The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1886-11-09

lowed to see Nix very seldom, though
sometimes the boy hired Tilda to fake
him down. He used every day to save
UP bits of his dessert for Goost.
1t is strange that / remember these
trifes while the great event of the
voyage is so dim to Iae. We went to
our state-rooms one night as usual. |
recollect that began to choke in my
dreams; that i 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 healthier / was awake.
| screamed for my mother, who slept
below me, but she lay like one dead.
| climbed down and dragged her up,
but she seemed stupefied.
Fire. firer' / shrieked. 1.-The boat
is on fire!'
She seemed to waken all at once,
and began TO talk very fast, as usual.
Put on your wrapper, Annie. Don't
scream sol you deafen me! Tut! tut.
What a fuss!'
Somebody pounded on the door.
"Yes, yes! I'm coming. Where is my
pink over-cloak, child?"
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
boat were TO put my mother in one OF
| these. She was one of those women
that every body takes care of. They
lifted me i'm beside her and Aunt Belle
and the other ladies. Uncle Bob, with
Nix in his arms, was clustering and
swearing, blaming the captain and
crew for the accident.
''ls your boy TO 90 in this boat,
Colonel Champney?" said the mate,
sharply.
The boat is overloaded now. I'll
not trust him i'm it," began Uncle Bob.
Push off, shouted the captain.
Stop ordered Uncle BolA But the
boat had already left the steamer.
Uncle Bob, wild with excitement and
rage. leaped into the water, holding
Nix with one arm.
Belle. 20 God, save themr'
The fire lighted up the water and the
black figures struggling in it. We
| saw Uncle Bob take a few strokes:
then he frantically beat the water with
his free hand. He turned over. sank.
rose again. Then the dark shape of a
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
ashore and lay on the pebbly beach,
the very people who had been dancing
and singing with us last night. re-
that the red-birds and the jays began
to sing in the trees overhead. and TO GO
on building their nests as if they did
not care. They found Uncle Bob a
mile down the river, quite dead: In
one hand be held clutched a piece OF
little NiX's night-gOwn.
The captain came up TO my mother.
Come here" he said. | followed
them to the beach. There was Goost' :
defOrmed body in its rags, and on his
breast lay Nix alive, and actually
laughing.
''The poor darkey," said the captain.
saved the child. He evidently was
exhausted when he approached the
shore. for he seems to have struggled
just beyond the reach of the water, and
then died. He certainly wasn't
drowned; perhaps it was some hidden
heart disease"
Nix began to pummel him as usual.
Wake up. Goost," he cried.
kiss him, Nix" said my mother,
who was crying.
Nix kissed him. But Goost did not
waken.-Y Youths Companion.