The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-09-24

Mrs. Bum had, with practical prompt
ness, tied two sheets together and let them
down from the window. Mr.. Bum, steady
ing himself upon floating timber, fastened
the sheet about the waist of the half
drowned child, and any number of hands
pulled her up and lifted her through tho
window.
Now I'm in the water" shouted Mr..
Bum, Il may as well swim ashore and see
where we are. Keep up your spirits, my
jewels, there's the shore just bit beyond
the house."
Mrs. Bum leaned from the window until
she nearly fell overheard, then seeing that
he had reached wading depth, she turned
and gave all her attention to the little
dripping mite who sat on the floor IN the
midst OF the small Bunns, crying con-
vuIsively. Mrs. Bum took off her wet
clothes and wrapped her in blankets. warm
from the trundle bed, and soothed her with
many a plying word. For awhile the
child could only sob and gasp IN her
attempts to speak, but finally she made
known the fact that her poor little
lambs were down in the lower pasture,
and she had been out to see II they were
all safe, and her papa had told her not
to go on the bridge, and she had been
naughty and disobeyed him, and the bridge
broke up all in minute-and-and-an
then the sobs burst forth afresh. She was
hardly dried and warmed and comfortable,
before voices were heard shoreward. and
soon brisk hammering began IN tnat d.
rection. Nelly also nearly went overheard,
and reported some men making raft. She
failed to recognize her father among them,
because he had changed his wet clothes
for somebody's black trousers and an old
army overcOat.
80, can hear papa~ exclaimed the
blanketed girl, after she had listened a mo-
ment. Papa, here l am" she called at
at the top of her lungs.
Eyes, am coming" came an answering
voice
1t was not long before the hastily built
raft was pushed out aud brought beneath
! the window. The man in the army coat
was then recognized and received with
little shout. The father of the rescued
| child looked up with eyes that we're over
| flowing. Give me Kitty and Pll take her
| right home to her mother, who is nearly
crazy. Drop her right down." and he held
up his strong arms. ''I've sent nv man
back for the double team, and We'll soon
have you all up to our house."
80, Papa, Ill never, never, never,
Rrrer disobey you again" exclaimed
Kitty, as they bundled her through the
| window.
mo, am sure you never will" said her
| father. Then Kitty was carefully dropped
into the approaching arms, and the raft
pushed away.
"All be ready for The next boat" called
out 8ir. Bum, cheerfully.
"Ah, l am so thankful" said Mrs. Bum,
90 to think that we're not only all safe, but
| Pa has saved somebody else"
Then there was a great dressing and
brushing, and great washing and polish
| ing of faces and hands; for plenty of
water could be dipped up with pitcher
and the knotted sheets, and the family
were all in readiness when the raft arrived
under the window again.
| But such large family could not be
! shipped all at once. Mrs. Bum let Kitty
| and Baby Bum. and two other small boys,
| 90 ashore first; then Annie and Tom, care
fully wrapped in bed blankets, were let
| down for the next load; and finally Mrs.
| Bum, with the remaining small boy and a
| bundle Of clothing, took leave OF the mouse.
They filled the farn-wagOn quite full;
| and the horses, impatient at the long wait
! ing, started of at pace that made Baby
! Bunn,s cheeks shake like two bowls of
! Jelly. and turned the children's faces into
| one broad smile. The sun now shOne radi-
| antly: there was a smell of young leaves
and early violets in the air; from the hill
sides came the plaintive bleat of little
lambs; and, yes, there it was, the loud,
| clear "trillium- trillium-t tree" of the robin
from his topmost twig.
sHow queer it is" thought Mrs. Bum.
81 seemed to see and hear all this yestor-
dav."
At the farmhouse great breakfast was
| in waiting for them; and Kitty, who had
been kissed and cried over, and given some
| very hot drinks by her mother, was lying
snugIy tucked up in bed in a room opening
| off the kitchen, and the door had been left
open, that she might enjoy the view of the
big table and the big family that were to
| gather around it.
Such breakfast Even Annie and Tom
were able to relish the fresh-bOiled eggs
! and the delicious cream toast, while Mr..
! Bum and the little boys accepted every
thing, from the broiled ham and cold baked
beans to griddle-cakeS and doughnuts.
! As for Mrs. Bum, the dear old associa-
! lions of early days SO crowded upon her
she could hardly taste anything.
This is the way people can live in the
! country" she whispered to Nelly, and
shuddered when she thought of going back
to the Flats.
! But Mrs. Bum never went back to the
I Flats. That afternoon she was seized with
a chill, and before night was in q high
fever from which she lay i'll in the best
bedroom of the Thompson farmhouse fol
two weeks. Mr.. Bum and Nelly and Mrs.
! Thomson nursed her tenderly, and took
rood care of Dicky, while the other chill
,lren lived at large in the fields, the big
barn and the large kitchen garnet, and
! grew well and happy.
enough to take the air." she was lifted
into the easy single buggy, and Mr..
| Thomson himself drove, because he could
not trust the horse to other hands than his
own, he said. He drove slowly along the
pleasant country way, now sweet and leafy
in its fresh May robes, and at the end of a
mile he stopped before small house
neatly painted in two shades OF gray, and
shaded by two kingly elms. In the rear OF
the house some men were building a new
large kitchen, Mr.. Thompson explained
Down at the foot of the grassy slope rar
a sparkling, pebbled brook. The brook
crossed the road on which they were driv-
ing, and was spanned by very new
bridge.
at is a right pretty place." said Mrs
Bum. looking at the shady little porch anC
up to the noble elms, and thinking how
heavenly it must be to live in such place
"Well, Pm glad you like the location
because it's yours, you know" said Mr.
Thompson.
"Mine?n said Mrs. Bum, her ewes grow.
ing large with establishment. Were thu
fever dreams still buzzng in her head?
Certainly, Mrs. Bum! Don't you rec
oynize your own house? All we did to i
was 10 haul it up here from the river anC
give it little paint and little white
wash, and so forth. Your man said vol
was fond of trees, and so we set the houst
by these elms. Your mans around Their
| at work on the kitchen now-it'n be finished
in a day or two-and there's three acres o
good grassland and three of maple anC
beech: aud we've picked out a nice, gentl
COW for a present to your Nelly; and
well, it's q small enough return for.wha
your man did for US when our Kitty wa
carried off on the old bridge that used t,
stand yonder," and Mr.. Thompson drew
out his handkerchief and wiped his nos
with great vigor.
"All-the land-the cow-ours:" Poo
Mrs. Bum could not believe her senses.
Nns oil ,-nnrS To haua and To hold