The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-09-27
A Narrow Escape

"Calcb, SAID Dinah, suddenly, "Lhcrc
isn't drop of water to make poor Grandma
a cup of teal"
Instantly, Caleb was overturning things
in one corner to get at a watcr-pail When
it was found, and rope to make fast to it,
the four children went into "mother's
room" and Caleb cautiously raised the
heavy sash. In came tho cold wind and
the colder breath from the great cakes of
ice that went surging past the stones of the
house; for the river had broken up. The
sight was appealing One young head
vcnturod out and another and another, un-
til all had had n glance at the wild waste
of whirling waters that surrounded Drcw's
Folly on each and every side.
Wifi burst into flood of tears, and Roy
said
81 think we'd ought to be a-saying our
prayers stead of getting supper to cat, only
l am most awful hungry"
Wits tears were not quenched, nor was
Roy's little speech noticed for Caleb had
lot the pail down into the boiling, tumbling
surge that rushed by, not more than four
feet below the window-ledgc. AS the pail
touched water, an immense cake of ice
struck it, and away went pail, rope and ice,
although Caleb strove to hold on with such
desperate clutch that the rope cut into
his palms as it was pulled throug gh them.
''The water is rising just awful now,"
said Caleb, wringing his hands liz pain,
"Anyhow, water we must have" de-
cided Dinah; and whilst Caleb held his
hands to endure the pain better, she went
to search for another pail. Roy staid with
Caleb, and Wifi went to help Dinah.
"You shall have the tea soon, now,
Grandma, DEAR" Dinah stopped to say
and then began vigorous ovcrturning of
the utensils lying about the room.
1t was raining no longer, and through q
rift in the clouds the moon shonc down lust
rs Caleb put his head out, and looking up
the river, saw mighty tree coming down
on the flood.
'It III come against tho house, right up
to this window" he cried, and his first i'm
pulse was to close the window 1t was ar
rested by sound that no tempest ever ut
tered note OF. 1t was human cry, and
it said:
"Helpl Hclpl"
'Hold onl hold on" yelled Caleb out
flash Of motion he seized the nearest thing
to his hand and thrust it forth, bending
over the ledge to do so, at tho very instant
Dinah rushed to his side. With the quick
ness Of thought, she fell upon her knees be-
hind him and threw her arms about his
body, while Wifi, with cry, seized one of
his legs and held on with all his strength,
and Roy tried his utmost--happily, with
out succcss--to let the sash down on his
back, so determined was he not to lose
him.
Down came the, big tree, It's branches
struggling in vain in the grasp of the wa
tcrs, and Its mighty boughs sha''cn as no
wind had ever amitten them. There clung
for life to the tree, dcspairlng, helpless
man, --despairing until he perceived that
tho current would dash the tree full against
the house. The light of the moon gave to
him eight of tho open window, and from
1t outstrotchcd, awaiting his possible grasp.
the friendly chair that Caleb had seized.
1t was u strong, old-fashioned, honestly
wrought chair, that had been made by the
original Caleb Drew. The tree camc on !;
for an instant it ground against tho masonry
of tho Folly, then crash Of glass in sash
below was heard as limb went through it
IA pause---and the tree broke loose and
went on. But In that chance, that pause,
that instant of delay, a hand grasped tho
chair, another clutched the stone ledge, and
tho man gained faat hold of the still above.
Oh, that was a moment worth living for |