The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-04-21

the pitiless storm beating upon her un-
sheltered head, waiting and Watching in
the very patience of despair.
Her husband went for help, and his
neighbors responded to his call. They
hurried to the spot by scores and the
pond was dragged, but the bodies of the
again they repeated their efforts, but
with like result. -rr,.
The storm had spent its fury, the
thunders ratified away in the distance,
and through the riffs in the black clouds
full summer moon poured down its
silver light. The men stood around the
yellow circlet of water, regarding each
other in silent perplexity, when far away
came the sound of a tremulous cry. The
father listened intently. 1t came again
"a long and mournful cry.
""ris Gyp," he said, dashing off in
the direction of the sound; she's found
EN-
Debbie and her neighbors followed,
through the dripping, moonlit forest.
AS they neared the spot the dog heard
them coming, and the howl changed into
joyful bark. He came bounding out
to meet them from beneath little cop
pice, thickly rooted with vines.
There they were side by side on the
reeking moss, little Totty fast asleep,
with her curly head pillowed on Marks
arm. Mark was wide awake, his eyes
as bright as diamonds.
The moment he caught sight of his
mother, he burst into tears.
"Poor mother" he cried out, "I was
a naughty boy to make you suffer so;
but didn't mean to be. We met Tom
Saunders in the wood, and he told us
there was some jolly big strawberries
down by the pond, and thought we'd
get 'em to please father. But lofty
walked so slow, the storm was up by the
time we got there. But 1 got the
strawberries, and bouncing big fell
father; 1 held on to 'em. BY the
time got my basket full the wind
was blowing great guns, and lofty be-
gan to cry. took her in my arms and |
tried to run, and the wind took my cap |
off and whirled it plump into the middle
of the pond. Oh, my buttons, but it |
did rain The drops hit my head like
bullets But Rugged lofty tight,
and ran and ran, but somehow couldn't
run right the storm had turned me
round. I saw this place at last and we
crept in, and poor lofty soon cried her
self to sleep, and 1 dozed bit too, for
the first thing I knew here was Gyp
putting his cold nose on my cheek"
They journeyed homeward through |
the glittering summer woods, and as
they reached the cottage the Sabbath
was breaking fair, and sweet, and holy
0 type of that eternal morn which is to
come, the east, one blaze of gold and
purple, birds twittering on every spray,
lambkins bleating from the green hill
blessed peace resting on
all things like a benediction.
The grateful parents bore their little
ones in, and Debbie hustled about pre-
pairing hot draughts and dry garments.
"And now" she said when everything
was done, and Totty lay asleep in her
fathers arms, her brown, chubby feet
peeping from beneath her snowy frock
=" now, husband, we'll get 'em to bed,
aud let 'em have a good sleep poor
little dears, they need it."
She led the way into the bed chamber,
and turned to arrage the little trundle-
bed but she recoiled with cry OF sur
prise and horror.
The white pillows and dainty cover
lids were one mass of charred and sui
phurous ashes, and one corner of the
room was all torn and splintered. In
their absence the lightning shaft had
struck their dwelling, expanding its
deadly fury upon the pillows where the
little heads of their children would have
lain had they been at home. There
had been death and danger, and out in
the wild night safety and deliver
ance. Gods providence had saved them