The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1884-04-24

I Last Appeared. II vas 10 shcw . clsudlcA'
sly asd a. entire absence Of all
vas melted away. ae
Oar uorst fears we're nov over al
though vs kas~ that many hours must
pass before ws esnld get our sunksn beat.
out Of The water. and thus reach the mill,
~ felt confident that the house ~as nov
cat Of danger.
nssd nst tell you Of all the hours that
passsd btfess We we're able TO leave the
hcuss. We we're detained prisoners until
Tuesday. whsn the water had 90 far sub.
sidsl that ~ ssS able 70 raise our boat,
and ny father and ] rowed tts rest Of the
family across the flooded meadows 10 our
nearsst nsig hbor's house where they took
refuge uatil our own hAsss sAs sgaia fit
for them 10 enter.
We we're thankful 10 6nd that no dam.
age Nod besn done either 10 the house or
mill; and 10 weeks time We were settled
dewn 10 orr usual work snj mode Of liviss.
ny father praisisg God for having spared
us from what hsd seemed eminent calsni-
", aad Twas asking myself Why God had
permitted us 10 suffer what We had.
Little did then know that ths feed on
that Susdav Aight had bssa the means Of
avisg us fren vbat might have been far
more disastrous to Us. But this wss fsuud
aitsrvasd TO BE- the case.
A year had passed away since the Incl
dents have related took place, year Of
sunsring to many. for. although the pros.
psrity al tAs eeuptry was slowly return.
ing, much distrsss still prevailed. Dur.
ing this time my father had exertsd him
self IN doing COED amosg the suffering
families IN the nsighborh ood, and had
gained for himssN the gratitude Of many
poor men and women dor his timely
help.
II vas whom he was on enc OF these or.
rauds Of mercy that my father met with
poor man, . stranger 10 the parish. who
was very i'll. and to al Appearnpces not
likely to live. While speaking to him Of
his eternal interests ror he never gave
temporal relief without trying TO impart
some spiritual instruction tool, the man
seemed much affected, and thinking As he
did that he was fast approaching death, he
tried to rsliave his burdensd mind by tel
ling my father Of ssme Of his past sins, and
among them lie confessed that on the very |
Sunday night that we had been flooded in,
hs with number OF others had planned
to attack our mill. and not only had they
meant to take sway the corn. but beoause
my father was what some ct them called
saint, they had determined to burn down
The house and mill regardless OF who per.
ishsd in the flames.
These plans were frustrated only BY the
impossibility Of their reaching us because
of the tremendous food. 4
SO you see the flood that ! had mur-
n,nred about was really the means OF say.
ng us from utter ruin m perhaps from
lsath.
The man went on to say that they could
aot plaa for attacking the mill on another
aight. ss the very nsrtdsy trssps appeared
IN the nsighborhsod. and they we're com.
pslled to scatter to different parts Of the
'ountry.
Ny father forgave the man for his in
ention. snd VIXEN contraray to expectation
is regaiusd health and strength, he gave
lin work il the mill, where he rsmained
j good and faithful servant until his j
lsath, some years aftsrwara. Il
always believed. vith my father that I
I WAS tho hand of Providence that had
hisldsa US on that night from being
,urnt in our home; and dapa think any !
vill doubt it.