The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1886-06-02
The Freshet.


years-old twins who live on a farm near
the banks of a stream which flows into
the Susquehanna; and very gay times
they have, playing in the fields and
sailing toy boats on the river. They
are learning to swim, and to row in a
little boat which their father bought
for them. But the day of which l am
going to tell you was in the month of
January. 1t had been rainy for several
days, and the river was so swollen that
it bore little resemblance to the narrow,
peaceful stream which in summer glided
by their farm.
Mr.. West had gone to the village,
and their mother was in her room with
a sick headache, when Herbert looked
out of the south window and saw the
water rising steadily, nearer and nearer
to the hen-house, which stood part way
down the hill toward the river. He
called to Bonnie to see the I" river COM
ing up to the house," as he said. But
Bonnie thought of the nice bed in the
corner of the hen-house, where their
old cat, Fluffy, had made her home with
three little kittens.
go Herbert" said Bonnie, " there
is Fluffy sitting in the window looking
out on the water; know she will be
drownedp
guess she shan't be drowned"
said Herbert; " we can get her," and
he began to call, I" Kitty, kitty" But
by that time the water had surrounded
the hen-house, and kitty didn't care to
wet her feet, so she only sat and mewed
dolefully at the boys.
Herr ert looked at her and thought
minute; it wouldn't do to call mamma,
for she might have just fallen asleep.
Finally he said, " Bonnie, couldn't we
get two of the quilting-frames in the
attic and splice them together?" He
had heard his father speak of splicing
something in his work the day before,
and thong Int it would be good chance
to use the word.
Why, yes" said Bonnie; any
way, we will try it,"
So upstairs they ran, and got two and
joined them AS firmly as they could,
putting one end carefully out of the
window; but they would not quite
reach the hen-house window, so away
the boys went for another one.
They almost shouted when at last
they got the other end to rest on the
window-sill. Then they were anxious
to see if Fluffy would walk over on it.
She had jumped out of sight soon after
they began operations. Very soon she
appeared again, and even walked out
few steps; then, to their disappoint-
ment, went back. In a moment she
Jumped to the window again with a
kitten in her mouth, and walked daintily
over to the boys. She went to the
farthest side of the room and placed
the kitten on the boys bed; then went
back to the window. The boys were
so excited they could hardly stand when
she came back again with another kit
ten. Before she reached the window
the third time, fine large rooster
which Mr.. West priced very much
stood on the window-sill and gave a
loud crow, then stepped on to the walk.
Then the boys thought if they could
get some of the hens over, how glad
their father would be, for the water
was still rising, and before long would
| be over their walk
Bonnie ran to chest downstairs
and soon came back with dish of corn.
This they scattered on the window
sill, and called to the hens. Very soon
the rooster walked sedately over, and
began to pick up the corn, but no hen
appeared in answer to their call. They
had Just taken their walk apart and in,
all dripping wet, when their mother
walked in and looked first at the boys,
then at the kittens on the bed, and then
at the rooster.
" Boys" she said, what hare you
been doing?'
Then the boys led her to the window
and told her what they feared, and how
they had saved the kittens and rooster.
She laughed heartily, and said that
she was sure their father would be
proud to know he had such thoughtful
boys.
Soon their father came in, and almost
his first words were, "The hens and
ROSTERS are in the tree tonight, all but
the best Leghorn; he is missing"
Then the boys told their story, and
showed him their "Noah's Ark" as
they called ia little empty wood-room,
in which they had put the rooster, cat
and kittens.
In the morning the hen-house was
gone: but the water had fallen back
down the hill, and the rooster walked
out; then there was great clucking
among the hens. Bonnie said they
were telling their Experiences. ~
Womdn'S Journal.