The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-09-14
How Susie Went to the Fire.

Just Mt 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 squir-
rels paused in their frisking to regard it
with bright, cogitative 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 homely and
lonely thing. The forest trees tossed
their heads and bowed toward the little
log hut, saying, sit is very ugly" and
Immediately ripple ran all over the
prairie grass, and it answered, "Quite
true, we never saw anything so unsightly
before" But the strange beings who
had come to disturb them kept on at
their labor, and soon the cabin was COM
pleted.
Within dwelt a little girl by the name
of Susie. She did not live alone, for 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 like 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
loved the prairie flowers and the wind
which chased over the grass--I must
omit all that for the sake of telling one
little adventure which befell her.
When the log house had stood in its
place about three years, and had been
clasped and covered by the clinging
arms of the forest vines, Susie noticed,
one afternoon, great commotion in the
household. The neighbors who lived
nearest came and talked to her father
out in the meadow with hurried, excited
voices. Her brothers FASTENED to put
on their heavy boots and stout leather
mlttens. While her mother and sisters
went round with troubled faces, all the
men hurried off together to the prairie
how far she could not see in the gath
ering darkness. Soon after, the wind,
which came in slight puffs from the
direction in which they had gone,
brought with it the smell of smoke.
essay, mamma, where has papa gone,
and what makes everybody look so
frightened?" said Susie, pressing close
to her mothers side, with the sobs COM
ing in her voice.
"Susie dear, don't be frightened
don't cry, but be mammals little woman.
1t is prairie fire, and papa and the
boys have gone to help put it out"
"Will it come here, mamma-will ii
burn our house,"
"No, dear, hope not. 1t is a long
way off, and the men will burn some OF
the grass not far from the fields, 80 that
when the big fire gets there it will stop,
because there will be nothing for it to
burn; and then, if it does get on this
side and come near the corn and wheat,
they will beat it 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 the men, who would be up all night
Susie stood at the door in the darkness
and looked toward the south, where she
saw, lar away, uuii feu Bleaii, Whici
sometimes flashed up brightly, but more
often seemed to her excited fancy like {
great fiery snake, crawling toword he
home. Out here lay her fathers corn
fields, and there came the dreadful fire
ready to devour them.
Then thought flashed into her mind
Susie was courageous little girl, an,
had energy enough for two. Perhap
she might help to put out the fire He
mother and sisters were too busy to no
tice her movements. Without pausini
TO think what mamma might wish her +
do. she ran through the door-yard, AZ,
was soon making her way across th
meadow toward the corn-felds. The,