The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1882-06-20
TO get down and give the alarm had slip
ped on the ladder and fallen to the

TO get down and give the alarm had slip
ped on the ladder and fallen to the
ground, severely spraipiue his ankle.
"You must burn shtreak, Miss Milly,
and just as quick as ever We can, for the
fire is comm like an express thrain."
Milly understood-she had often heard
of it-and already the matches and some
bits Of paper were in her hand.
Where, Pat :" she called.
"Uut forninst yon wire fence. I'll
dhraw water, and Hannah must carry it
till We TO sprinkle the ground this side
yer fire." and Patrick dragged him elf
painfully to the well.
MilIy did as she was told and every
thing succeeded bravelv. The fright had
wonderful effect on Hannah's rheuma,-
ic limbs, and she carried water on the
double quick.
On came the great 6re-nearer aud
nearer. Milly could hear the roaring
and Kissing of the flames, the trampling
and snorting of horses, and the below
ing of cattle as they raced for life.
! At the right and eft of ler fire they
passed, but the child scarcely noticed
them. She dimly saw, through the
smoke, several gaunt prairie wolves lash
by; but it seemed perfectly natural and
she hal no thought OF lear. She was
saving her home
With wet blankets she whipped back
the fire when it threatened to come where
it should not. At last she had the sat.
isfaction OF seeing so wide helt of burnt
land between her home and the great
fire that she felt sure they were safe. and
she started to seek refuge from the blind
ing smoke in the house her efforts had
saved; but borne on the wind far up in
mid-air came sailing mass of straw
and, to Milly's horror, it fell on the
house roof. With almost superhuman
swiftness she ran toward the new scene
OF danger. Up the s'airs she datted,
catching, as she ran, broom. From a
dormer window she climbed oni on the
roof, and with the broom showed the
| flaming straw to the ground, where it
was quenched by Pa.
Hannah was bv this time at the open
window with water Tor Milly to pour on
the new.blszing roof. She caught pail
and dashed the contents on the fame,
unheeding that her own clothing was on
fire; but Hannah saw, and, seizing bed
quilt, she climbed out of the window al
most as quickly as Milv herself had
done, and wrapped it about her pet 10
SIN other the flame. Hannah had done
her best, but before she reached ber the
calico dress was burned literally off, as
was nearly all her clothing. The blaze
was easily extinguished, but it had done
its work
With hearts cloudeG with terror and
forebodings, Mr. Morgan and Edith
drove toward home that afternoon over
the hlackened deser. that had been so
beautiful but two days before The
shadow lifted as they came in sight of
the cozY farmhouse, standing sale in an
oasis of green.
Thank God!" said Mr.. Morgan, and
Edith responded "smen! !"
But when they reached home they
found Sorrow enthroned awaiting them
Milly-wise, gentle, brave Mi'ly- hurn-
ed almost past recognition. lay upon the
bed. her charred cuils blackening the
pillow. The a'her and sister saw it
was too late for remedies. Mily was
dying! She did not appear to suffer,
but lay unconscious. though al intervals
she murmured little snatches of the
hymns sbe loved best. Suddenly she
sang, and her voice was clear and strong
as ever:
De chariot! de chariot! its wheels roll in fire.
A long silence followed, broken only
by the laho,ed brestbines, Of the little
martyr Then she sang softly and
slowly:
Swing low, sweet chariot. comin'-for to-
carry
The heart-broken watchers listened 10
catch the remaining words; but they
never were sung, unless, it may he, the
strain was finished ir the upper home.
Unseen, the mystic chariot had swung
low. .-Independent