Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1886-10-28

believe they tried to make Goos'
shovel coal, but am quite snre he di(
not overwork himself. At night W,
would hear him with banjo dancing
Juba' in the fire-room. He was allow
ed to see Nix very seldom, though
sometimes the boy hired Tilda to take
him down. He used every day to save
up bits Of his dessert for Goost.
1t is strange that remember these
trllles while the great event of the wy
age is so dim to me. We went to our
staterooms one nightas usual.I recollec'
that | began to choke in my dreams ;
that | struggled to sit up. There was
thick smoke all around me. | was not
sure whether | was asleep or not
could not make myself awake. Red
points of light shone here and there
there were loud shouts was parched
with heat-then | was awake.
screamed for my mother, who slept be-
low me but she lay like one dead.
climbed down and dragged her up, but
she seemed stupelied.
Fire fire = shrieked. The boat
is on fire y
She seemed to waken all at occe, and
began to talk very fast, as usual.
Put on your wrapper, Annie. Don't
scream so ! you deafen me Tut tut!
What fuss y
Somebody pounded on the door.
Yes, yes Pm coming. Where is
my pink over-cloak, child p
Outside all the passengers were hud
died on the stern of the boat. The
flames at the bow roared and swept up
to the very sky. Between US and the
shores stretched the black deep water,
There were but two boats. Even then |
noticed how eager the officers of the boa'
were to put my mother 10 one of them.
She was one of those women that every
body takes care Of. They lifted me in
beside her and Aunt Belle and the 9TH
er ladies. Uncle Bob, with Nix in his
arms, clustering and swearing, blam.
ing the captain and crew for the acci
dent.
is your boy to go in this boat
Colonel Champney p said the mate,
sharply.
The boat is overloaded now. rll
not trust him in it, began Uncle Bob
Push off = shouted the captain.
Stop = ordered Uncle Bob. But the
boat had already left the steamer.
Uncle Bob, wild with excitement and
rage. leaped into the water, holding
Nix with one arm.
He can not swim y cried Aunt
Belle. 90 God, save them y
The fire lighted up the water and the
black figures struggling in it. We saw
Uncle Bob take few strokes then h'
frantically beat the water with his free
hand. He turned over, sank, rose
again. Then the dark shape Of man
came to his side and seized the baby
We could see no more.
We reached the shore in safety.
Morning began to dawn, and then We
could tell who were dead and who were
living Several bodies were washed a
shore and lay on the pebbly beach, the
very people who had been dancing and
singing with us last night. | remem
Der how horrible it seemed to me that
the red birds and the jays began tC
sing in the trees overhead, and to go OF
building their nests as if they did not
care. They found Uncle Bob mile
down the river, quite dead. In one
hand he clutched piece of little Nix's
night-gown.
The captain came up to my mother
'Come here, he SAID. l followed then
to the beach. There was Goost's de
formed body in its rags, and on hi'
breast lay Nix alive, and actuall.
laughing.
The poor darkey.' said the captain
saved the child. He evidently was ex
hausted when he approached the shore,
for he seems to have st truggled Just be
yond the reach of the water, and then
died. He certainly wasn't drowned
perhaps it was some hidden heart dis
ease.'
Nix began to pummel him as usual
wake up, Goost, he cried.
Kiss him, Nix said my mothe
who was crying.
Nix kissed him. But Goost did no
waken. - Youths Companion.
A Philadelphia merchant has been
arrested for knocking an aggressive
email hoy off hjs fencA with q hrick II