The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1884-06-08
BACKWO0DS LIFE.
A Story Of Early Days in Michigan
BY II. II. JOHNSON.
CHAPTER IN.
A WESTERN ZEPHYR.

lOllGlltt lilt tsiA ~ NllN 'NNhiNN w oN'iN
like rays from a super-heated furnace
Not breath of air was stirring, ant
the heat seemed more than oppressive
Vegetation, where it was reached by
the suns rays, withered, and by moor
hung limp and apparently lfeless, as if
flame had swept over it. Even the
flies and other insects sought the shade
and scarcely ventured upon the sunny
side of the house. Old TOWser sought
the coolest spot he could find, and with
tongue lollng out of his mouth and
dripping grspration, lay there pant
ing.
Pat started ont in the woods in the
morning with his ak upon his shoulder,
remarking that it was going to be the
"divil's own day. and the rest of the
family proceeded to their work in the
garden with reluctance.
When the hour otnoon arrived, the
heat was almost unSupportable. Every
breathing thing was gasping for breath.
Labor ont Of doors seemed impossible.
The birds sat in the coolest places in
the shade Of the tree tops, with droop-
ing wings and wide-opon bills.
When Pat came to the house for his
dinner. he brought his ak with him and
declared that he was fairly roasted in
side by the hot air. The heat destroy
ed their appetites, and but little was
eaten by any Of them at dinner.
Soon after twelve o'clock, the sky be-
gan TO assume a yellowiSh, leaden, IN
natural hue. \ prcmonition Of some
thing terrible seemed to Cypress them
all. Soon a dark bank Of clouds doomed
above the trees to the west. and low
rumblings of distant thunder began to
be heard.
The bank of clouds rose rapidly, until
its edge was more than half way to the
zenith. and the whole was of a greenish
purple hue. Vivid streams Of lightning
flashed across its face, followed by
deeper and heavier rumblings of thun-
der.
Ere long, a duh roar from the west
came floating through the hot atmos-
phere growing louder and louder each
second until its unearthly sound made
the checks Of each member of the La
Vergne family grow pale with an indie
Unable dread and terror.
The lightning flashes grew more fire.
Quent and vivid, the rolling thunder
more heavy, the uneXplanable roar
nearer and louder until the ear was
panied by its sound, and the edge of
the greenish-puIple cloud-bank reached
point nearly directly overhead, The
rays Of sun were shut out. and darkness
like that of night was rapidly spread
ing over the earth.
All at once the topmost branches of
the surrounding forest trees swayed
and Quivcrcd as if in mortal fear. a
vivid flash of lightning Kissed through
the air. inmrdiatcly snncoadoJ b,, a
terrific crash If tLrnJo, tl1ot shool,t w.
loo hnnsa I'm its fonr1o.io ','''V o,,G"h ,,'o
inmates ia tboir foot nr1 t ,o'i t,'' VIC
all IFS fu,y ,rae rI,n 1,,,' WV '''' III IL
PAT deyortIy crnsso1 I,irn,o,fo5ou
ed mon tbe Iio, I,ir,,i,, ''l',' L;.,
and dorhtloss c,.,,, 49, - plo''lI i' ,tN
family silontl,, 10y ,oiS ille Il."s VI 'Ie
denca flr V0'o"7 u, INV me roSl-
elan,o,ts ,0''''' III 'i''' wal Vi 'i'V
hethaen,.....c
ovor ~, So ,'l,', =, INV gus VI Win S"epV
ed likn nI Ilro'' we uceS pen' ana sway
crae%inc WE w. "no many VI 'ielh zen
like hriT,Io , oMo sloul'''' broken III twain
NV +ho t ro3 P'pe stems or were tornup
vhinb 0 dTUoS, lIILhS TONS OF the earth
M M, Si"l's " uielh'
ne mouse trembled and almost gave
way before Ihe lorce Of the gale; but it
was strongly built, its corners were
securely lockedtogether, and itsuccess-
lulLy withstood the power of the storm.
. aver 'he ilst burst of the tornado.
.he men gathered at the window to wit
neaS 'lle elemental strife outside. II
was II" 9PectdCle grand butternble. The
ram poured down IN sheets as if som,
Hlshty cauiuIon was belhg emptle'
rom 'he SKY Inc electro luid, llk
s.iealllo VI molten SILVER OF daZzIln
pIisn'heSs, speu from cloud TO ciou
anu IRON lhe clouds TO Inc earth wit