Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1878-06-22
The Prairie Fire.

What are YOU going to do with match.
es'" asked Mrs. Ilerkimer of her boy oI
nine years, a. she detected him in the act
of putting a handful Of matches in his
pocket, previous tn starting after the
cows.
81 always like To have some along
with me in case o 'mergency," answered
the boy, pausug in the work as he
caught the repruaching glance OF his
mother.
~ don't think any emergency will
arise that will justify me in allowing
you to carry matches, for there's no know
ing what mischevous boy would do.
You might fire the prairie, for instance,
and do great damage, besides running
the risk OF burning up yourself and SIS
ter" replied the mother, replacing the
matches in the box. "Now run along,
and be sure to get back before dark"
said Mrs. Herkimer, as Frank and the
little sister of only seven years started
upon their daily ramble upon the prairie
to drive home the COWS.
It was q wild and lonely spot, the last
house in the little settlement, two miles
from the nearest neighbours. while to the
west the prairie extended in an unbroken
expanse for the distance of fifteen miles,
without another human habitation. The
cattle grazed and fattened upon the free,
wild pssturage, and it was the children g
task to drive them home at night. Mr..
Herkimer had gone 10 mill, distance of
thirty miles, and would not return that
night, but it was not place likely 10 be
infested with desperadoes, and the wife
felt no fear.
It was one of those dreamy Indian
summer days, and the children wandered
along, stopping occasionally to watch the
flight Of the prairie chickens that started
from the grass, almost beneath their feet,
or to gather gum from the resin weed,
which furnishes that childish luxury so
abundsntly.
The cows had wandered further than
usual, and they we're at least two miles
away when they found and turned them
home.
1--WE must hurry, Frank; it is almost
sundown!" said the little girl, glancing
toward tho west.
I'm not afraid! Cows always know
the way home, and even if we were lost
We would only have to follow them" re-
piled the boy.
allow smoky it isl Look at that cloud
coming up in the west, and see how
strangely the cows act! Do you s'pose
it's going to storms" asked the sister, ap-
prehensively.
The boy glanced in the direction indi-
Gated. "Run! the prairie's on fire!' he
shouted, seiziDg her hand and bounding
toward the house as fast as their feet
could carry them.
1t was indeed too true. Some hunters
passing through the country had fired it
several miles from the settlement, little
thinking of the consequences which
might follow their thoughtlessness. A
light breeze was blowing from the west
which seemed to increase in strength,
sweeping the flames rapidly before it.
The cows believing frigbtfully dashed
madly across the plain, followed by the
fear stricken children, in helpless race
with the wind.
They had traversed the first half mile
when the girl fsliered, and gasped, 20,
Frank, Im 60 tired. csat run any
moreT-
"Ycu must, Nellie, you'll be burned
up If y U -top- ANSWERED the brother,
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