The Indiana State sentinel., 1881-06-22
Out I'm the Storm.

That story ABOUT the DaDy IN the storm
Oh, yes, I'll tell you all about It. See there's
the scar on his dear little forehead yet-he'll
carry it all his life, they say-but 1 shall
never get over being thankful he came out
of it so much better than did, the darling.
And Janet glanced at her poor. crooked
arm as she settled herself more comfortably
fora long talk.
IThis was the way it came about Mother
said to me one Saturday afternoon, Janet,
/ am going over to the village; will take
the little girls with me, and want you TO
take good care of Harry till / come back
"This arrangement did not suit me at all.
had other plans for the afternoon, and l
said, But mother, promised Mary Hatha-
way 1 would go down there this afternoon.
She is going oshow me new stitch for my
embroidery
Il don't like to interfere with you, dear,
mother said, but it seems to me you have
been running there quite often this week,
and must have your help now.'
This was true, but it made no difference
in the fact of my wanting to go again.
s'' Can't Bridget take care of himP l
said
"'No, she has too much else to de-
st Il hate being. tied to babies all the time
/ snarled. Il think we might keep a nurse
as we'll as the Hathaways. Mary never has
to be bothered with the young Ones Mother
looked at me with a look which begged for
something better from me, but l kept the
scowl on my face till saw them drive from
the gate. She said good-by to me with a
loving smile, which faded out, as L would
not return it. Even when 1 saw three
hands waved to me as they turned the cor
ner, souSo Ugly thins a. my heart kept my
hand dSwn, aiEhonsh half a nIinuto later /
would have given anything for chance OF
answering mothers smile.
az carried baby ont into the grove at the
back of the house, and dumped him into the
hammock, feeling cross and miserable
y enough. He sat there cooling and growing
and laughing in way which would have
put better temper into any one but me. l
sat on the ground beside him, fussing away
at my embroidery, but / could not get it
right, and 1 got crosser and crosser. At
last Harry stretched over toward me, and
took rather rough grasp of one of my
ears and good handful of hair with it.
He did it to pull my face around for kiss,
but as his pretty lace came against mine
with bump, l jumped up and spoke sharply
TO him. 1 laio him down with shake,
saying, Go to sleep now, you little tease
"He put up grieved lip, and sobbed as
swung him. 1t was about the time of his
afternoon nap, and he was asleep in few
minutes.
"Then 1 tried my embroidery again, but
it was no use-I could not get tie right
stitch without some help from Mary. Then
a thought came scross my mind-why could
1 not just run down there2 Baby would
surely sleep for an hour, and could easily
be back within that time. He could not
possibly fall out of the hammock, for there
were strings tied to some of the cords, which
4 could be fastened above him. thought of
telling Bridget L going. so she would
have 'an eye out in case he should awake,
| but knew she would be grabbed about il.
1 and feel as if l was imposing on her, even
IT he did not give single peep So
tied him in very carefully; he gave another
little sob as kissed him, and L was so sorry
had been cross to him. In ten minutes
more l was running in at Mrs. Hathaway's
gate.
Il had been going toward the North, so 1
did not notice that black, curiously
shaped cloud, which lay low in the South AS L
LEFT home, was rising very fast. Mrs.
Hathaway told me Mary was out in an
arbor back of the house, so ran out there,
and for q little while we were so deep in the
embroidery that forgot to notice how dark
lightning-oh, how white and terrible that
lightning wasl It came all about us; we
seemed wrapped up in it; and such a burst
of thunder as / never heard before or since.
1t sounded like cannon-ball falling right
at our feet"
GAS soon as we could move we flew into
the house. was wild with fright as | saw
the awful blackness in the sky. Great drops
of rain began to fail, and peal after peal of
thunder came, rs / snatched my bonnet and
rushed to the door. Mary seized my arm
and held me back She cried, you must
not go; indeed, yoa shall not go out in such
a storm
Mrs. Hathaway came up to me, too, and
she put her arm around me. why, Janet,
you can not go, my child. 1t might be at
the risk of your life.'
"I think they almost meant to keep me
by force, but screamed out, i must gol /
will willp and broke away from them
and rushed out into tie binding storm. /
couldn't think of anything except the poor
baby had left all alone. There was no
one there TO take care OF him, no one knew
where he was, and in the noise of the storm
nobody could hear him scream.
"The rain poured down in sheets by the
time / reached Mrs. Hathsway's gate. 1t
seemed almost to beat me down to the
ground, and the water was over my shoes in