The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1880-10-14


sound behind me-louder than all the
thunder. | heard a long, rafting
crash, and then another. 1t was Mrs.
Hathaway's house and barn going to
pieces, but l didn't know it then.
heard people scream; l heard al sorts
of things whizzing about me. but it was
too dark to see much. Things came
striking against me, and soon a heavy
thing came banging against me on one
side, and lust as / was falling down
something seemed to pick me up. and
| was whirled and twisted round and
round, till L didn't know anything
more.
"When opened my eyes the rain
was falling on my face. 1t was lighter,
and | saw boards and timbers. and
trees and branches and bushes, living all
about me. l was in a field not far
from home. / felt dizzy, and didn't
remember anything at first, and then
thought of little Harry, and sprang up
to run to him. But, oh, how sick and
sore l felt! When L tried to lift
heavy branch which was living partly
over me, could raise only one of my
arms.
'.But my feet were all right, and ran
as faSta could toward home. saw my
father in the road in front of the house,
looking up and down, with a white,
frightened face. He hurried toward
me.
Where have you, been, child?' he
said. Il must 90 to see if anything has
happened to your mother, but | could
not 90 till | knew you and Harry were
safe-Why, dear you are hurt!' rs4
"But Iran past him, crying. The
baby, father, he's in the hammock
come quickn
when we got around to the grove
screamed at what L saw. The trees
lay about as if a scythe had mowu them
down. l hardly knew the place, or
where to look for Harry.
Zone of the trees the hammock was
/ tied to was lying exactly where had
left my little brother. Another treewas
blown right across it. Father did not
stop to look, but called the hired man,
and they brought axes and saws. l,
stopped down and listened, though [
/ felt sure the dear little one must be
dead Bot heard sad little sob. as
if he had cried till he was worn out.
was so glad, / got up and danced. But
! father shook his head and said, He's
alive, but how do we know how he may
be hurt They chopped away at the
\ branches, while held my breath, OH
\ how long, l0ng it seemed to wait, |
/ crouched down and cTept as near the
/ baby as | could. l called to him ahdhe
gave pitiful little cry; he expected me
/ to take him at once, and was glad, he
| rot angry because he had to wait. He
/ tried to free himself from the hammock,
and began to hope he might not be
much hurt.
/ AT last a great branch was taken
away, and got closer to him. called
/ father, and we looked under, and |
/ heard him say, Thank Godn
/ 'eThere the little darling was, in q
kind of little bower made by two big
/ branches which came down on each
side of him. They had saved him when
the other tree fell. His forehead was
scratched deeply, but nothing else allied.
him, Father reached in and cut sway
/ the hammock with his knife. and drew
him out with hands that shook as if he
had, an. ague fit, The little fellow held
out his arms to me; but Is | tried to
take him my strength all seemed to. go
away. / grew dizzy. and fell down.
Bridget took the child, and father car
ried me in and laid me on a bed. l3am
"Theh he and Bridget tried to get
us into dry clothes. But cried out
every time they touched me, till father
was nearly at his wits end 1 called
aloud for mother. knew she would
not hurt me so.
eel will 90 now and see where she
is, DEAR father said at last, wiping his
forehead The good Lord only knows
where she may be-and the little ones.
| III bring some one to help you, poor
child r5 -.--s..,.
THE sun was shining brightly again
by this time, but as | lay there, with a
great deal of pain in my arm and head,
l seemed to feel that black storm COM
ing after me vet. The roar, roar. roar
kept on in my head, and the bed was
whirling up in the clouds with me. and
Mary Hathaway was holding me, while
some one pelted me with the stars; and
mother said, 'Oh, my poor darling
look at her headr' ... - ....,
Then the moon peeped at me, and
said, Her arm is broken in twOp places
1t was the doctor who said this, and
mother had really come to me. After
that l seemed to be climbing and climb
inc through trees-oh, so longi i kept
on for years, always hunting for little
Harry, hearing him cry for me. and
never able to reach him. But at lastI
saw light had been in the dark all
the time-and l struggled toward it
and looked out. Mother was there, but
not Harry. rf. -E
"'sWhere is he? | cried.
".Who dear?' she said. -
"'Whv, the baby little Harry.2
said. L was almost up to him. H.
'''Here he is
''She lifted him up to me, and tried
70 take him, but l could not raise my
self, and was glad to find that Twas in
my own bed. | went off into a long
sleep. and when [ awoke | didn't want
anything except to lie quiet and know
mother was caring for me, and that
Harry sometimes came toddliDg into
my room, for he had learned to walk
during the long weeks l had been sick.
"Well, this is about all there is of {.
My arm was long time getting well,
and will always be crooked. like this.
The doctor said it would have got en-
tirely well If it had not been for the
fever.
but, dear me, how much thinking
| did when my head got clear enough
to Think When was ont in the
storm all | had ever heard about the
wrath of God on the children Of DISC
bedience seemed to come back to me-
How l was punished If i had been
faithful to my duty should have been
rnfn OF hong when the Storm CANA,