The Press., 1884-03-27
GAmerican Agriculturist.l OUT OF THE WATERS.


 Charlie, what's moggage? ?" asked little Nancy Linn, as she and her brother picked thelr way over the mile of muddy roadway between the stone schOolhouse and their rather isolated little home, on the picturesque bank of broad river. 1T dunno some animal I reckon" and Char lie shied stone into big puddle at the path side. 'sI don't believe its 'xactly an animal, said thoughtful little Nancy, slow ly, a-d then dropping her voice myste ,i- ously, II think it must be q giant or drag on." "Ah mebbeit is, assented Charlie, pleased at the romantic idea, dragon with a fiery mouth, 'fo1 pa said, if 'twas'nt for the moggage we could have new roof on the house and the fairy book dragons swallowed horses and COWS, and sometimes buildings" 'sAnd when I asked ma to buy me silk dress, like Kittie Allen s.she sighed and said, No, delr, not while the moggage exists. It must be 8 horrid creature not to let a little girl have even 8 nice frock" s'I wish I could cut him in pieces, and drown him." cri.d d Charlie, now quite excited, land now's good time, for see how high the river is. Sure enough the mighty stream, swelled by heavy spring raiis, and the melting snow on the hills above, was rushing turbulent ly along, filled with floating ice ,k+ crash ing against ca other. Butn "Stumps, the ugliest looking dog alive, with only an inch of tail, aud pair of torn and batter ed ears, but the children's dearest friend and playmate, came bounding to meet them, and diverted their attention.
 1 Ou entering the house they found moth CT preparing for a journey, and their fath- CT counting pile of bank bills on the old l 4oI 4o alone tonight, said Mrs. Linn, ''for your him to Squire Fieldings, to pay the inter- see it 9 asked Nancy, with frightened face "What dear > ssThe moggage. , "Yes, expect shall, and thank heaven, we have the money to pay this half, though it has been hard work. But you'll be quite safe with Stumps in the house, and we'll be back by noon tomorrow.
 An hour later, the old yellow stage drove up 10 the door, and Charlie aud Nancy waved farewell to their parents, feeling quite important at being considered big enough to keep house. "Be sure and lock the door tonight, and don't set anything on fire" called back papa. "And don't run outdoors, for it rains again, said man. ma, as she dt Il led her waterproof, and h5 shouts, ''Yes, we'll be very careful, good bye, good bye P The little couple watch ed the coach out of sight, and then sa down by the kitchen fire to think what they should have for supper. But when the twilight shadows gathered and heavy rain poured down, it seemed little lone ly, though the bright fire and comical old Stumps tried their best to make 1t cheer full. When the tea things were put away Charlie and Nancy returned to the myste- rious "moggage, wondering why 1t made their mother so sid, and their fat ather s face wear such worried, careworn look when ever it was mentioned. "How the river roars tonight ?'' said Nancy, about eight o'clock. ''And see what is that!' ex- claimed Charlie, pointing to tiny stream stealing under the door, and trickling across the floor. ''The river must be ris- ing p He rushed to the window, but the dense darkness obscured everything. Be. fore long the whole floor be came wet, aud the children curled their feet on the chail rungs, while Stumps sniffed uneasily, as ii he thought something was wrong. The water kept on, creeping, creeping up and coal scuttles, brooms and baskets began to swim round comically Charlie thought it was ''jolly fun," and taking off shoes and stockings padded round after the va. rious articles but Nancy looked sober aud was sure the parlor carpet would be spoiled and at last both became frighten ed, as the water dashed in more wildly.
 ''We must go upstairs, said Charlie "But let us take something to eat, said Nancy, for you don't know when we eau get down again. So wading to the cup board they packed basket with bread meat and milk, and then, followed closely by Stumps, made their way with some diff ficulty up to the floor above, as the rising water already covered the second step. Dear mo what would pa and ma say ii they could see us now," sobbed Nancy ''We must sit up all night and watch the house" said Charlie ''but don't cry, Man. cy, the water won't come up here, for ii has stopped raining, and somebody will come tomorrow to take us out. Let's play Robinson Crusoe, and pretend we are cast away on desert island, and Stumps can be our man Friday. But Nancy would not be comforted, and at last sobbed her. self to sleep with her arms around Stumps' neck, with her brown curly head pillowed on his rough coat. Charlie tried to keep awake, but finally threw.himsef on his lit tie bed, and slept soundly until the morn ing sun came streaming in. All things seem brighter by daylight, and Nancy awoke quite her happy self again, though both children were startled when they looked out of the window. They were, in- deed, literally surrounded by water, which was up to the top of the front door, and covered the garden fences, while the an- gry stream seemed carrying all things be- fore it. Trees torn up by the roots, dead bodies of horses, COWS, and sheep, barrels of potatoes and turnips, chairs aud tables, all went sailing by, being whirled along, or caught between cakes of floating ice. "Oh see that poor little piggy !'' cried Nancy. "And how funny those red ap- pies look, bobbing about" said Charlie 1; and running for his fsh-pole, tried to drag some of the things towards him. "But they were horror stricken when in the out CT channel, where there was less ice, a small house went by, with an old woman and child screaming from an upper win dow, and though they had escaped them selves they were powerless to help these unfOrtunates.
 Stumps, meanwhile, was in great state of excitement, pricking up his dilapidated ears, wagging his scrap of a tail, and oc casionally making sudden dashes out into the water, returning with 8 drowned chick en, or a soaked cabbage in his mouth; for he was fine swimmer, and in summer spent al- most as much time in the river as on land.
 They were very glad of Nancys bread and meat, and had just eaten it, when curious