Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1880-12-18

short time sll.was ready lcr our depart
are. We soon heard great shouting,
end, looking from. the window, sAw
eight or ten men guiding : floating
wagon. The water reached their breasts
aud il wss with the greatest difficulty
that they guided The wagon clese under
our window. AZ ! looked ont, ! ssw
that there was q bed IN this new-fash-
toned boat.
.Mollie,' said Tom, 'you will have TO
jump from the window into the wagon.
Courage, dear wife; the trial will soon
be over The water, BY this time, had
come in at the door, and was slowly,
surely making its way from room to
room. Fear lent me courage and strength,
and, closing my eyes, with silent pray
er for help, jumped into the rocking
vehicle below. How the water ragged !
and surged about us! For moment, it
seemed as if we must all 60 down. But
the men held on with united strength
and the wagon ceased to rock so vio-
lently.
Tom dropped blanket, with which
to cover me, and then jumped from the
window into the water among the men.
Katie he called back, we will return
for you and the children. Keep up yonr
courage MY baby!' / screamed. /
will not 60 without my baby? Tom
tried in vain to quiet me. would not
listen. MY babyv cried. 4 will not
leave my baby' And ! sat up in the
wagon, as if meditating plunge into
the water.
Here is the little fellow said fami-
liar voice. take him, Mr.. Stevens I
looked up, and saw Mr.. Pierce in the
window, holding the baby out to Tom.
In the midst of my excitement, had
time to wonder how he came there.
Tom handed me my little blue-eyed
darling, and / lay back, satisfied. Never
shall i forget that journey. The rain
fell in torrents, the angry waters rushed
around the bed in which lay, holding
my baby in my arms expecting death
each instant. The gallant men strug-
gled on. tho wstsr reaehing their shoul-
lers, ever rising higher and higher.
Fences, young trees, fragments Of every
description doated by US, impeding our
progress, threatening destruction; but
God, in His lo-ing mercy, saved us. By
degrees, We left the direct course Of the
flood behind us, the water grew lower
and lower, and the men were enabled to
draw the wagon straight up to our
fathers door. Tom carried me into the
house, where his mother and sisters
we've anxiously watching for us, and
| loving hands attended to all my wants.
The baby escaped uninjured; bnt !, the
danger and excitement over, became
unconscious, and for weeks my life was
| despaired OF. Not until long time af-
terward, was l able to hear Katie's
story. Mr.. Pierce had been one of the
helpers until be saw that Katie was to
be left alone. Then he determined to
stay behind, too. The water rose so
rapidly that they were obliged to seek
shelter on the roof before help came.
Here it was, in the midst of the danger,
that they came to- understand each
other, and Katie has since confessed to
me that the half hour spent on the root
of the little house, in the pouring rain,
with the flood roaring around them,
was the happiest she had ever known.
So ended the most exciting episode OF
my uneventful life, and my grand-chil'
. dren never tire of listening to the story
of the rising of the river.-Mary B. Ferry
in N. Y. Independent.