The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1877-12-27
the food. She believed then! that fthev

the flood. She believed then! that fthey
must die. and she had told Jess o.ja::.:
They sat with their arms around each
other. In the moonlight Amy's small
head could be seen,her sweet,steady eyes
even the forget-me- nots in her hair.
Down in the village the townclock struck
one. Would they be there to hear it
strike two? Already the water began to
ooze up through cracks. Jess watched
1t, and at the same time there were
strange, familiar words chanting them
selves in her head-the words uttered a
thousand times in church, and'yet now
with grand, awful meaning
I'm all time Of our tribulation; in all
times of our wealth; in the hour of
death, and in the day of judgment, good
Lord, deliver u.s."
Then Amy's voice was heard singing to
herself in the darkness quietly words
stronger and older still
| Therefore will not we fear though the
earth be removed, and though the noun.
tains be carried into the midst of the sea !"
and so on through that Psalm which has
brought down through the long centuries
its freight of consolation.
"Whatever comes to us, Amy is at
peace" Jess said to herself, and then
something brought to her fragment of
the beatitudes, "Blesscd arc the meek, for
they shall inherit the earth"
How tar had her own proud, self
centered life been from the meekness of
her sisters!
That moment jess was conscious of a
rising and sinking of the boards under
her feet; then she heard the FLASHING Of
the water about her shoes.
Amy, the water has reached us' she
cried, and sprang up. "Tho mill is 60
ing; can feel it lean to this side. 0
Amy"
Amy rose to her feet. Then she
stopped quite still, her eyes fixed on her
sister, and in strange, delighted voice
cxclaimed:
live thought of one more chance, jess,
come now, up in the loft, quickr'
AT the end of the mill, looking down
the river, there was low chamber, form
erly used for drying certain kinds OF
lumber. 1t had small window opening
south, and was reached by short ladder
Up this Amy flew, dragging jess after
her. 1t was very dark up there, but she
did not pause for an instant. She turned
and seized the top rung of the ladder
saying:
"Hclp me, Jess. We must pull this
laldcrup. Nowpull with all your might
Here it comcs;;" and she began to drag it
toward the dim square of Ii ght which was
the window, STOPPING SO as not to hit
the rafters, picking their way over loose
boards, feeling for every step in the dark
they reached it.
"NOw what?' asked the oldest sister
But even as she spoke, there was crash
of = looscning beams and splintcring
boards, and fearful shudder ali around
"That is the end; we are lost!' gasped
Jess, as she struggled, half fainting
across the floor Of the loft.
*. =
The sun came up clear and warm ove1
the Berkshire Hills. It shone in through
the long windows Of the dining room al
the Cedars, shone on the grandfather
white hair, and the baby's silver cup
Hugh had arrived on the carly train, an6
every one was smiling.
"Do you know, SIR" said Hugh, 1.-THE,
say that the dam and factory up at Harm
denis went off last night?'
II dare say. We haven't had such :
rain in years. Then, of course, the ole
mill at the gorge has gomez"
II suppose so. Tom and I are going
to drive up to the farm after Jess anc
Amy. We shall see."
! Yes, the old mill was gone, and the dam
and the road itself. The boys were sure
OF that as they turned the horses head:
into the fields, and struck out track to]
themselves.
'Only see, Hugh, there isn't vcstigt
of it left. The flood made clean sweep,
said Tom, as they stopped and looked
across where, twenty rods away, the mil
had stood.
''Left the old elm, though, I remembe
that grew just at the end of the mill
Halloo there! What's that handker
chief waving in that tree? hear voice
too. Tom, there's some one up in tin
elm"
Hugh sprang up and gave whoop
1t was answered by a peculiar shou
which the family were in the habit of ut
tering when they were scattered on tn
hills.
} Hugh and Tom were or the grount
and down by the water in an instant
Hugh screamed
Amy! Why, Amy, where are you?"
"We're up in this tree, Jess and I, an,
we would like to get down, if yo1
, please"
, The tree was tall one, with no branch
, es within twenty feet of the ground.
. At home in the library, to the who'll
family, the tale Of the nil ht was told.
} I never thought of the tree" said Am,
IT'LL the building began to lean down thu
t stream; then we laid the ladder acros
the window to big branch and climbed
over"
eve! it was all ANY," answered Jess
1t was I that nearly tainted away, ant
had to be shaken before could drag nv
self to the window. I shall always thinl
thatAmy half carried me over the ladder
l only hope I've learned something from
this night, that is all;' and Jess looked
ready to cry with humiliation.
i why, Jessie demonstrated Amy.
She was sitting on the arm Of hel
grandfather's |: chair. i: He. stroked hey
head and something fell on the carpet
Hugh picked it up and carried it care
fully away. It was the little bunch O
forget-me-nots.