Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-10-24
How Susie Went to the Fire.


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How Susie Went to the Fire.
Just at the meeting-place of wide
prairie and deep forest, stood, many years
ago. little log house. When it was first
built, the many inhabitants of the region
had watched its erection with wonder and
disapprobation. The squirrels paused in
their friskng TO regard it with bright, cogi-
tative eyes. The birds fitted from tree
to tree, chattering to each other, and asking
what these strange objects were, and if their
coming meant danger to their nestlings.
The prairie wolves howled around at night,
and the deer, three or four at time,
bounded past with their antlers high in air,
as If they disdained so homey and lonely
thing The forest trees tossed their heads
and bowed toward the little log hut saying,
:" IL is very ugly" and immediately ripple
ran all over the prairie grass, and it an
| swered, "Qute true, we never saw anything
so unsightly before But the strange be-
ings who had come to disturb them kept on
at their labor, and soon the cabin was
completed.
Within dwelt little girl by the name OF
Susie. She did not live alone, Tor the house
was full with her parents and older brothers
and sisters. But my story is OF her, the
youngest and the pet of all. 1t would take
long to tell to city girls of to-day how Susie
lived and knew what it was to be happy
Much as l would IKE to describe them TO
you must pass by the woodland rambles,
and keep to myself the secrets the forest
told and the birds sang and the wild bees
hummed to her, and how she knew and
lpved the prairie flowers and the wind when
chased over the grass-l must omit all that
Tor the sake OF telling one little adventure
winch oefell her.
When the log house had stood In It's place
about three years, and had been clasped ana
covered by the clinging arms OF the forest
vines, susie noticed one afternoon great
commotion IN the household. Inc neigh
bors who lived nearest came and talked TO
her father out in the meadow with hurried,
excited voices. Her brothers hastened TO
put on their heavy boots and stout leather
mlttens' Whlle her mother ana sisters went
round with troubled faces all the men hurried
on together to the prairie-how FAR she could
not see IN the gathering darkness. Soon
after the wind, which came III slight puifs
from the direction in which they had gone,
brought with 1t the smell OF smoke.
-" Say, mamma, where has papa gone, and
what makes everybody look so frightened 2
SAID susie pressing close to her mothers side
with the sobs coming IN her voice.
susie, dear, don't be frightened-don't
cry, but be mammas little woman. 1t is a
prairie fire, and papa and the boys have gone
to help put 1t out.
VIII it come here, mamma-will it burn
our house ~
No, dear, hope not. 1t is long way
off, and the men will burn some of the grass
w ha n
fire gets there it will stop because there will
be nothing for it to burn and then if it doe:
get on this side and come near the corn and
wheat, they will beat 1t with great sticks
and stamp on it, and put it out in that way
Then her mother hurried away to see that
coffee was made and food prepared for tht
men, who would be up all night. Susie
stood, at the door in the darkness and looked
toward the south, where she saw, far away
dull red CLEAN. which sometimes flashed
up brightly, but more often seemed to he
excited fancy like great fiery snake, crawl
ing toward her home. Out here lay ne
fathers corn fields, and there came the dread
a full fire, ready to devour them.
Then a thought flashed into her mind
Susie was a courageous little girl, and ha,
energy enough for two. Perhaps she nigh
help to put out the fire Her mother anc
sisters were too busy to notice her move
u ments. Without pausing to think wha
; mamma might wish her to do, she raj
through the door-yard and was soon maxim!
her way across the meadow toward the corn
fields. They seemed long way off, and he
feet were too little to carry her fast, but sh
trudged bravely on. At last she reachc,
the end of the field and looked out on tn
broad prairie. Susie was little girl but al
her life long she never forgot her first vieN
/. of prairie on fire. Stretching out of sigh
on either hand was red line of flame risin
- toward the sky, and covering it with dens
cloud of smoke. The sparks flew in ever
direction and many, yes, very many wer
brought by occasional puffs of wind near t
where she stood. Between her and the " re-
snake" as it seemed to her, black figure
l with clubs in their hands rushed back an
forth, looking shadowy and gigantic agains
! the fire. Susie knew that these were he
father and her brothers, with other friends
whose strong arms were battling with the az
. vancing flames. But she soon made dii
lie covery which caused her to forget the distau
fires Some sparks had lit in the dry gras
by the rail fence not far away. The gras
had kndled and the blaze was spreadin
d and beginning to curl around the rails, an
d inst the other side was her fathers corn-felC
IL was but the work OF q moment TO lind
stout stick, and then Susies labor begaI
How intently she beat the grass and stampe
on it with her little shoes She soon foun
that she was really smothering the fame
:. and though her face and hands were hot, an
"A her arms ached, she kept on until not on
/ spark was left, and only the burnt gras
Is and slightly blackened rails were left t
show what Susie had done.
oput oh Pm, an TRAD I" she said 50
wish / could find papa"
The light from the far-off blazing prairie
which while ago had been so bright, no.
a seemed diving out. The low CLEAN on tn
d distant horizon was not enough to light he
d path as she started to find her father. lie
tired limbs soon gave out, and she san
I, down with sobs which would come int
her throat.
80 papa, papa I"
Alone and in the dark and tired out, II
wonder the tears fell as she Law on the gras