The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1883-09-13

"*tM Nh't rARAA w &thANR Ndf - f@"fts
held his breath ss il spread out besof'
. them its glory and beauty Of blue and goIt
inanyeyed plumage
J. oehl an iis bit of tho country shk,
. she. been geiiin' TO dress herself ius
Didn't you ever sce a peacock bciores
A payoocl. is ~ Pa, solcmly counted
of another lnger. A paycocki be repeated
9 and elimed upon the granary, and seating
himself on tho ridge pole, remained In
close watch Of the proud bird, as il turned
!; this way and that. as il aware Of bis admi.
ration. until dinner time.
The bright days passed without giving
Mrs. pritchsrd reason 10 regret that her
hand had been among the many holding
out a gift Of sweet country sights and
sounds TO those into whose lives 40 little
sweetness enters. Harry had Asprained
wrist, as the result OF q fall from some
hight 10 which he had followed Pat. and
neither boy had . whole garment left.
| Miss Nancy shook her head disappearing.
iy. but Mrs, Priichard observed with
pleasure the instinct Of manlinsss and
kindly consideration for guests, develop.
ing in her boys, aud smiled as she mended
for tho four. Jim went among the animals
with voice and touch which the dumb
creatures always recognized as belonging
to lover OF their kind, and before many
days they came and went at his slightest
call Quiet hints and suggestions from
the mistress Of the place had been gener.
ally faithfully attended TO, and nothing in
the way OF wilful mischief had been done
No birds nest had been robbed, nor tree
nor flower injured.
don't quite like the looks OF the wealth
er. said Mrs. Pritchsrd one night, just af-
ter the noisy quartet had trooped of to
bed.
It's comm up reg'lar old fashioned
thunder storm to my mind. said Aunt
Nancy. I'm glad them boys 10 in and not
down to the fur end OF the pasture lot or
atop OF the barn, or some other such
place.
Mrs. Pritchard watched the gathering
Of the clouds long after the sleep which
comes to bless boyhood had gathered the
four into its soft embrace. As the dead
lull which often comes before storm gave
place to puffs OF wind and the lightning
became more vivid and the thunder rose
| in an almost continuous roar she went
from room to room closing windows and
blinds. This finished, she went into the
back yard to unloose a dog which whined
and fretted against his chain.
Poor Watch? Lonely cut here in the
storm?
He gratefully licked her hand. just as
binding flash seemed to wrap her in its
fearful whitsness. Whether IL was this or
the deafening report which came in the
same moment which struck her to the
earth she never could tell, but for mo.
ment she lay stunned and bewildered,
then staggered to her feet with a cry Of
dismay.
The porch lay spliucrel ruin at her
feet Had the dark winged angel been
ming? Hor own two were on the same
floor with her. Ascertainiug that both |
were whimpering with fright, she called
to Aunt Nancy. jim. Pat and the maid,
and hearing an answer from each one'
thankfully sat down to quiet the boys.
But sound in the next room alarmed
her, and springiug up, she opened door.
A red, angry demon glared at heroine
whs had come to dispute with her the pos.
session OF this, her old homo, one who
would wiring it from her and lay it in
heap of ruins before her eyes.
Shrieking, Fire! frel' she rushed up
stairs to find that all was astir; then down
again. hurrying her boys to place ofsafe
ty. and striving with trembling hands to
secure some valuable. papers and old silver.
The maid came and helped her, and soon
the farm hands who lived at little dis.
tance, aud other neighbors gathered. But
the old house was doomed. The flames
spread rapidly over the back part OF it,
shedding brilliant light on the surround
ing gloom, before only broken by the
lightning flashes.
Are we all safe? cried Mrs. Pritchard.
She could see Jim among the men unloos-
ing the animals aud lending them to places
OF safety. She wax sure she had heard q
shout from Pat; Susan. the maid, was
wringing her hands and making exclama.,
tions OF woe beside her.
But where's Aunt Nancy, Susan?
She's about here somewhere, ma'am;
she WAS comm right down after me.
But Aunt Nancy was not about anywhere
and Mrs. Pritchurd's rapidly growing fear
was brought suddenly TO dreadful Ger.
sainty by the sight Of the poor old lady At
the window OF her room. looking dazed
and helpless With fright Acry Of horror
went up as men ran for ladders, for the
stairs were sheet OF fame.
But the ladders were always hung under
the roof Of the long back porch and we're
now burning with IT. And. as swift feet
went for others, many fear was felt that
their help might come too late.
Through Mrs. pntchard's terror had
Just broken the thought. II haven't seen
Pat yet--wbere can the boy bef' when o
light figure few around the corner OF the
house and shot up the old elm tree With
almost the quickness Of the Pickering
shadows cast by the flames Next be was
seen at the end Of rope, swinging back
and forth between the tree aud the win
dow. All those who looked on scarcely
drew breath as be presently sprang TO the