Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1888-05-26
MICKEY SAVES HIS DAD.


The King Pine Of I.indsley's Wood was
singing nm obligato solo. The smaller trees
around him furnished the chorus. but
above the cymbal changing Of the naples
baro branches. above the chestnut's
hoarse complaining. above the crcaliing
Of the oak and the whisper Of the laurel
bush. sounded the voice Of the mighty
Pine. the thunderer. Deep into the hills
crest had he thrust his foot, now moo
casined with snow. His foothold was
firm. When the tempest smotc him his
huge body swaycd. he tossed his great
arms against the nights blackncss and
sang his song Of triumph-sson 80 deep.
80 profound. SO awful. that the laurel
bush over which he cast kindly shadow
In the summers MONDAY tremblcd
In every limb and expected to be
crushed. But this Goliath of the
woods was not singing his death
song. He swung back and forth. 20 bc
sure. and never before had the Forest
Chief been called upon for such an effort
in natures chorus. But he was equal to
It. All the tibers of his mighty heart
were strained. his clinging toes were
loosened from the rock, his great, sway.
ing. sinewy arms writhcd In agony. But
each pendant, slender needle did double
duty, and when their 1000, 600 rustlings
were united the deep toned. rcverberant
voice Of the King Pine was rs the hoarse
thunder Of the sea. II was only at inter.
walls that the pine reared. There were
were times when his voice was lullaby.
soft and soothing as that he had sung on
summer afternoons when crows perched
In his hair and called to their mates In
Stumpy field. For three days did the
King Pine shake the wood with his thun.
der tones and hush It TO rest with his lul.
laby. Then the great maestro decreed the
festival at an end. He lcashed the winds.
He tore the black clouds into fragments.
He sent down the silent sunbcams TO start
the sap flowing in the veins OF the King
Pine. Asd he. this Hercules of the forest,
tossed his green crest and sang low,
soothing symphonies.
Scarcely stones throw from the King
Pine stood the Finn shanty. When the
great sNorm camc Mr.. Finn was Ill Of o
fever. On the Sunday night when the
storm began. carly In tho evening Mrs.
Finn had left her husbands bedside and
gone to the back door to look at the sky.
As she lifted tho latch gust of wind
swept around the corner OF the house and
dashed dcluge Of rain in her face. Mrs.
Finn shook her boy Mickey. who was
asleep In the rocking chair before the fire.
Wake up. by" said she. "Th' night
Is rs black as drove iv black hogs, an
tn rains comm down In washiubs full.
Hav' ye tn nanny In tn cellar
mo. mother" replied Mickey slccpily.
rubbing his eyes and yawning, she's out
in her barrel forninst tn fince."
~Ah. tn dear" replied Mrs. Finn.
"An' tn wather pel;in' her. Shurc her
inilkll be all wather in tn mornin'. Bring
her in tn cellar; that 5 dear, where she'll
bs dhry."
Mrs. Finn had forgotten to mention the
billy. probably because he had no tactical
value and possibly on account "f his I'M
dignited conduct on one or two memorable
occasions. But little Mike didn't forget
him. After he had rescued the nanny
from her lcaky barrel he went back after
her consort The elements. however, had
not subducd the billy's spirit. and IL was
only after half an hour Of desperate strug.
Cling that the obstinate old he goat was
locked In the cellar and the latch fastened.
Even then he butted thd = or In vain
effort TO regain his freedom. Mickey s
shins were barked in the struggle. his
hands were cut and his trousers torn.
Mrs. Finn raised her hands in horror
when her boy returned.
"Arrah. bad luck & that black divvle
wild tn wicked horns! Faix. didn't ! hear
tn shilloo We let eat whin he dhruv We
agin the iince. Musha. take tn ax an
bate in the head " him like a kcg % nails.
Do. Mickey, that's dear; tn murthcrin'
vagaboncs! LUX at th' way he's spillin'
yer hearts blood an pcclin' yer shins!
Faith. I'll blow him up wild ni'ro-glycer.
ans tn morrer. so will. an Ill be let
livel'
But Mickey only laughed. lie liked a
goat Of spirit. he said. and so he washed
his wounds and seated himself before the
fro to mend his trousers. he being
mighty handy wild tn nadle." as Mrs.
Finn had told Mrs. 0'Brien more than once,
Mrs. Finn resumed her vigil beside her
sick husband. and Mickey dropped asleep
In the chair with his feet on the stone
hearth.
At IL o'clock Mr.. Finn called fccbly for
wnter. and when he had cooled his
parchcd tongue Mrs. Finn parted the cur
tain and looked out upon the night The
wind had veered and the rain was frozen
into snow. The flakes few against the
pane and melted. leaving little wet trails
behind them as they ran downward. Tho
shutters began 20 bang end the frail dooi
TO groan on It's hinges rs the shoulder oi
the storm heavcd against H. As the gale
increased the snow forced is way beneath
tho door and formed into q little drift
upon the floor. The Invisible fingers oi
the wind tore brick from the chimne,
top and dashed II rattling down the loos,
shingles. Little Mike awokc with a start
and Joined his mother In the sick room.
She was knccling before crucifix al
the head Of the bed IN prayer. As th'
wind rose higher and higher the shani,
rocked On It's foundation. Mingled will
tie bowling OF the tempest was th'
plaintivc ma.a.a.a Of the nanny goat II
the cellar and the thuds of the balyi
head against the cellar door as he tried Il
regain his freedom. All through the ter
rors Of the succeeding two hours Mike
Finn slept At least his wife thought
him asleep. until she touched his fee
while arranging the bed clothes. ant
found them as cold as the snow drift npor
the floor.
The storm was forgotten. The immi
mt danger of the toppling shanty wa
,nhceded. Her husband was dying
9hilc death was gnashing at them frou
,hc outside, that devoted wife and soi
or':ed TO drive the grim terror from th'
,silc. Mickey rcplenished the fire. III
-,,,cl II high with wood until the sparks
I. !,.. out Of the chimney and minglc'
.i,h the eddying snowiakcs. Mrs Fini
heated tianncls aud placed hot irons VI lac