Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1885-10-02

mer passed without any thing oc-
curing 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, present from her uncle. She
said she had left it a few days ago
on the bureau in her bedroom, and
on looking for it she had discover
ed that it was missing. A search
of the room and house was made
bat the missing article could not be
found. II was learned that Pal
had been seen in the room. This
was bad for the boy, and we be-
lieved him guilty of the theft
When accused he denied, saying he
had not seen the ring. John was
harsh and strict, aud discharged
the boy. When he left us ! noticed
a tear in his eye as he moved to-
ward the gate.
1t was cold November night.
My husband being away, my daugh-
ter and | would spend the night
alone. The weather throughout
the day had been threatening, the
sky overcast, the wind blowing al
most a gale, and | feared we would
have a storm. My fears were we'll
grounded, for early in the evening
it began to rain, and could hear
the roar Of the wdves as they beat
angrily against the shore. 1t rain
ed as | never heard it rain before.
Ten o'clock, the rain still coming
down in torrents. | lighted the
lantern and looked out the door.
All was darkness-inky black. J
stood there q moment until a gust
of wind almost knocked me down.
| managed, however, with difficulty
to close the door, and assembled the
stairs to my bedroom. | was AFRAID
to retire, and so waited up. An
hour passed and the storm was rag
ing as hard as ever. ! realized that
there was danger OF some of the
cattle and out-buildings being de
stroyed.
Midnight. The storm as terrible
as ever. went down stairs and
looked out. The tide is in and the
water has surrounded the house.
We are in personal danger. In a
short time the water has covered
the first floor. Up stairs | climbed,
nv clothes wet and clinging to me
like a bather's suit. 1t was a hor'
rible night; our house filled with
water, while | could hear the wind
and rain lashing amid the surround
ing trees as if possessed with a
thousands demons. tried to sleep,
bnt the roar of the maddened Gle
ments, intermingled with the bel
lowings and distressful cries of the
animals in the barn, made my heart
within me chill.
Edith | said, Il am going out
into the yard and see how the cat
tie are getting on
| seized the lantern aud darted
down stairs, only to find the water
some three feet deep on the floor. |
knew then the impossibility of do
ing anything for the animals, and
so returned.
The hand Of the clock on the
manteI pointed to l. The water
was up even with the second story
of onr house, and the storm showed
no signs Of terminating. The min
utes dragged slowly on. thought
of my husband aud friends. llor.
ribIe thought to be drowned and in
my own house.
1t was . o'clock when, on going
TO tho window to lock ont, | heard
a noise as if a boat was approach
ing. was not deceived, for such
it was. AS it came nearer, a voice
called out and asked if we were yet
alive. | replied l was and called
for the occupant to take me off.
The boat approached. /, with
the aid of my lantern, recognized
the man in it as Pal, the negro boy
He called out and told us not to
lose any time, but to enter the boat,
and we would be saved. My daugh-
ter entered and | followed. Then
the brave youth seized the oars,
and, with long, powerful strokes,
rowed away. He uttered not a
word. and | was too full of think
ing for our safety 20 speak.
We rowed on for fifteen minutes
when the boat struck something
and stopped. Pal, telling MS to re-
main perfectly still, moved forward
to the bow, when suddenly the craft
gave q lurch and | saw the brave
youth 60 headlong overheard into
the dark, murky waters. | hearc
no cry from him. 1t was a ie"
minutes before | could recover my
self, and then cried out: Pal
Palp but no one answered. The
boat was tossing about from side tt
side, and I thought every moment