The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1885-10-01
JUDGE NOT.

We lived in Delaware on q large fruit
and grain farm along the bay shore.
Our dwelling-hOuse was situated
about ahundred yards from the water 8
edge.
One summer morning as John, nv
husband. was preparing for the days
labor he was accosted by a ragged but
rather bright looking negro boy OF
some 16 years. who asked him for q
Job. John surveyed the boy for some
moments, and after plying him with
few questions said he might stay and
do tho chores and odd jobs around the
farm. OF his parents the boy could
say nothing, and when asked his name
replied he had been called Pal by
his former master, who had recently
diod.
So we called him Pal. He was q
good worker, and proved to be cheer
! ful and obedient, qualities not often
found among the present generation of
negro laborcrs. The summer passed
without anything occurring to disturb
the usual routine of farm labor, and
we all became much attached to our
new servant.
One morning in early autumn my
daughter Edith came running to me,
saying she had lost her gold ring, q
present from her uncle. She said she
had left it few days ago on tho bureau
in her bedroom, on looking for it she
discovered that it was missing. A search
of the room and house was made, but
tho missing article could not be found.
1t was learned that Pal had been seen
in the room. This was bad for the boy,
and we believed him guilty of the theft.
When accused he denied, saying he had
not seen the ring. John was harsh and
strict and discharged the boy. When
he left us noticed tear in his eve as
he moved toward the gate.
1t was a cold November night NV
husband being away. my daughter and
! would spend the night alone. The
weather throughout the day had been
threatening. the sky overcast, the wind
blowing almost a gale, and l feared
we would have u storm. My fears were
well grounded, for early in the even
ing it began to rain, ami l could hear
tine roar of the waves as they beat an
9rily against the shore. 1t rained as
never heard it rain before. len O o'clock!
the rain still coming down in torrents.
lighted the lantern and looked out
the door. ALI was darkness-inky
black. | stood there a moment until q
gust of wind almost Knocked mo down.
| managed, however, with difficulty to
close the door, and ascended tine stairs
to my Ledroom. l was afraid to retire,
and so waited up. An hour passed and
The storm was rag ing rs hard as ever.
| realized that there was danger of
some of the cattle and out-buildings
being destroyed.
Midnight! The storm as terrible as
ever. went downstairs and looked
out. The tide is in and the water has
surrounded the house. We are in per-
sOnal danger. In short time tho wa
ter has covered the first floor. Upstairs
climbed, my clothes wet and clinging
| TO me like a bather's suit. 1t was q
horrible night; our house filled with
water, while / could hear the wind and
rain lashing amid the surrounding trees
as if possessed with a thousand de-
mons. tried 10 sleep, bat tho roaI
| of the maddened elements, informing.
led with the bellowings and distressful
cries of the animals in the barn, made
my heart within me chill.
Edith" 1 said, 81 am going out in
/
getting on" seized the lantern and
darted downstairs. only to find the
water Some three feet deep on the floor
knew then the impOssibility of do
ing anything for the animals, and sc
| returned.
The hand of the clock on the mante
pointed to 1. The water was up even
with the second-story of our house ant
the storm showed no signs of termi
mating. The minutes dragged slowly
on. / thought of my husband and
friends. Horrible thought to bt
drowned, and in my own house.
II Was 2 O'Clock, when, on going t.
the window to look out, heard a noise
as IL boat was approaching. wa:
not deceived, for such it was. As il
came nearer. q voice called out anC
asked if were yet alive. l replied
was and called for the occupant to taxi
me of.
The boat approached. l. with thu
aid of my lantern, recognized the MAJ
in it as Pal, the negro boy. He cailet
out and told us not to lose any time
but to enter the boat, and we would b.
saved. My daughter entered and
followed. Then the brave youth seizet
the oars, and, with long, powerful
strokes, rowed away. Ho uttered no
a word, and L was too full of thinking
for our safety to speak.
We rowed on for fifteen minutes
when the boat struck something ant
stopped. Pal, telling us to remain per
fectly still, moved forward to the bow
when suddenly the craft gave lurcl
and | saw the brave youth go headlons
overheard into the dark. murky waters
heard no cry from him. 1t was a few
minutes before 1 could recover myself
and then cried out: ''Pal! Pal!' bu
no one answered. The boat was toss
ing about from side to side. and
thought every moment We would b.
tossed into eternity. The oars hat
fallen overheard, and l knew we wer
helpless. We, however, cold and ex
hansted, huddled together in the bot
tom of the craft, which was now drift
ing we knew not whittier. 1t was ago
nv. l Icannot tell how we suffered 10
the remainder of that night, but. tn
longest must have an end, and whel
the first welcome streak OF day ap
peared found we were only a fey
Yards from shore. l managed to sc
the boat on shore in a short time, an
We were soon in \ neighbor's hous
about two miles from our own home
lie was not long before my husban
was with me, and as L told him of wha
hardship we had passed through, an
= how Pal rescued us from water
grave, / saw few tears trickle dow
his cheeks. The next day we weH
back to the old farm. The stock ha
been lost and the crops almost dt
stroyed.