The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1886-05-28
with tho unoonsoiou, sels,hue,, q

with tho unconscious seldshness q
Charlottesville you 20 right or"
Apparently he was hurt for his voice
quaverctl as he asked (Which would
" ruther hev-daddy, or the beadsp"
'eOh. you!" cried the child, throwing
her arms round his neck and pressing
her little face to his. So the hurt was
healed, and they chartered quietly to-
gcther till supper time. at which meal
there appeared five black-eyed boys,
the pattern of their mother. People
said the banks blood had taken . turn
in the boys for they were a. keen,
fought mbed, energetic boys a. could
be found in the county.
The following Monday Mr.. Danks
started for Cooperville. As he took up
his limp carpet bag. he said. by way Of
feeble joke, '.Ain't ye sorry to see me
goin'. Malvinyp"
She looked at him moment, then
said. coldly, you'll be back soon
enough"
He Strengthened himself and said,
with IN air Of decision quite unlike
himself. ''You' II not see me again UNI
til my work is finished;" and so de-
parted, followed only by Capitola, who
went to the road with him. and called
after him not to forget the beads.
Mrs. banks from her washtub
watched him going slowly up the
muddy road, and as she looked her
heart relented a trifle toward him -
the weak. kind-heartad. exasperating
little man. Hastily taking her hands
from the suds, she took a bottle from
the kitchen shelf and went to the door.
"Johnny!" she called 10 the tanglc of
boys before the door, "your pas forgot
his liniment. Run after him with it,
for he'll be sure to get lame back"
With q parting thrust toward his
brothers. the boy snatched the bottle
and sped away like young athlete,
chin up and elbows back, rs he had seen
pictures of runners.
When he overlook his father and de-
livered his message, the latter seemed
really touched. Though Indifferent,
apparently, whether his house fell to
pieces or not. lie was homcsick outside
his own gate, and now was going away
sore hearted at the evident willingness
OF his family to part with him. The
unexpected attention quite overcame
him. and he looked around for some-
thing to return in acknowledgment,
but the fields were bare.
Suddenly he spied by the roadside
some pussy willows with their silvery,
fuzzy buds, and cutting off branch
gave it to the boy saying, "Give that to
your ma, and tell her she's the best
woman in Meigs County,"
':Law!" said Mrs. banks, when the
boy burst in with his branch and mes
sage, "Your pas getting silly in his
old age. don t want such truck in the
house." But after the boy had Como she
put it carefully in water and set it on
the kitchen shelf, and several times she
looked up at 1t with q look on her face
which Mr.. banks would scarcely have
recognized.
That gentleman's absence made very
little difference with his family except
to Capitola. His wife scolded little
less, and the boys, who looked upon
him very much as another boy-only
one who liked to sit in the same place
too long-pursued their works anu
sports as usual.
But the Thursday after his leave,
their outdoor fun was cut short by q
persistent rain. How it did pourl
Hour after hour, all day and night.
Friday morning dawncd upon sweeping
sheets Of gray, and an angry, boiling
flood that crept, inch by inch up its
yellow banks. and night closed in on
the same picture. Saturday morning
the sun shone out bright and clear, but
on what scene Of destruction. What
had been q river was a rushing sea.
which had blotted out field after field,
and stopped just at their own gate, and
which carried on its heaving surface
trees torn up bodily, great timbers,
buildings and cattle. Toward night q
large barn came floating down, and
lodging just above the house, made 9
breakwater, round which the waters
whirled. bringing into the harbor thus
formed all manner of wreckage. The
boys watched eagerly, specufating on
the amount of firew0Od thus laid al
their door.
Hi! That's good one." cried one
of them, as just at dusk something like
o log appeared round the corner Of the
barn, balanced moment, as though
undecided, and then swept round into
the little harbor. But it was getting
too dark to see anything more. SO they
went laughing and scufaing to bed.
All night long mother and children
slept quietly in the little house. lulled
by the rush OF swift waters. All nigh
long IN the little harbor the log poised
ana turned, now swept away from thu
shore, now drawn toward 1t, as though
reluctant to 60.
In the morning, with whoop ant
sho9t' the boys burst from the house
but In moment were back again will
white cheeks and chattering teeth, and
chnging to their mother, could uttel
but one word,''Father."
ior T h,m' IN M. Danks nad come nome
and battered. but invested for the tirs
time in the eyes of those who knew Il
with dignity. and as they bore it across
Hmm fErf nm .uyn