American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1880-11-13

| sad, 50 and take the children with YOU.
- 1t is too late TO take the children. but
l will go, Mollie, and bring help" she
answered, calmly; and, placing little
she babe him be good boy and take
care of mamma Keep up good cour-
age, dear" she said, kissing me. Il
VIII bring help soon.' My reflections,
when L was LETT alone. were not pleas
ant ones. l was too weak To be fully
conscious of the danger; and yet the
| thought that | was n woman, sick and
alone in house with two little children,
with a raging torrent. rising higher and
higher. at our door, filled me with ter
ror. But l prayed for strength and
courage as | tried to quiet poor little
ROBBIE. who was badly frightened. The
baby slept on, calmly unconscious
through it all, and it comforted me to
think that, as the infant lay sleeping in
my arms. even so might 1 lie in the
arms of my Heavenly Father, peaceful,
in life or il death.
But was not left long alone. Katie
soon returned, her clothes wet and her
cheeks flushed with excitement Her
long hair had fallen down and hung
around her like a golden veil. l had
never seen her look lovelier. Moliie,
darling" she said, eagerly, "help will
soon come to us now. Tom will be here
with men and beats, and all will be
we'll" "Boatsr l cried. sis the
water high enough to float boat,
Katie?" yes" she answered. "The
water has risen above the fences by this
time" l sat up and looked at her.
"How did you ever get to the factory.
and why did you not stay there9" L
asked. 81 did not go to the factroy.''
she replied. blushing. II met Mr..
Pierce.'' ''Mr. Pierce!" 1 echoed, in
establishment. "Where was he goingP
Do, Katie, tell me all about it,
"Well," she replied. demurely, .'he
was going TO the river, and the river
met him; so there was a collision. But
| lie down, Mollie," she added with a
change of tone, "aud will tell you all.
had not gone far on my way before
1 found there was to be struggle.
| The water was already above my
| knees and the current so strong
that 1 could scarcely keep my footing,
| but managed pretty well for time by
walking along by the fence! but soon I
had to cross the road, and think then,
if had not remembered you and the
children, my courage would have failed
me. left my hold of the fence and
stepped boldly forward. Oh! how
strong the current was. How the river
roared around me, as if to mock my
fear. just at this instant saw a man
walking through the flood toward me.
As he drew near, saw that it was Mr..
Pierce. l shouted to him to go back
to the factory for help; but could not
make my voice heard above the turmoil
of the water. l saw his lips move but
could hear no sound. The water was
by this time above my waist. the raging
torrent broke in foam around me. as if
angry at any obstacle that would bar
| its way. expected each instant to be
drawn swiftly down to the dark death
below. l thought of the great mill
wheel and shuddered. At last Mr..
Pierce reached my side. He spoke no
word; but. throwing his arm around me,
supported me until L gained a little
strength. Leave me" cried as soon
as could speak, land go back for help.
Mollie and the children are alone in the
house, helpless. Leave me and go for
Tom, before it be to late"
"When you are out of danger, then 1
will return was his answer. "They
are safe in the house for some time to
come, and You must be taken care of
first" l still urged him to return; but
he would otlisten. "Come,' he said,
"there is no time to be lost. The SOON
er you are out of danger the sooner will
help.come to your sister" yielded at
that, and, struggling with the dark
water that threatened every moment to
engulf US, we slowly fought our way
back to the house, and he has returned
for help" Katie had scarcely finished
her story when the door opened and
Tom came in. He was pale. but calm
and quiet. Mollie. DEAR he said,
coming to the bed and taking me in his
arms, "we must leave the house as
soon as possible. l have procured help
and you must be ready when it comes. "
's Tom" cried, 50 cannot go. Take
Katie and the children and leave me-"
was trembling with fear and weakness
and hardly knew what said. The riv-
err looked to me like some mighty mon
ster, seeking to devour me. Blu. Tom
and Katie soothed and claimed me, and
in very short time all was ready for
our departure. We soon heard great
shouting. and, looking from the win
dow, saw eight or ten men guiding a
floating wagon. The water reached
their breasts, and it was with the great
est difficulty that they guided the wagon
close under our window. As 1 looked
out, saw that there was a bed in this
new-fashioned 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 prayer 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 go down. But the men held on with
united strength and the wagon ceased
to rock so violently.
| Tom dropped a blanket, with which
to cover me, and then jumped from the
window into the water among the men.
"Katie," he called back. .we will re-
turn for you and the children Keep
up your courage" MY babyr' 1
screamed. II will not go without my
babyr' Tom tried in vain to quiet me-
1 would not listen. my babyr'
cried. 81 will not leave my baby"
And sat up in the wagon, as if medi-
tating plunge into the water.
"Here is the little fellow" said o
familiar voice. Take him, Mr.
Stevens" l looked up. and saw MIR.
Pierce in the window, holding the baby
out to Tom. In the midst of my excite
ment, l had time to wonder how he
came there.
Tom handed me my little blue-eyed
darling, and 1 lay back, satisfied
Never shall forget that journey. The
rain fell in torrents, the angry waters
rushed around the hed in (which 7 low