The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1878-10-09

their cribs, while in the midst OF them sat the
old grandmother, smilingly placidly at their
lively chatter. a
Weird gave Mrs Stacey seat and placed
her to his mother, he asked anxisusly for his
wife.
She was in the kitchen, looking tired and
worried. He saw this, as he began In 8 low
tone to explain to her who their visitor was,
and her claims upon their hospitality.
But in a loud angry voice she interrupted
him, saying, "Now, Johh that's just like you
taking the food and clothing from your own
family to give to beggars, Here am slavin'
and worryin' from mornin to night TO take
care of these children and your old mother,
yet you bring me two more you've picked up,
and expect me to feed and provide for them"
"But wife, I couldn't leave the poor woman
to perish In the flames, or remain homeless
and supperless this chilly night, ss535
Mrs. Ward was not q heartless woman. She
was thrifty, and nxlous to get ahead, and had
much to try her. 1t distressed her to find that
manage as economically as she could, she
could hardly keep John out Of debt. Just
then she laid 1t all to her husbands charity
to others. Therefore, seeing only her side Of
the argument, she said:
Why must you always be saddled with
such people? They see you are easily i'm
posed upon, and so we have to bear the con
SEQUENCES" %4
Mrs. Stacey could not help hearing the con-
Versation. Putting down her child, she
walked to the kitchen door, aud opening 1t,
said, in q faltering tone: Ell aa sg5
Mrs. Ward, Pm no begger This morning
] was in my own home. This afternoon the
fire came, and l had to flee before it, My
house and everything in it we're burned to
ashes Mr.. Ward saved my life and my boys
reward him for his kindness. He asked me
to his house to pass the night; but I'll not
stay where Pm not wanted, nor be the cause
of strife. May the devouring flames never
leave you as homeless and friendless as they
have left me-"
These words touched Mrs. Ward. As Mrs
Stacey turned away, she sprang towards her
and said, earnestly:
ooh, forgive me! did not think what you
had endured. You shall stay, and I'll give
you the beast the house affords. Come, let's
all SIT down to tea. Then, John you must
tell us everything about the fire and your es-
cape" .NEaT y. %G&2 #@5@#
She turned pale and trembled as she listen
ed to his account of the fearful risks they had
run. F3# III hIlsE4 aE4t g5%
"John," asked his old mother, 'twill the fire
reach US %
II think not. It is not Speeding in this
direction, and trust we are perfectly safen
Yet with fear in their hearts, that night, be-
fore retiring, John Ward and his wife went
out and climbed high rocE, near the house.,
where they could see the danger threatened
But around them was only the green, dewy
woods, and above the clear, peaceful starlight.
Feeling relieved, they sought the rest both so
| much needed. }3aE
The next morning. messenger came to
the Village to say the fire was spreading with
fearful rapidity, and that help was needed to
fight it back.
The men Of the village responded to the
call, and all day and nearly all night, in COM
pany with the larger force, they fought the
fearful confagration.
But famed by strong west wind, although
battied and driven back at one point, like an
unrelenting foe, the fire pushed forward its
columns in another, and often, before the
men were aware, they saw the TANKS Of the
battle turned, and themselves almost sur
rounded by the flames.
Ward at last became alarmed for the safety
OF his family, and returned home. He found
the greatest excitement prevailing in the
village. ! he fire had attacked the other side
OF the mountain, and they feared it would
sweep ever and come down upon them.
Ward saw that the wind was still carrying
the names in an opposite direction; yet he
tod MS wife to dress the children in thickest
for any emergency. Then, completely ex-
hausted, he lay down to rest.
He had slept but a few hours when Mrs
stacey came running in, with a report from
the lower houses that the fire was approach
ing from another point. They were in dam
ger OF being hemmed in, and must make their
escape at once
Old Mrs. Ward begged her son to leave her,
urging that her life was nearly ended, at best,
and that she would only retard their flight.
But he positively refused, and catching up
the two children, while his wife took the
twins, they all started to follow the rest Of the
inhabitants. Mrs. Stacey had taken the baby
and with her own little boy, was already il
the advance s.. 4si
For over mile the old mother walked, aid
ed as much as possible by her son; but of
necessity, their progress was slow The exer-
ton proved too much for her. She sank to
The ground exhausted. Her son assisted her
to rise, and urged her to make an effort to
keep up little longer; but she begged him
TO leave her and save the rest of the family.
The flames were crawling nearer They
could hear the cracking and The crash of the
great trees as they fell. He tried to persuade
the children to run on by his side; but terri
fed by the awful scene, they chung screaming
to him, and refused to move. For time. in
his desperation. he tried te carry them all. .
buC Ine IRE was advancing SO rapidly, he
saw that he must abandon his mother, or the
whole family perish. She now earnestly
pleaded with him, for the sake of the little
ones, to put her down and fee for his life.
she was not afraid to meet death. 1t would
pc out moments paDg, then heavenly ioy
forever. - 5.-''> ~
With agroan ofagony, he acquiesced, vet
drew her as far as possible out Of the direct
line OF the fire. Then, clasping her in his
you?'' - : G ieo''o
go, go, my son! AS you have been faithful
to me, may God deal faithfully with YOU and
yours Don't grieve that you left me-" "a
am describing an actual occurrence. Il
seems almost impossible that a generous, du
tiful son could leave his aged mother to die
by the cruel torture of the flames. but the
safety OF his own children and of his wife an.
pealed to his heart and at the moment #
seemed to him better that one should be left.
rather than that the whole family should Der.
ISL. -. - 81 - ~
Ward started forward, but before passing
out OF sight turned for one more look,
His neither was kneeling, with hands
clasped and eyes raised in silent prayer. The
approaching flames il1umined her pale face.
but twas calm and peaceful. 8
lie stood like one in trance till his wife
who chad pushed ahead. besought him to
! hasten on She didn't know which way to 90
for the fire seemed to be everywhere. His
mother also saw his hesitation. and motioned
him away 's lIS5'T 800 -
Ward could hardly endure that last sight,
ne turned desperately away, came rapidly to
his Wife's side, and placing the children at her
feet, lung himself into tree to obtain a more
extended view. 77a.iISa17E
| After glance ronnd ha s,,ro,o+ 4 c>,,r,,