The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1877-04-19

current OF the mlSsouri.
That evening the stars shOne bright
ly down upon her as she knelt by the
little window anc asked Gods bless
ing on her husband and his good reso-
lutjons.
But she awakened a few hours af-
forwards by 8 rush and confusion, a
shower of glass and hail fell across
her bed and, catching her baby up
in her arms, she sprung up, frightened
and bewiIdered. 1t was q terrible
storm, one long to be remembered by
all who felt its terrors. The deafen-
ing roar of the wind and bail almost
drowned the louder thunder. A
binding flash OF lightning showed
the trees almost bent to the ground,
and the house rocked to and fro ike q
cradle.
She suddenly felt 3 new, strange
feeling, as il she was flying through
the air. She thought that she was
dizzy, and caught hold OF the bed.
A terrible cTash-she never knew
how it. all happened Her baby's
cries aroused her. The wind and rain
chilled her through. She started to
spring up, but something held her
down. A shock of pain darted over
her, and putting out her hand she felt
a great beam lying across her limbs.
1t seemed as though 1t was crushing
her. Something struck her, then an
other and another. How they stung
Oh was her child unsheltered from
that pitiless Storm? His screams
grew louder. Oh, she must reach
him She could see nothing through
the thick darkness, but she knew that
he was not far off. What IL he, too,
was fastened, crippled! She stretched
her arms. Every movement made
the pain more excruciating. She
strained every nerve-she could al
most reach him. What II he was
free aud could come to her
"Oh, Sammy, Sammy J" she called,
''come to nanny W
The child ceased crying. She heard
him move. Els warm body touched
/ her hands, that were cropping In the
darkness. She caught him in her
arms and hugged him to her breast.
She felt of his head, his arms, his
| feet-sOund and whole. How thank
full she was for that. But how those
| cruel hail-stones must have bruised
/
and crouched over him she could
move Just enough for that. The
frightened child ceased crying, and
put his arms around her neck. III she
could only find something to cover
them from the storm. She reached
around, but could touch only cold
mud. -s ..,-- 81. -....-.-..--
4 Oh, that terrible pain ! She had
almost forgotten it in her anxiety fol
her child. 1t grew more and more
intolerable. 1t seemed as though the
hsiIstones struck through into bel
brain. What If they did kill her
Was she afraid to die I? Vislcas o.
eternity, of the heaven of our faith,
rose befers her. Should she dwell
with God and the angels forever ?
Was it possible that there neve,
would be an end ?
No, she was Lot afraid Of death
But her child. her husband-hev
could she leave them ? Not yet No
no when life opened before her, shl
must live to help John keep hi
promise. God would spare her 70
that. How long would it be unit
morning 2 How could she bear tn
pain so long? Oh, it would be terri
BILE il John should come and find he
lying there cold and stiff. John did
love her, oh I 30 we'll. He had loved
her so long. 1t seemed so many gear
since he first told her that he lovet
her; it was on the mountain side In
dear old Tennessee. How far ava.
it seemed. How the sun shone an,
the birds sang. How dreamy and be
viIdered her thoughts we're. HOJ
still the baby was. Yes, she could
: hear his little heart beat. So n
longer felt the pelting Of the storm
had it ceased
Her thought was answered by rusl
of wind from new direction. Sht
felt the great weight lifted off her
She was free. Then something strucl
! her.
The train went snorting into Win
throp just st daylight. John iumpeC
off, and was the first to reach the fer
~. He had never seen Atchison 8
quiet. With the exception OF thos
> who had crossed on the ferry, and
few early risers who were hurryin
: up the street, the town seemed asleep
!. but as he passed up the street he saS
! q man who was riding mule cominI
! down in great haste, who cried out:
t'How dye, John ?"
"Why, Jake" he replied, sis tha
! you? ? IaIlowed You was half way {
Denver before now.
"We started yesterday, but we hA
a powerful storm on the prairie on
here last night. We chanced to
: right near q house and they let US in
4 but it sent our wagons rolling owe
: and over across the prsirieI aad ON
= oxen all stsmpeded pn on the hun
. OF them now"
I sit don't look like it had reaehe
: Atchison."i
! .No; I reckon it just took
: streak.h l ..
J, John hurried on down the rive
The road ran so near the bank tha
). the steady swash of the water SCENE
y under his feet. The birds were SIM
y ing in the trees, and the sunshin
came creeping down the bluffs over
. head. How eager he was to get hom
y that morning His heart was full
y new plans and new purposes. b
y could keep his promise, and he Woul
- he would never make Nancy
heart ache again by breaking tn
ees promise
y He stopped suddenly-bsd Il
n storm resched Summer? Tne ts
q buildings along the wharf were lea
a Ing roohess, one this way, Rnoth
"a that, as if the winds coming over Il
a bluffs had just reached low enoui
to unrOof them. He hastened aroul
n the foot OF the hill; there lay t
brick hotel, the boast of the town,
"a scattered fragments on the groun
4 like q wasp's nest scattered by t
In hOusekeeperis broom. He look
= around three-fourths Of the town i
l. in ruins.
s, How was 1t with bis home?
to ran I'D the street until he could 5
ne where 1t had stood. Gone /! Not
at vestige of it left. Aud bis family
Perhaps they had escaped before t
be storm. Perhaps. Scarce knoWi
ed what he did, ne hurried to the near'
Ie. house yet standing, and without ceT
10 mony opened the door. There was
* one in the room, but on q couch
,e- one corner q white sheet, "shrunk
ut to the sh=ill proportionsn OF T.
silent forms, attracted his attentic
On Moved by some strange impulse,
er turned back the covering that shrOJ
ed the faces-Nancy and tue baby
se Shocked, stunned, he sank on !
re knees and laid his face on that dG
form. Who can describe, who C
: comprehend the utter eesOlation
to that hour None but those who hs
ID. felt it. oh, the thoughts and meme
do les that crowded upon him, many
them bitter, regretfal thoughts. d
1T there was one memory for which
'ot was thankful, that he had not listen
to the tempter which whispered