Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 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 a floating timber, fastened
the sheet about the waist of the halt
drowned child, and any number Of hands
pulled her up and lifted her through the
window.
"Now I'm in the water" shouted Mr..
Bum, 81 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-
vulsively Mrs. Bum took of 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 if 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 a 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 a brisk hammering began in that di-
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.
SO, can hear papaw exclaimed the
blanketed girl, after she had listened a mo-
ment. PAPA, here l amp she called at
at the top of her lungs.
"Yes, l am coming" came an answering
voice.
1t was not long before the hastily built
raft was pushed out and brought beneath
the window. The man in the army coat
was then recognized and received with a
little shout. The father of the rescued
child looked up with eyes that were over
flowing. "Give me Kitty and I'll take her
crazy. Drop her right down." and he held
up his strong arms. "I've sent my man
back for the double team, and We'll soon
have you all up to our house,"
80, Papa, Pll never, never, never,
necer disobey you again." exclaimed
Kitty, as they bundled her through the
window.
"No, I am sure you never will" said her
father. Then Kitty was carefully dropped
pushed away.
"All be ready for the next boat" called
out MIR. Bum, cheerfully.
"Ah! l am SO thankful" said Mrs. Bum,
. to think that we're not only all safe, but
Pa has saved somebody else"
Then there was a great dressing and
and a 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 a 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
Town for the next load; and finally Mrs.
Bum, with the remaining small boy and a
bundle of clothing, took leave Of the house.
They filled the farm-wagon quite full;
and the horses, impatient at the long wait
ng, started off at a pace that made Baby
Bunn's cheeks shake like two bowls of
Jelly, and turned the children's faces into
)ne broad smile. The sun now shone radi-
,ntly: there was a smell of young leaves
and early violets in the air: from the hill
sides came the plaintive bleat of little
clear ''trillium trillium- tree" Of the robiu
rom his topmost twig.
SLOW queer it is" thought Mrs. Bum.
L seemed to see and hear all this yester-
lay."
At the farmhouse q great breakfast was
n waiting for them; and Kitty, who had
,een kissed and cried over, and given some
very hot drinks by her mother, was lying
nugly tucked up in bed in a room opening
~. liz h. LcI Iofk
pen, that she might enjoy tho view of the
zig table and the big family that were to
,ather around it.
Such a breakfast! Even Annie and Tom
we're able to relish the fresh boiled eggs
md the delicious cream toast, while Mr..
sunn and the little boys accepted every
hing, from the broiled ham and cold baked
,eans to griddle-cakes and doughnuts.
As for Mrs. Bum, the dear old associa-
ions of early days so crowded upon her
he could hardly taste anything.
'This is the way people can live in the
ountry," she whispered to Nelly, and
huddered when she thought Of going back
o the Flats.
But Mrs. Bum never went back to the
'lats. That afternoon she was seized with
chill, and before night was in a high
ever, from which she lay ill in the best
BEDROOM of the Thompson farmhouse for
81
thompson nursed her tenderly, and took
,ood care of Dicky, while the other chill
rem lived at large in the fields, the big
arm and the large kitchen garnet, and
rev well and happy.
AS soon as Mrs. Bum became strong
nough to stake the air." she was lifted
nto the easy single buggy, and Mr..
thompson himself drove, because he could
lot trust the horse to other hands than his
wn, he said. He drove slowly along the
leasant country way, now sweet and leafy
n its fresh May robes, and at the end of
nile he stopped before a small house,
eatly painted in two shades of gray, and
haded by two kingly elms. In the rear of
he house some men were building q new,
arge kitchen, Mr.. Thompson explained.
Down at the foot Of the grassy slope ran
sparkling, pebbled brook. The brook
rossed the road on which they were driv-
ng. and was spanned by a very new
ridge.
at is a right pretty place." said Mrs.
'unn, looking at the shady little porch and
p to the noble elms, and thinking how
eavenly it must be to live in such place.
swell, I'm glad you like the location,
ecause it's yours, you know" said Mr..
thompson.
''Mine:" said Mrs. Bum, her eyes grow
ng large with astonishment. Were the
ever dreams still buzzing in her head?
Certainly, Mrs. Bum! Don't you rec
gnize your own house? All we did to it
Tas to haul it up here from the river and
i've it little paint and a little white
rash, and so forth. Your man said you
Tas fond of trees. and so we set the house |
v these elms. Your mans around there |
t work on the kitchen now-it'll be finished |
4 a day or two-and there's three acres OF !
God grassland and three of maple and |
eech; aud we've picked out a nice, gentle |
ow for a present to your Nelly: aud |
yell, it's small enough return for what |
our man did for US when our Kitty was |
arried off on the old bridge that used tc |
tand yonder," and Mr.. Thompson drew |
ut his handkerchief and wiped his nose
18th great vigor.
"All-the land-the cow-ours:" Poor |
Irs. Bum could not believe her senses.