Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1882-02-22

They went gaily along sometimes
pausIng to gather Wild blossom or
ieathery fern, Tho flowers were very
rare at that time Of the year, and they
did not grudge climb to obtain one II
they saw Ii peeping out above their
heads, So employed, and chatterine
all tho time as only little girls can chat
ter, they did not note how quickly time
flew but when they reached the spring
they were very hungry, and saw by
the sun that II was quite three o'clock,
instead Of noon, the At which they
should arrive there. Still, they could
get to their aunt's by sundown, and
they were not much troubled by being
q little late, but sat down mcrrily to
eat their luncheon, They had little
Pat of butter and roll of bread, with
some cold chicken, and for dessert they
had grapes and oranges, Their dishes
were two tin plates and tin cup, and
but one knife, so that am afraid their
fingers were very useful as forks. They
were miles away from any house, but
although neither would have been there
alone for the world, yet, as they were
together, u gayer pair .could not have
been found.
The great walls Of the canon, or
gulch, at the bottom Of which they
were, rose nearly straight above them,
covered with wild oats aud matted,
tangled grasses, beneath the thick
underground and towering trees. Where
they sat at the spring there was tiny
patch ofgrccn allclse wosdryas the bed
ofa kiln. Very hot it was, too, for no
breath of air stirred in that deep trough
the breeze sprang across above them.
They packed up their little basket, and
began to go forward. On each side,
not ten feet from them, the steep wall
of the canon began to rise, and it SEEM
ed to meet the sky. In front their
path made gradual, rugged ascent
ending in steep climb, which would
bring them at last to the plateau above.
What I call the path. was nothing but
no ,.i.rn It winter torrent, ~. ....,
now, and rough with stones, and limbs
and great clods of earth.
They walked on only a short dis
tance when the bright sunlight was
obscured for moment, causing Minnie
to look up, surprised at cloud at that
time of year and day. Minnie was
brave girl, and had lived all her
thirteen years among these hills, but
her knees bent beneath her as she look
cd in terror at this cloud 1t was moi
one that you have ever seen the like Of
l hope. 1t curled lazily upward, and,
where the sun shone through, it was Of
faint, brownish red. Too we'll Min
ME knew smoke, not water, formed
that cloud, and that great forest-frc
must be raging to the windward, carry
ing certain death to any living thing
that should be caught in the canor
where she and Louisa stood. She
shiyered for moment as though an icy
blast had struck through the hot air
and then her resolute little mouth COM
messed itself in firm lines, and she
calmly examined the danger. They
were going north, with the west on th'
left hand, and the east on the right
On the left she could see smoke behint
them, but it was very thin and had
come long way. Directly to the lef
it seemed little heavier, but still no
from near fire; but farther up TOWARD
the north, she saw heavy column
rising on the left, and gradually ex
tending across the very path they wer'
to travel.
"Lou," said she, in low tone
"we must climb that bank on the right
and 90 to Mr.. Highbate's farm"
"Why, Minimize, we can never gel
up there, and where is Mr.. High
bate's?' said Louisa, looking first a
the great hill, and then at Minnie,
"Listen," said Minnie. "You mus
do just what say, or we shall both
be burned. Do you see that smoke
there to the west! 1t is fire, and i
will soon be rushing through this mar
row canon, where we can never escape
it if we remain. We must climb out
for the fire is in front of us, and it w
can only get to Mr.. Highbate's farm
three miles east Of here, we shall b.
SAFE"
"But there can't be much fire owe
there" said Louisa, pointing to tn
left; /; "look, how little smoke there is.
Minnie shook her head.
"That only shows tkat it is SOM
distance away yet, and gives US
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