Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1884-07-31
havinga a tragic end.

One morning in midsummer, Amy,
with basket and trowel, started for the
woods.
"Don't be gone long, dear" said her
lmother. "For the sun is already very
hot"
"No," Amy answered, adding with n
laugh, "If am not back by 10 o'clock
you had better send for me, for may
have lost my wits, as Kate predicts, or
have fallen into the creek"
'I would not try to cross the creek,
daughter" said her father, who had
entered while they were speaking, "for
the rain last night has made it very
high"
al think l can find what I want on
this side, if not I'll go without" and
the light hearted girl started off trilling
q merry song.
"How well the child has grown"
said Mr.. Martin, looking fondly after
the slim figure.
"Yes," answered his wife, ~ think
this summer has done much for our lit
tie girl. There has been nothing to try
her strength, but she certainly seems a
great deal better than in the early
spring. l begin to feel encouraged
about herr
Meanwhile, Amy had reached the
woods, and begun her search. The
week before she found plant of
which with her analysis she could not
find the name, and Prof. Boyington had
told her to get another, and he would
find out what it was.
But as she looked and looked in vain
she began to think she had gotten the
only one, and was about to give up the
search, for that day at least, when her
ear caught strange, wild cry, as of
some one in distress. She stopped and
listened, again that terrible cry. 1t
seemed to come from the direction of
the stream, and dropping her basket she
ran swiftly forward.
Light, and swift of foot, and terror
lending added speed, she fairly flew
over the ground, reaching the stream
almost too late.
The usually shallow stream was swol-
len and muddy, swift current carrying
all before it. A log had fallen across
where the creek was widest, and this
the water could not move, dash against
it as it would
To this child clung, its tiny hands
clutching projecting limb that,
by kind fate, had been left on the fallen
tree.
The child's blue eyes were wide open,
terror on the childish face.
The cruel waters dashed against the
little form, trying to sweep it from this
last frail support.
Amy's heart stood still, her feet re-
fused to move, for one wild moment
she thought she should turn to stone
where she stood. In that brief space
the tiny hands relaxed their hold. the
bright head sunk beneath the turbid
water. Then the girls senses retu rned
and dashing forward she sprang into
the stream.
Thank God! the yellow head comes
up almost in the same spot where the
water closed over it, and steadying her
self against the log Amy grasped the
child and held her fast.
She never knew how the next few
minutes passed, nor how she managed
to darw the heavy child upon the log
and hold her there.
1t seemed to her that ages went by,
while she stood there, holding the
seemingly lifeless form of the child
with one hand, and steadying herself
with the other, while she could hear
the wild beating of her own heart above
the rushing of the angry waters. Oh,
how the sun shone, and the glad birds
sung, and far in the distance she could
hear the lowing of COW.
"Oh, if 1 could only make some one
hear" she thought disparingly, as
scream after scream brought no re-
sponse.
AT last she hears human voice.
Only farmer calling to his straying
cow-"Come boss, come boss ~ but no
voice ever sounded half so sweet in her
ears.
Once more she cries, "Help, helpw
"Oh, merciful heaven ! if he should not
hear"
Her arms are growing weak, her feet
fail beneath her. Once more she cries,
"help, help!" but tits onlya faint whis-
per that parts the pallid lips.
But help is at hand. A burly form
walks softly out upon the log; softly,
softly, a jar might loose the hold now
grown so feeble.
Zone minute, lass, hold hard!" and
Amy hears no more.
| The next she knows she is safe in her
own white bed, with her Mothers ia
miliar face bending over her.
"The childw she cried, starting up.
"Where is the child"
"Safe, my child, safe with its mother"
Amy smiled contentedly, then the
l