Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1884-05-30

Edith, as she helped Milly change the
drenched clothing.
"Yes, Edie, I was" she answered,
soberly, "and l prayed little prayer ;
but l didn't forget to cling tight"
At length the time came for the Bos-
ton aunt to go home. 1t was arranged
that Edith should accompany her father,
as he drove with his sister the thirty
miles to the city, where she was to take
the eastern-bound train. They were to
remain day in town for the purpose OF
shopping, returning on the third. As
Mr.. Morgan kissed hispet daughter good
by he said playfully: "Now, Pussy,
you must take good care of things whilc
papa is gone"
az will, papa" was the earnest reply.
al dislike to go away" continued her
father. Everything is very dry and
there have been fires west of us; but
Patrick and Hannah are faithful and
you IRE worth half dozen any day."
"Don't worry, papa, dear" said Milly,
gyaly. "Just go and have good time.
We shall be all right"
The morning of the third day was clear
and pleasant. A breeze from the oppo-
site direction during the night had blown
away the smoke, and with it went the
fear from the heart of the poor old
black woman. Pat, too, was in good
spirits, though, inhis way, hehad been as
lugubrious as Hannah. So they all went
to work with good will. Pat was re-
shingling barn; Hannah was baking;
for she declared she must do "heaps of
cookin" before "Mars' Morgan and
Miss Edith" should come ; and Milly
was acting as little maid of all work to
the sable coax. She washed dishes, but
tered pie plates and cake-tins, occasion
ally leaving her work to dart into the
sitting room, to assure herself that every
thing was in order for the home coming
of her loved ones.
Gwine to ride up in de chariot
Sooner In de mornin'
she sang. But bark What was that
A cry of terror or distress. She flew to
the door, followed by Hannah They
saw Patrick crawling toward the house
on his hands and knees.
"The prairie is on fire he shouted
adding, Immediately: Howly mother
be merciful for it's helpless / am in
tirely."
The prairie was indeed on fire
though at some distance. Pat, from Iii
perch on the barn, had spied it, and
in his haste to get down and give til,
alarm, had slipped on the ladder ant
fallen to the ground, severely spraininf
his ankle.
"You must burn sthreak, Miss
MillJ, and just as quick as ever ye can
for the fire is a-comin' like an express
thrain." t-.-
Milly understood had oftel
heard Of it-and already the matche
and some bits of paper were in he
hand.
"Where, PATTI" she called.
"Out forninst yon wire fence. II
dhraw water, and Hannah must carry
till We, to shprinkle tho ground this sid
yer fire." And Patrick dragged him
self painfully to the well.
Milly did as she was told and every
thing succeeded bravely. The frigh
had a wonderful effect on Hannah
rheumatic limbs, and she carried waite,
on the double quick.
On came the great fire, nearer anc
nearer. Milly could hear the roaring
and kissing of the flame, the tramplint
and snorting of horses, and the below
ing Of cattle, as they raced for life.
At the right and left of her fire the,
passed, but the child scarcely noticed
them. She dimly saw, through tn
sToke, several gaunt prairie wolve
dash by; but itseemed perfectly natura
and she had no thought of fear. Sh
was saving her home.
With wet blankets she whipped bacl
the fire, when it threatened to com
where it should not. At last she ha,
the satisfaction of seeing so wide bel
of burnt land between her home and tn
great fire that she felt sure they wer
safe, and she started to seek a refug
from the binding smoke in the hous
her efforts had saved; but, borne on til
wind, far up in mid-air, came sailing
5ia4ug mass Of straw, and, to Milly'
horror, it fell on the house roof. Wit
almost superhuman swiftness she IA
toward the new scene of danger. .
the stairs she darted, catching, as sh
; ran, broom. From dormer windo'
she climbed out on the roof, and wit
broom showed the flaming stra'
to the ground, where it was quenche
by Pat.
Hannah was by this time at the ope
window with water for Milly to pour o
the now-blazing roof. She caught pa
: and dashed the contents on the flame
unheeding that her own clothing was o
fire; but Hannah saw, and, Selling
bed quilt, she climbed out ofthe window
almost as quickly as Milly herself ha
done, and wrapped it about her pet I
smother the flame. Hannah had don
her best, but before she reached her IL
calico dress was burned literally off, {
was nearly all her clothing. The blaz