The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-07-10


of deep rejoicing. The afternoon be-
gan to grow shorter. Still the children
slept on. A storm was sweeping up
the valley, and the distant rumbles of
the thunder seemed but echoes of the
lannon's roars, which had long since
died away.
Martha awoke with start, to find
the belfry quite dusky, and Bob still
asleep. wake up, Bob" she said.
"a thunder storm is coming up. We
had better get home"
Bob sat up, rubbing his eyes and
saying: Il say, Mat, why didn't you
call me before? 1t must be very late,
and father and mother will be coming
home, and will think we are lost. Let s.
run as quick as we can"
Down the old ladder the two chill
dren flew as fast as they could. But
to their surprise they found the door
refused to open, no matter how they
tried.
Pull, Mat, there, we must open it.
The winds gone and played us nice
trick, any way" Pulling, however,
did no good, the children were close
prisoners.
MAT" said Bob, 'would you be
afraid to stay here all nightP"
mo, Bob" replied the little girl
''God will take care of us. You know
we are only in His own house."
Eyes, know that, but it's awful
lonesome.
Lets get into one of the pews when
the storm comes down, and lie on our
faces so that we can't see the light
ming; it is bright enough to scare fell
low" They could hear the thunder
coming nearer and nearer, and the
lightning grew more brilliant every
moment, lighting up the dark re-
cesses.
Don't be afraid, Mat; what you
said about its being Gods house is all
right, guess" whispered Bob, as he
buried his face in the cushions beside
his little sister. Listen! Crash! Crash!
What noise the storm makes. Growl,
growl.
"Say, Bob," whispered a little
frightened voice, us that the storm
making that noise?'
At that moment flash of vivid
lightning made Bob look up, and close
to him, coming gradually nearer and
nearer, he saw large black body. He
felt the breath of some living thing on
| his face, and catching his little sister
in his arms he jumped over the back of
the cushioned seat and ran down the
aisle, while something battered, pat
tered after him.
Where should he 90? The door was
shut! He thought of the ladder. Up,
up he ran; patter, patter behind him
came the horrible shadow. The thing
could climb, too! He pressed his little
sister closer. Don't be afraid, Mat, !"
he said. Then he caught hold of the
bell-rope and jumped out of the
window, still holding on. Could the
bear, for it was indeed one, follow him
| or notp
How the storm ragged! How the wind
| blew the drops of rain into the faces of
the children! The growls of the bear
were nearly lost in the roars of thun-
der, which shook the old building, and
the rope swayed backward and for
ward; still the children held on.
"Pray Mat" said Bob. God will
take care of us and let us be safe"
'.Hark What is that noise! See
the smoke! Bob, the Westinghouse is
on tiren
The flames were away off now; would
they come creeping soon to where the
children were? The lightning must
have struck the building. Crackle!
crackle! The forks of flame darted here
and there. Can no one save theyoung
bell ringers?
Yes, God was watching over the lit
tie patriots. He would need to use
them yet in the land He had that day
made free.
They hear voices below.
Bob! Martha! are you up there?''
Eyes, yes" shouted the children.
The fire was near them; the flames
famed their cheeks and scorched their
faces as they hung to the rope.
Jump" a strong voice replied,
Jump, both of you!"
There were kind arms below to catch
the children; and there were eyes wet
with tears, and shaky voices that blessed
them.
Bob and Martha lived to see many,
many Fourths of july but that first one
passed in the old meeting house, they
never forgot. The little hands which
rang freedom through the country vii
lage grew wrinkled and feeble, but
their hearts ever trusted in God, as
upon that Fourth of July night in
1776.- Cornelia M. Parsons, IN NJ Y.
Examiner.