The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1876-02-17

that when we are at the top of the bill
the smoke from our chimney rises just
over the center of that little group of
cedars2"
Alas I did remember, and as he
spoke we reached the summit and saw
enough to change our fears to certainty.
Neither spoke, but each turned and
looked at the other with quivering lips
and dilating eyes. I was fairly beside
myself, frantic with terror. 1 felt as if
1 must leap from the vehicle, and fly to
their rescue.
Old Whitley seemed to understand that
life or death depended upon his efforts,
and he exerted himself nobly. On we
flew, down the hill, dashing through the
stony little brook that crossed the road,
over the tumble-down bridge, whose
rotten boards ratified and started up
from their places, past the hedgerows,
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, but to rescue our darlings.
I buried my face in my hands, and
rocked to and fro in my seat almost be-
reft of reason, as I thought of the scene
which might be awaiting us. Imagina-
tion conjured up all the dreadful tales 1
had heard or read. to add to my horror.
Once only I raised my head, and saw,
or fancied I saw, slender tongues of
flame cleaving the mass of smoke, which
had by this time increased fearfully in
volume and density.
At last, after what seemed an age, but
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 phaeton spinning high in the air.
How [ got out never knew. I am sure
1 did not wait for the horse to stop.
Rushing to the door, threw myself
against it with such force as to break
it in. The room was full of smoke, but
as the opening door dissipated it lit
tie, I saw that it was empty. Then,
suffocated by the smoke and overpow-
cred by the excitement, 1 fell fainting
to the floor.
When consciousness returned l found
myself in the house of neighbor, with
the children all about me, pretty well
frightened, of course, but entirely un-
hurt. How the fire originated was q
mystery which we never could unravel.
Grace, sitting with her 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 uneasiness,
after which he sprang through the win
dow, fortunately taking the whole sash
bodily with him, and, running at full
speed to the nearest house, soon return
ed with some of it's inmates. Grace, in
the meantime, after letting down the
two elder children through the window,
ground, took the baby from the cradle,
and was preparing to follow who n the
neighbors arrived. The house being
old, and built, as such houses usually
are, of the most combustible materials,
notwithstanding all efforts, soon became
blackened, smoking ruin.
Rover aud Old Whitley lived to GOO.
old age, and were ever afterward held in
affectionate remembrance for their SER
vices on that occasion.
One evening, about year afterwards,
as we sat in our new house, built on the
site of the old one, but more commodi
GUS and comfortable in every respect, I
remarked "that the fire had benefited
us in at least one way, for unless the old
house had been actually consumed, we
should never have had the new one."
81 have felt the benefit of it in another
way" said my husband, gravely; " ii
has taught me never to put off doing
anything which should be done at once
until more convenient season. II
the harness had given way on that day,
where mended it so slightly before we
started, though it would not have inter.
fered with the safety of the children, i,
would have added tenfold to our anxiety,
because it would have delayed our reach
ing them. / made a vow then that il
we were permitted to reach home with
out accident, would use my utmost en-
deavors to overcome the habit of pro
crastination, and think you will allow
that have been pretty successful, sc
that, in more than one respect, we have
reason to regard that as a memorable
ride"