The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1885-09-24

bhChOs
Probably Mrs. Bum was getting a little
f~everish herself, for whenever she closed
her eyes she seemed to see fair green fields
and dancing brooks, and a white:cow feed
ing upon the hillsides, and happy children
gathering violets in the spring sunshine;
and she could hear the thrifty cackle of
ambitious hens, and the carol of robbins
on the tip-top branches of the budding
trees. She closed her eyes as often as her
work would permit, through this last
gloomy day in the Flats, and felt some-
what comforted and cheered by her strange
fancies.
A river runs by the Flats, separating that
locality very distinctly from the heights of
Upper Lowell. Every spring. it rises and
runs away with its usual petty l%arcenies of
but in this spring of 1854 it meant more
than petty larceny, it meant a bold and
and defiant raid. Its gray, swirling waters
almost reached the high-arched bridges,
and its usual insinuating murmur was
turned to a menacing roar. But the Flat
crept up to their back yards Inc Tapped
hungrily around their door-steps, it was
still but a new and refreshing excite
ment-this big rise of the peaceful "Little
Wolf" The men and women living along
the banks looked after such small, loose
and the children made RATS and padded
about in the pools of back-water in great
glee. Some authorities rode over to the
Flats, and suggested that the houses along
families living there only laughed and
said they were not afraid; and every one
went to bed that night feeling entirely
safe, and thankful that the weather had
cleared and that there would be chances
for going to work on the morrow.
But tat midnight there was a cry" Mr..
and Mrs. Bum did not hear it, for Annie
and Tom were sleeping soundly for the
first night in O week, and the father and
mother, tired out with vigils. were also
deep in slumber. They were all sleeping
up stairs as the doctor had advised-Tom
and Annie in their hunks neal the window,
where a breath of fresh air could touch
their fevered faces, three small boys in the
trundle-bed, Nelly, the eldest girl, on a
lounge, and Baby Bum with his father
and mother.
The cry came from some of the houses
along the river, and there was only time
for the bewildered snatching oDa little
clothing and a frenzie escape to higher
ground, every one, in those first wild mo-
ments,. thinking but of himself and those
achieved street lamps, and only the pale
glimmer Of the stars lighted the terrible
scene.
The little Bum house stood lowest of
any in the Flats, and the river had been
nosing about it for an hour or more before
~ OOoh " LILO 6AAPs OIL oOo "
jaws together, Mr.. and Mrs. Bum were
awakened by the queer, straining creak
and jar, and they now heard the wild
shouts outside, the lap and swirl of the
waters about them, N knew, with freez-
ing hearts what it all meant.
With the instinct that makes all woman
kind want to die decently, Mrs. Bum
dashed into her gown which hung over the
foot of the bed, and even gave her hair a
swift twist. Then she caught up Dicky
D.--- - ---l H.
t%urbance, and h breathed the name of
Christ's mother, as she held him tightly to
her breast. Mr.. Bum steering with
great presence of mind through the sea of
sleepy authenticated from the window.
Was there a torch-light procession? And
lamps that were now flashing out from the
windows, and the bright stars above were
all moving in the same direction. No, it
was his own house that wa moving-they
were afloat! Mr.. Bum staggered back to
the bed and drew on his trousers, and felt
word. Nellie, the oldest child, who had
awakened, sat up Inc called out: so,
mother!' sven as her mother had called
upon that other sacred name.
"Be brave, darlin' , and don't wake the
other children! We're all goin' together,
anyhow"
aMaybe she'll hold together" said Mr..
Bum, who always found the hopeful side
of things. "We'n light the lamp and see
where we are" And soon all the people
sightseers, noticed a glimmer out on the
dark river-like the light of q will o. the
wisp-except hat it was a little steadier
a light that moved farther Ind farther
away and was finally lost to sight.
She did "hold together" Through all
-reeling and staggering at times, and
thumped and damned by floating debris
held together and in the early dawn sailed
| along "all there" as Mr.. Bum expressed
it; and all the children, except Nelly
slept peacefully, as if lulled Into deeper
mon cradle. They appeared to be in the
middle of the river, for there was plenty Of
sea-room, as Mr.. Bum said, but the shore
on either side, was shut out by a heavy
fog, NO con,d on,v GOO n. h.nss :,
wouldn't be quite SO awful" moaned pool
Nellie, nervously shivering in spite of the
thick shawl in which she was wrapped.
"Darlin' be thankful we're spared sc
far, and perhaps the dear Lordrl save Us
even yet" said her mother. BUTT was in
deed "awful," moving on through this
mist with unknown dangers signing and
murmuring all around.
As daylight advanced they seemed tc
have floated into stiller waters; and pres.
emily there came a gentle shock as if the
HOUSE udu GOuCu6u DObUOIus
"Are we sinking, Dennie, dear?" asked
Mrs. Bum, of her husband.
"Not a bit of it, jewel !! We're on land
that's where we are; and here's a tree be.
side US as big as a church steeple-a tree
right side up, too-and we've come to
stoppin' place, sure !" and Mr.. Bum, who
had been SO cheerful and plucky through
all these hours, sat down on the bed and
buried his face in his red cotton handker.
chief.
"Ah, it will do you good, Dennie dear!'
said his wife, patting him Oh the shoulder
and laughing and crying herself.
The Bum family had indeed come to ar
anchorage. Not only one but several trees
stood about them, and in between two OF
these staunch supports the house ha6
drifted and was firmly held. The fog lifted
slowly, and by and by the faithful blue OF
the sky smiled down upon them, and billy
shores came into view, with glimpses OF
cultivated fields and budding woodlands.
The Bum family had moved into tae
country at last!
AS the cradle stopped rocking, the chill
dren awoke, and clustered about the small
gable windows quite stupefed with wonder
at the strange scene around them.
just at his ONE there came ringing
over the waters a wild scream. Mr.. Bum
pushed the children aside n leane out
of the window. Just emerging from the
lingering fog up river, foated a remnant
of a small country bridge, and clinging to
it was a little girl in a red cloak, who
again screamed with terror as the tossing
planks almost submerged her in the cur.
rent. Mr.. Bum had not grown up beside
4 river without knowing how to swim. In
fact, Little VIOLIN some of it's sequestered
nooks-had been his bathroom for many 6
summer. His shoes and coat being already
off, he plunged down from the window and
struck out for the red cloak like a hero
The current was bearing the fragment OF
Il hvs1on cfroSrhf f0xxyor1 1t,, I,,f Hha ~
were separating and the child was about
to sink as he reached her. She made q
frantic clutch at his neck, but he held her
off with one hand and wan as best he
could back to the house, which seemed the
nearest landing-point.
Mrs. Bum had, with practical prompt.
ness, tied two sheets together and let then
down from the window. Mr.. Bum, steady.
ing himself upon a floating timber, fastened
the sheet about the waist of the hall
drowned child, and any number of hands
pulled her up and lifted her through the
d