The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1883-11-24

but after everything was cleared away
and she had taken another look outside.
both felt better at perceiving that the
waters seemed at a stand-still.
Bring me the brush for your pretty
hair, PEARL
1t was one of the few things she still
had energy to do, this brushing and
fondlng of the child's hair. No one,
seeing its beautiful luxuriance, could
wonder at her loving admiration. Pearl
took innocent pleasure in it as one OF
the things which made her sweet to
father and mother. and laughed as
mamma loosened the soft braids and
held up the wavy mass to catch the
sunshine. .
Papa says it's my golden flag" she |
said. when l was out hunting Old
Snow last week he knew it was me when
l was mile away"
.sThen YOU must hang out your fiag
whenever YOU want him to find you.
wish auntie were here to help you to-
day, my pet.
But the hand which held the long
golden braid suddenly dropped.
"Look there, Pearl!'
Pearl sprang up and saw trees not far
from their door standing In water,
where water had never been before. In
one moments glance she marked how
the river was broadening and swelling.
There was no sudden rush or roar, as
would have been the case with mar
rover stream. or one with high banks:
| but there was still something mysterious
and terrible in the low, half-hissing,
half-murmuring with which the pitiless
flood was fast creeping upon them.
She turned with one thought in her
brave little heart--of caring Tor her
mother as she had promised.
| Mamma, darling, don't be fright
ened. You must get to the boat-you
can, / know, when most carry you.
But the poor woman cried and
| trembled.
20, why did they leave us! The
levee has broken. We shall be drowned,
Pearl, all alone here.
Pearl had rushed out to the boat. Most
| fortunately the bank to which she had
lowed and secured it was high. Draw
ing it now much nearer the house, she
Ecame and hurriedly prepared her mo-
Their, cooling to her all the while endear-
ling words of encouragement, never
letting her guess how her own face
grew pale and her heart stood still at
sight of the danger which gathered
faster and faster so near them. Again
she ran to the boat, and this time, with
dripping feet, moored it to the door.
ssNow, mamma = quickr' Pearl
never could tell how she got her in.
-
brought few of the more valuable ar
ticles in the house and placed them be-
side her.
i Before all this was done she per.
ceived with increased alarm the vic.
. lence with which the long-imprisoned
waters bore down upon them. They
beat angrily against the house, and re.
doubled her anxiety to get away from
! it. But at the last moment she OBJ
served how the boat rocked and tossed,
, and the idea suddenly flashed upon hel
, that her mother would be safer if she
: herself remained behind.
Mamma. I'm going to stay here
while You go in the boat. When yot
get below the bend they will see yot
: and get you. Tell papa to come fol
! don't be frightened, you dear, dedl
mammal She gave her one long EN-
: brace, united and threw in the rope
and carefully stepped back to the uppe
I step of the door, Her mother had no
i guessed her intention till the curren
, was carrying them far apart. She hal
4 rose with scream of dismay.
Q 80, Pear, my Pearl, come to me!
: shall die without you! And what will
] become of you?" She caught on
. glimpse of the brave little white fac
. smiling at her, as the child calle'
: cheerily after her:
VI don't be frightened, darling. II
It come to you just as soon as can. Go
d will take care of you. And then tn
rushing waters shut out every othe
It sound.
In her alarm and despir tn
It mother could have flung herse
|, from the boat. How tender the littl
:, face was, and how small the childis
If figure, rs it stood there for last wor
of encouragement to her!
/ Pearls face grew paler as the tin
v bers of the old house groaned an
,r creaked. Her little white kitten cam
N mewing piteously to her feet, and sh
% took it in her arms, while she hastil
/! took bundle of papers from hi
"a fathers desk. Then she Wake
2 through water ankle-deep to reach til
N stairs to the half-story above, and sf
a climbed them wondering if the waite
te would come to her there before par
!" came. He had gone some distance il
land, but she knew he would come fl
ut her as soon as he could.
ne What wild waste of water 81
looked out upon! She saw barn
Id sheds, sometimes q house, sweepin
as down the river. She saw their ow
al barn swing out into the current an
ri float away. She could hear the wat
IN rushing through the doors and window
Id below, and wondered how soon Il
house would break away and folio
"a those she had seen going down u
ld stream.
nc 81 must hang out my golden flag,
70 papa will Sc me-" Pearl unbranded h