Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1882-02-22
Whole No. 205S.

"Iou Lou !" she cried, In hOarse,
low voice, "tke Family Tree, the
Family Tree Tee path to II must be
very near here"
She seized Loulsa's hand and dragg'
cd her on, A few PAGES farther, they
came to q broad trail, crossing, almost
At right angles, the Que they had hlIher'
to followed, Minnie turned to the left
and followed the new path. This
brought her nearer 10 the fire, but she
few on, never looking up.
In even shorter time than she ex'
pected, they reached little circular
opening among the trees, In the mid
die Of which lowered vast trunk.
IT, ''-i-i- ."s"oh.s did uni he0lp until
fifty feet from the ground, and from
that up more than hundred feet, they
were close mass Of green, looking as
though no fire could harm them The
little opening in which this tree stood
was quite clear Of underground, but
covered With long grasses, which would
burn like tindcr. Still, near its base
they were thin and struggling, having
been trampled down year after year by
curious visitors. On tho trunk many
names were rudcly carved, aud visiting
cards were attached to il with tacks
and pins.
What made Minnie draw long sigh
of relief as she approached this lrec'
Surely there was no shelter here from
the whitening blast, whose heat she
already legan TO feel. But even Lou
isa now began to guess what Minnie
hoped, and for moment ceased to sob.
They ran around the trce--the Family
Trec--and 10 in the eastern side,
farthercst from the on-coming fire,
there was a large opening. The chill
dren ran through it and found them
selves in a great room with an uneven
earthern floor. incloscd by black walls
rising high above and gradually
narrowing to point.
Minnie's first care was to close the
opening by which they had entered,
by means of some large pieces Of
bark that had served the purpose of a
door. There was still some light when
that was done, for square hole had
window in the side, not far from the
door. Minnie would have tried to
close this too, but she could not reach
it.
The girls sat down on the floor, too
exhausted even to speak. Minnie
knew this story of their present shelte.,
and that it obtained its name from the
fact that poor family had passed a
whole winter within its walls, and had
baby borne to them there. But
Louisa must wait for another time to
hear the story, for now they heard
noise never to be forgotten, and which
made them put their fingers to their
ears and sit trembling with terror.
The fire was on them! With a
sweeping roar and crackle. it rushed
past, licking up the long grass like a
sea of oil, and leaping high up the tall
treesr An insolerable light streamed
in through their little window, and the
air become almost too thick and hot to
breathe. Minnie held her handker-
chief before her face, and breathed
through it, making Louisa do likewise
Soon she removed it, and fell on her
knees and sobbed out thanksgiving,
for she knew they were safe. The
roar of the sea of flame had passed,
and even if the very tree they were In
was blazing, they could escape now over
the burnt ground behind them. But they
needed not to have doubts of their
staunch protector. Its massive sides
were unscorched, and its green branch
es waved uninjured. -,
What more is there to tell! 1t would
make my little tale too long to describe
how the children were kept warm all
the chilly Californian night by great
log that slowly charred away, not tar
from their tree-house; or tell what
magnificent sights they saw in the
gloom when, all the heavy smoke hav-
ing passed, innumerable trees stood
burning like great torches, and logs
blazed on the ground like the camp
fires of a great army. They were too
weary to look at even these proud sights
for long, and wrapped in each others
arms, they slept until the sun was high
the next morning. Enough to say
that they managed to pick their way
over the black ground, and, before
noon, reached their aunt's home, be-
grimed and ragged. Minnie especially
looked like witch; in her torn chemise
and red petticoat.
How they were petted, you may
ouess. How aunt and uncle and cous-
ins kissed them and cried over them,
and how flasher and mother soon ar
rived, having driven over by the long
hirh-road full of fear, to learn If their
darlings were safe.
T, ono bousehold. Mt least, the Fami-