Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1881-06-25
M M'MINNvTILE, TENNEssFE, SATURDAY, JUNE 25,

Farmer Whitley wondered how his
brother could have got the news so
quickly, but he supposed that he must
have seen the smoke from his house.
The horse made better time on the
turnpike, and twice the farmer looked
back to see the tall column of smoke
rising over the woods.
On and on he rode, as fast as the poor
old horse could go. Perhaps there would
yet be time 10 save the house.
Ah what's thatp Smoker He stop
ped the horse and looked ahead. There
was column of inky smoke rising over
the trees. 1t was the steamer!
4 He had just time to turn aside upon
the grass when it came up -four horses
on the full run, and the driver standing
up and cracking his long whip over
their heads. 1t went laundering by,
leaving trail of sparks behind it upon
the ground. 6 .,s
x YIlat's thatg A cloud af dust in the
road-a bell ringing furi6hsly. In an
instant the hose carriage came tearing
along the road, and behind it came a
light express-wagon, full of men and
boys. ltr JOB
It was his brother from Hazeldell,
with the two boys, Jack and Teddy, and
half dozen firemen.
Farmer Whitley did not stop to ask
how they got the news. He only turned
his horse and followed the frantic pro-
cession amid cloud of dust and smoke,
as it raced along the dusty turnpike.
The blazing barn sent up columns of
smoke, and showers of sparks fell over
all that part of the farm.
A load of hay in the fields took fire,
and burned till the wheels of the hay
cart fell to pieces. Nobody paid any
attention to it, for the house was in
great danger.
Twice the roof took fire, but they
managed to pour water from the attic
window and put it out. At last spark
lodged on the cornice behind the
chimney, where it was not seen for a
few moments, and very soon corner of
the house was all afre. Then there was
the widest confusion. The house would
go. Nothing could save
Hurrah! Here's the engine!''
1t came up the hill, tore round the
house right through the flowers garden
to the well, and in half minute the
hose-cart was there and all the men. In
exactly three minutes they had on a
good stream. The house was saved!
The barn was total loss, and the en-
} CINE played upon the ruins to prevent
} the sparks from flying.
: Farmer Whitley invited his brothers
, and the boys and all the firemen to sup.
per, for every one was tired and hungry
Even the engine horses were let out into
, the fields to have a roll and bite o.
grass.
I OF course, they all talked it over, anC
said the engine came just in time; ye
| there was one thing nobody could ui
/ derstand-how did the brothers and tn,
; firemen get the newsp
"Well," said the captain of the fire
company, "the first thing we knew
your nevies-the little chaps from Ha
zeldell-came to the station and told us
! They didn't holler fire in the streets, bu
they just said as how you had fire
9 OF course, we hitched up and started
t right away, and when we were about (
mile out on the road we saw the smoke
How the boys found it out is more thai
{ | know"
Brother Whitelsy, from Beechwood
! said:
: 81 was in the barn, just putting tn
= horse in, when Emma and Sally cam
: out with the extinguisher and said you
: barn was on fire. | don't know hoy
4 they heard of it, unless they saw tn
smoke. Even then don't understan,
it, for they said it was the barn, and W
! can't see the barn from our house,"
: Sophie and Fred and Jack and Tedd
i were solemn as owls, and never said
word. .t.
Brother Whitley, from Hazeldel
y said:
: 81 was at the post-olfice with tn
q team when l saw the engine start Out
n The boys came along just then and sal
it was your barn, and took them u
and the fremen, and started. How th
:, boys heard of it l couldn't guess"
4 Then it all came out, and everybod
# wanted to kiss Sophie. Every one sal
:. she was bright and sensible girl
). call the firemen and her uncles. Sh
= had saved her fathers house by callin
V the engine with a heliograph.-GoIde
= DdVS.