The Press., 1884-03-27


 life back to the window where stands Nancy shivering with fear. She holds out her arms and grasps the cradle, baby and all, just as the ice parts, and down goes poor Charlie, and disappeares under it. With a scream Nancy dropped on the floor, and it would have gone very hard with Charlie if faithful old Stumps had not been right at hand. In al instant he was after him, dragged him in- to clear water and swam gallantly toward the window, where, thongh chilled through, Char lie was able to scramble in, to be received with warm embrace from Nancy, who de- clared Che was the bravest boy, and Stumps the very dearest dog in the whole world ]" adding, s'but do hurry and change your clothes, or you'll catch your death cold. He hastened to do so, and soon returned in his Sunday suit ''Just see the sweet little bal y you have saved" said Nancy, who was hold ing it in her lap by the bedroom fre-which fortunately had not gone out-and feeding it with warm milk. The little thing drank eagerly, laughing and cooing so prettily the children were charmed and at last it went to sleep, cuddled up i'll q warm blanket, and watched over by jumps, who licked the soft white cheek and seemed to consider the wee stranger his especial property.
 1T hope we can keep him always" said Nancy, while Charlie, feeling none the worse for his sudden bath, examined the cradle
 
 and a soft silken coverlet, and discovered a square tin box hidden under the mattress Somebody has packed away their treasures here," he thought, lifting the lid, but found nothing but bundles of papers tied up with red tape. ''Pshaw! I wonder what they wanted to save these dusty old things for" >
 So the day wore away, but the children were quite happy with their new plaything ; fo the water baby laughed and played, and seemed quite contented. And towards even ing, when little ''Moses''-as Nancy named him because he came out of the river-had gone once more to slumberland, they heard voices without and boat was rowed up to the window, and their papa and mamma, with anxious faces, entered hurriedly, and clasped their boy and girl in their arms. "Oh! I have imagined you drowned, or frozen, or carried away to the sea, all day." cried Mrs. Linn. ''I hope the poor Squire will be as happy in finding his little one," said her hus- band returning to the boat, and helping out gray-haired man who looked the ''picture of despair" 'Come in, MT. Fielding, and rest awhile, before continuing your search. You see," he explained to the children, ''SquiT3 Fielding's house is even nearer the river than ours; and while he and his wife were engaged moving out some things, the cradle in which his baby was sleeping was washed out of the door by sudden wave, and went floating off down the raging stream, nobody knows | where."
 ''Did it have blue silk quilt ?" asked Char lie, excitedly. ''Yes, yes," exclaimed MT. Fielding ''have you seen it pass here, was it safe?" Before Charlie could reply Nancy brought the infant from the corner and placed it in it's fathers arms, who, overcome with joy, could scarcely speak word. Then the story of the rescue was told, and Charlie and Stumps were so overwhelmed with compli- ments it was hard to tell which was the hap pier or prouder of the two, 1T offered a thousand dollars to whoever saved my child, and you and your dog have fully earned it, y said MT. Fielding. "Oh! mo-" replied Char lie, ''Pa won't let me take money for a little thing like that !" At which MT. Linn nodded approyingly. ''Then I must reward you in some other way. Did you find box in the cradle ?'' 'sYes, sir. Here it is, safe and sound."- Opening it, Squire Fielding select ed paper which he placed in Charlie's hands, saying, "Give that to your father, and tell him his son has cancelled. it forever" Not understanding, the boy handed the document to MT. Linn, who exclaimed with joy, "It is the mortgage, wife and our home is our own again Oh! what weight this lifts from my shoulders !" while Nancy whispered, Mamma, is the dear baby's father the dread ful moggage ''No, darling, he is good, kind man, the mortgage is dead, and will nev- CT trouble us again."
 So the big freshet did some good after all and though Nancy was sorry to part from the blue-eyed baby, and the parlor carpet was spoiled MT. Linn always says, "Thanks tc Charlie and Stumps, the great spring flood washed our farm clear of all debt, and left us the happiest most independent family in the | whole country Siden