St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1876-01-21

JusI Where the sea and sky join. Il
strange white cloud came up. | Law
looking at the cloud, and saw little
black spot in the middle of it. that grew
larger and larger and then knew
what 1t meant, for am old and expert
enced, though the token is not often
seen. l.knew it and Il shuddering came
upon me. Twice in my life have seen
ihe same thing; and knew there would
ne an awful tempest. and Il spring flood
winch would overW helm the poor peo-
PIE "lo were now drinking and dane
Ill ana reloIcmg-Noung and Gid, the
Wllole city had issued forth: who WAS
to warn them, if no one saw what WIS
coming yonder, OF knew. us did, what
1t meant? was dIeadfullv alarmed.
ana felt more lively than had done for
lohS time. | crcpt out of bed. and
got to the window, but could not crawl
1lither, | WAS so exhausted. But |
managed to open the window. saw
the people outside running and jump
ng about on the ice: could see the
beautiful flags that waved in the wind
heard the boys shouting ..hurrah y"
ana the servant men and maids singing.
here were all kinds of merrimcnt 90
l.HehE. But the white cloud with the
black spot | cried out us loud as
could. but no one heard me | was too
lar irom the people. Soon the storm
would burst. and the ice would break.
and all who were upon it would he LOST
without remedy. They could not hear
me, and | could not come ont to them.
Oh. if | could only bring them ashore :,
Then kind heaven inspired me with the
thought of setting fire to my bed. ana
rather to let the house burn down. than
that all those people perish 50 miSer-
ably. succeeded i'll lighting up IL hea-
con Tor them. The red flames hlazcd
up on nigh. and escaped out of the
door. but TELL down exhausted on the
threshold. and could get no turthcr
he namcs rushed ont toward me. flick
cllng through. the window. and rose
ilgh above the roof. All the people ON
the Ice Nonder hchcld il. and ran ;S fast
as they could. to give aid to Il poor old
woman who. they thought. was being
burned to death. Not one remained
behind. heard them coming; but |
also became aware of Il rushing sound
III the air; heard Il rumbling like the
sound of heavy artillery: the spriun-
[ '''''' N''F~ 'iI'il lllt GOV tIlI1 tl Ice q.
which presently cracked and burst into
Il Thousand fragments. But the people
succeeded IN rrlchimg the a-unll |
saved them all But fancy could
not bear the cold and flight. and 50 |
came up here I" the gates of Paradise
| am told they are open To poor crca-
lures like me and now have no house
lett down upon the rampant not that |
think this will give me admission here
hen the gates of heaven were open
cd. and the :l:,gcl led the old Woman III!
She LETT Il Straw hchimd hcI. Il straw
that had been in her bed when she set
II on fine I" save the lives of many A.:
and this straw had been changed into
the purc>t gold into gold that grew
and grew. and spread int" hcaurr"u>
leaves and flowers.
'Lnok. this i> " hat the poor woman
brought. said the angel to the critic
wv hat du>t thou bring | know that
thou hast accomplished nothing thou
hast not made 80 much H. Il single, brick
Nh, # th"u couldst only Icturi. and eff
t"ct at least 81 much ~ that , Probably
the brick. when thou hast made i. .
would not hc worth much: hut if it
were madc with good d-Will. il would at
least hc >"mcthiHG. But thou raIl>t not
Z" back. and can do nothing foi thee"
hen the poor soul the old dame " hu
had lived on the dixie. put iu Il petition
t"I him. She sad: Ills brother gave
me the bricks and the pieces ont of
winch built my house. and that was Il
great deal tuI Il poor woman like me
C"uld not all those bricks and pieces h,.
l.. l.