opened before her. She must live
to help John keep his promise. Goo
would spare me for that. How Ions
would it be until morning.? How couli
she bear the pain so long? Oh, il
would be terrible If John should come
and find her lying there, cold and stiff
John did love her, oh! SO we'll. H,
had loved her so long. It seemed *
many years since he first told her thai
he loved her ; it was on the mountain
side of dear old Tennessee. How fal
away it seemed. How the sun shonl
and the birds sung. How dreamy anl
bewildored her thoughts were. How
still the baby was. Yes, she coult
feel his heart beat. She no longer fell
the pelting of the storm had it ceased
Her thought was answered by a rusl
of wind from a new direction. Shl
felt the great weight lifting off from
her. She was free. Then-s0methinI
struck her:
The train went snorting into Win
throp just at daylight. John jumped
off, and was first to reach the ferry
He had never seen Atchison so quiet
With the exception of those who hat
crossed on the ferry, and few early
risers who were hurrying up the street
the town seemed asleep; but as hi
passed up the street he saw man who
was riding a mule coming down ii
great haste. who cried-out: Glow
dye, John!''
"Why, Jake - he replied, sis tina,
you? l allowed you was half way tx
Denver afore now
"We started yesterday, but we had q
powerful storm on the prairie Out
here last night. We CHANGED to bt
right near the house and they let US
in bnt 1t sent our old wagons rolling
over and over across the prairie, and
our oxen all stampeded; I'm OF
the hunt of them now"
ut don't look like it had reached
Atchison." .-. -.
.'No, reckon it just took streak. .
John hurried on down the river
The road ran so near the bank that the
steady swash Of the water seemed under
his feet. The birds were singing in
the trees, and the sunshine came creep