The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1882-06-03
AN ARK OF SAFETY.


AN ARK OF SAFETY.
The nell Of st. Jehn's-A stsry u the
Recent Floods.
For many days the rain had fallen in
ceaseless, heavy torrents, and from every
direction came now the brooks and
streams rushing with unwonted swift
ness, and sending up deep. hosrse
murmur, which was but as musical
echo to the voice Of the mighty, swollen
rivers. %
In the little town of Chesterbrook
there was every cause for the anxiety
and alarm increasing hourly: already
was the giant Mississippi, near which the
village lay, at its greatest height known
at that point, and stealthily encroaching
nearer and nearer upon the main street,
while the inhabitants dwelling farther
back were thankful for the natural rise
in the land placing them in a safer
position.
lis not the river very high, grand
father, asked Ruth Boynton, timid &C
cent falferiDg in her tone. pe
She was young girl of fifteen years,
busted at the time with preparations for
the evening meal, but pausing now as
she spoke to look toward her grandfather
as he sat beside the window in his large
chair, looking anxiously without.
Ruth came nearer to him, laying her
hand on his shoulder. 4NiI
'.Does it not look very, very highr'
she repeated, land there seem to Be so
many timbers floating on the waves. !"
ut is, indeed, higher than ] have ever
seen it in my eighty years, Ruth" an
swered the old man in the voice grown
feeble with age.
do you think the town is in danger,
grandfather" asked the young girl, a
slight pallor creeping over her face as
she spoke. a.4,..
he answered., land tomorrow may
bring brighter skies; aye, tomorrow,
who knows" be murmured softly to
himself, as Ruth turned away to her
work again, and the old man folded his
hands and closed his eyes in silent
prayer to the God who rules the storm
and clouds.
Midnight had already passed in the
thick darkness enshrouding the silent
town, and even the most watchful and
anxious were at last sleeping heavily,
when suddenly-with confused thun-
der of sound rising in crashing din
above the voice of storm or river. and
seeming to rend heaven and earth
asunder, the village nesting so peace
fully under the shadow of the hills was
reused to death and destruction.
Restrained no longer by any former
bounds, the relentless stream had broken
every barrier, and now amid the des-
pairing cries of fated human beings was
wildly sweeping away every tenement
or b';ilding in its widening pathway.
With the first wild alarm, Ruth Boyn-
ton had started terrified and bewildered
from her bed and rushed into the ad-
joining room to find her grandfather also
up, cropping with the nervous tremor Of
age, blindly for light. In that moment
it seemed as though the old man,
who had been strong for his eighty
years, was transformed into weak and
timid child.
"What is it, Ruthiep" he cried, with
an imploring, piteous glance at the girl
entering with candle in her hand.
what can it be, and what, 0 what
shall we dor fg
1T is the river, grandfather, she
answered, hurrying to the door; "the
town is flooded, and everything is being
swept awayr'
my God, My Godr' cried the old
man. trembling in every limb, "who
willsaveus. and what can I<lor'
Whether il was the sense of appalling
danger at their very door, or tender pity
even in this terrible moment for her
helpless companion, the young Girl
seemed suddenly imbued with new he
roic strength. tingling in every nerve:
and with voice almost steady, she said,
calmly: -
GOD is still with us grandfather. and
will surely make some way of escape; try
to be strong and trust to his help."
Butev as she spoke another fearful
crash, accompanied by piteous shrieks.
told Of . nearer catastrophe, and Ruth
impulsively laid q trembling hand on the
old mans arm.
Come, grandfather" said she, .slet
us hasten to the nearest house; they may
De there making some plan for safety and
viii help MS; and waiting to exchange the
nckering candle for lantern, the two
helpless ones hurried out into the dark
ness of the night. ~.
But little were they prepared for the
scene OF desolation around them: onlv
IN the distance glimmered moving lights
ana with the slow progress alone possible
IN the feeble condition of her COMPANION
Ruth felt that they could never reach the
far-of help. Only small strip Of land
seemed left 10 them. the river behind
and to the right Of them, while "a the
ieftrose the high steep bank. up which
'ner active feet might have climbed, but
never the old man'by her side; and not
once did the thought Of escape apart
from him enter the brave girls mind.
WIN . heart beating wildly with fear.