The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1883-04-05
TIE WRONG COAT.

Fire. Fire!''
Jack Parry rubbed his eyes, as he
spranr out Of his cot-bed in the loft, and
instinctiyely hurried on his trousers.
His father head rose above the ladder,
Just as he shulIled on his shoes, shopt-
ing: Hurry up, | tell yelwoods atire!
Comm this way quicker n scatn'
Jack scrambled down the ladder with
out stopping for his jacket. He knew
what that news meant-he had heard
about forest fires before. His father
had always thought that the creek
which ran in front of their house would
guard them, but now the air was dark
with smoke. and he could hear the roar
and crash of the forest falling before its
mighty foe, while sharp gusts of wind
swept ashes far and wide over the grain
fields Of the farm. But the fire was
still on the other side of that slow, mar
| row stream: could ii, would it keep the
enemy from their house and barns?
1t would not do to run the risk. Jack,
at a word, went off to harness the
horses. and put them TO the big wagon,
while his father helped his mother to
gather a few wraps and yaluables to-
gether, and dress the frighted, scream
ing baby
When the Parrys moved to Michigan,
Grandpa Dibble, who always objected
| to everything. said to his son-in-law:
But how II ye edicate the children,
John?''
Il don't know, Father" said John
Parry. '.Sary II teach m to read an
,,,li,-1x- a1l 7 II
learn to mind an be honest. I take it
that these two things will have to un-
derlay any edication that S good for
shucks: we must risk the rest"
Obedience and honesty Jack had in
| deed been thoroughly taught. He had
never harnessed the horses alone be-
fore, but at his fathers order he went
/ to work manfully, and was all ready
when the others came to the house-door.
.'Oh. Jackl no coat on?' said the
delicate, trembling little mother.
Cant stop for it now," said John
Parry. cts life or death, Sary! There
goes bic white-wood smash acrost the
crick! Run the critters, Jack-the fire
8 after ust'
In another moment they We're beyond
the house, but not an instant too soon,
for burning branch, whirled on by
the fierce wind, swept through the air
and lit on the roof. which blaZed like
| paper beneath it.
Jack lashed the terrified horses into q
run. while his father, on the back seat,
| held the sick baby IN one arm, and put
| the other about his wife to steady her.
! The air grew heavier and hotter; the
/ J..
/ hard. Blinded with smoke and fright
! ened at the nearing roar Of storm and
| ilame. the horses flew on beyond the
| power Of any guiding hand. There was
| a sudden lurch. the wheels tilted on a
/ loo br the wayside, and the back seat
| pitched out behind, with allits occupants!
! Jack clunr to the reins instinctivelY,
| bat he could no more stop the horses
! than he could arrest the whirlwind and
| fire behind him Father, mother, sis
! ter. all were tossed into the track Of the
| fire like drv leaves. and never again did
| he see one of them. Their fate was
certain: he could only hope it had been
sudden and sure death.
Carried on by force he could rot
| control or resist. Jack whirled along,
| the flames nearing him every moment,
| till. Just as he felt their not breath on
! his neck, the maddened horses reached
1 the lake shore, and plunged headlong
| into its waters. But he, at least, was
| safe. for the shock threw him outon the
| sand.
Poor Jack! In the morning he was a
hearty, happy boy, asleep in good
! home; at night homeless, pcnniless
| orphan, with scarce clothes to cover
| him. Days passed over his head in q
sort of blank misery. 4 few others,
| escaped also from the deyouring flames,
| shared with him their scanty food; a
kindly woman gave him an old woolen
| sack she IL knew how to spare to cover
| his ragged shirt, and he found pair of
| India-rubbers living on the shore, which
/ concealed his worn shoes; but a more
| desolate, helpless creature than the
poor boy can hardly be imagined.
| After week or two, he begged his
way to Pompo.-a settlement farther
up the lake. which had not been touch
| ed by the great fre,-and heard there
| that good people at the East had sent
/ on clothes TO be distributed among
/ those who had lost theirs. He soon got
a chance TO ride over on lumber-wag-
on to the nearest place where these
| things were given out,-a town ten
miles beyond Pompo, there the
agent gave him couple OF shirts, a
warm vest, pair of half-worn black
trousers, and very good coat of mixed
/ cloth, that until then had proven too
4 small for the men who had applied for
/ clothes But as Jack was fifteen, and
large for his age. it just fitted him, and
1 once more clothed, neat, and clean, he
/ went back to Pompo, where he had
/ found place to work on farm, hap
! pier than he had been for long time.
1t was night when he returned to the
farm, and quite bedtime; so he ate
T some bread and milk Mrs. Smith had
saved for him, and went up TO his gar
ret chamber As lie took off his new
I coat 70 hang it up, with a boys curiosi-
I " he explored all its pockets. In one
he found s half soiled handkerchief,
( lust rs il the owner had taken the coat
down from the closet peg and sene It off
without a thought, for the garment was
almost new. But underneath the hand
kercliaf, LAYING loose in the bottom OF
the pocket, were two twenty dollar
bills,
| Jack 5 heart gave great bound; here
was windfall indeed, and he began to