The Mineral argus., 1883-12-06

happened" said the breathless Biddy,
crossing herself as she came up to the
wrecked WAGON. "Is any one hurted2"
as Dear called her to help.
"Hm afraid-Tm afraid there's some
one under the planks," Rasped Dear,
trying single. handed to lift the load.
Here CURL, that's no way to warruk,
TAX the top one first. Mike, ye lazy
sowl, get along wild yer lanthern!" and
her voice went down the hillside like the
blast OF a trumpet, starting v the
slow Mike into a run.
There. hould that" said she, hand
ing the lantern to Dear, and with Bid
dy's stout arms Mt one end and Mikes
at the other, the planks we're flung over
into the road. Dear held her breath,
and before the planks we're all off they
could see that a man lay there stretched
in the bed of the gutter. The planks
were over him like a roof, or the cover
of q box, and, when the last one was
of. Dear saw her fathers face, still
and white, but she could not utter a
sound.
"Howiy Mother, help u.s." calculated
Biddy. Take his feet, Mike, and help
| get him out of the wather. He'll be
drowned intirely If he's no kit already"
For as he lay damming up the narrow
channel, the choked water had risen
and spread around him IN an ever-rising
pool.
As they took him up and laid him
down in the road, the motion seemed to
rouse him to life, for Biddy, STOPPING
over him with the lantern, saw his eyes
suddenly open. He looked about him
in a bewildered way, and lthen clutched
at the reins that were still In his hands,
shouting: whoa, Fan, whoal" Then
he slowly raised himself on his elbow,
and sealing the planks scattered
about him muttered: "Whyl she's got
away"
Are ye much hurried. SURF" asked
Biddy, concernedly, taking his arm as if
she would help him TO his feet
II don't know, I'm cold" said he
slowly.
"An' well We might be lyin' in all that
wather," and she told them how they
found him lying in the gutter, with the
plRnks owe him, but not on him, and
the water around him.
"Is that y ~, Dear2 and has the horse
gone homer" asked he after q moment,
seeing the little, shaking figure beside
him.
eyes, papa" and all at once the con-
vuls We sobs leaped beyond her control,
and che fell on her knees, quite unable
10 say or 90 anything Dut sob.
The sight and the sound Of her sobs
did more than anything else to restore
her father to himself. With Biddy's
help he slowly rose from the ground,
and, after standing a moment, he said,
steadily: Il believe l am all right, only
cold and a little confused. The fall must
have stunned me, but for your help, my
good woman, | should have been q dead
man soon"
at was yer little girl tould us. We
shouldn't have known"
He held his hand TO Dear, and she
caught it aud held it under her chin, still
unable to speak.
30 e think ye could, walk SURF Ye've
no right TO be standin' here wild yer wet
clothes"
Thus admonished they began to move.
Biddy and Mike and the "lanthern''
went with them to the top Of the hill.
BY that time Harvey Gates had obtained
full possession Of himself, and he babe
Biddy goodnight, telling her he would
see her OF the morrow.
Now, Dear" said he. run home and
tell your mother quietly, that the wagon
broke do n, hut that | am all right and
will be in directly"
1t wal not until near noon the next
day, when Dear broke into an irrepres-
slble fit Of sobbing, that her mother
knew how near death had been to them
that night. She turned very white and
after a moment said: "Childrrn, we have
great reason 10 be thankful to-day"
A little later Harvey Gates came in.
He had been down with Luke to get the
planks out of the road and to see Biddy
Mccoy. He told a pitiful story of the
proveTtv in the little shRnty. 'There
mill h. NJ Tha nlgusVfn arNnnaH fharn
to-day" he said. Mrs. Gates WINGED q
little. She was a thrifty woman, and it
was n o easy for her to understand the
blessedness of giving. And such q ba'
by, such a little nite of q baby!" con-
tinued Harvey Gates, as if speaking to
himself.
"a baby?" repeated Mrs. Gates, paus-
ing on her way to the oven; "dId you say
Biddy had a baby2"
Yes, and the poor little things looks
half starved"
Mamma" said Dear, eagerly, why
can't we have them all up here TO
Thanksgiving supper? we've got enough
for them
Harvay Gates glanced at his wife.
After a moments hesitation she said.
Eyes. they can come, l suppose, II
there amt more'n forty or fifty OF EN-
and she opened the oven door, and
basted the turkey with energy. liar
vey," she called, as she heard him go
ing 70 yard the door, 'tell Biddy TO
bring the baby; aud here, you take that
tn ok shawl 10 the entry TO wrap IT up
warm"
And 50 the McCOys had the grandest
Thanksgiving supper OF their lives; and
no more thankful company gathered in
New England tn At day, the Gates fam
ilv feeling very tender over their es-
cape from a great Gala nifty .-Josephne
R. Baker. In 5. S. Times
THE Garfield farm, near Watertown, Cod