Wichita eagle., 1888-07-06
MICKEY SAVES HIS DAD.

singing an obEgnto solo. The smaller trees
around him furnished the chorus, but
above the cymbal changing OF the maple's $
bare branches, above the chestnut 8
hoarse complaining, above the creahing g
of the oak and the whisper of the laurel
bush, sounded the voice of the mighty
Pine, the thunderer. Deep into the hill's S
crest had he thrust his foot, now moe
casined with snow. His foothold was
firm. When the tempest smote him his
huge body swayed, he tossed his great
arms against the nights blackness and
sang his song of triumph-a song so deep,
so profound, so awful, that the laurel
bush over which he cast kindly shadow
in the summers MONDAY trembled
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, to be
sure, and never before had the Forest
Chief been called upon for such an effort
in natures chorus. But he was equal to
it. AL the fbers of his mighty heart
were strained, his ciinging toes were
ioosened from the rock, his great, sway
ing, sinewy arms writhed in agony. But
each pendant, slender needle did double
duty, and when their 1000, 900 rustlings
were united the deep toned, reverberant
voice of tho King Pine was as the hoarse
thunder of the sea. 1t was only at inter
vals 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 Gid 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 leashed the winds.
He tore the black clouds into fragments.
the sap flowing in the veins of the King
Pine. And 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 storm came MIR. Finn was i'll of
fever. On the Sunday night when the
storm began, early in the evening Mrs.
Finn had left her husbands bedside and
gone to the back door to look at the sky.
AS she lifted the latch q gust of wind
swept around the corner Of the house and
dashed deluge 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. eth night
is as black as drove iv black hogs, an
tn rains comm down in washtubs full.
Hav' We tn nanny in tn CELLAR"
mo, mother" replied Mickey sleepily,
rubbing his eyes and yawning, ''she's out
in her barrel forninst tn fnce."
''Ah, tn dearl" replied Mrs. Finn.
can tn wather peltin' her! Shure her
milk'n be all wather in tn mornin Bring
her in tn cellar; that's dear, where she'll
be dhry."
Mrs. Finn had forgotten to mention the
billy, probably because he had no lacteal
salue and possibly on account of his un-
dignifed conduct on one or two memorable
occasions. But little Mike didn't forget
him. After he had rescued the nanny
her consort. The elements, however had
not subdued the pilly's spirit, and it 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 the door in vain
effort to regain his freedom. Mickey's
shins were barked in the struggle, his
Mrs. Finn raised her hands in horror
when her boy returned.
"Arrah, bad luck t. that black divvle
wild tn wicked hornsi Faix, didn't hear
til shilloo ye let out whin he dhruv We
agin the fnce! Musha, take tn ak an
bate in the head iv him like keg O nails,
Do, Mickey, that's a dear; tn murtherin'
LUX at tn way he's spillin'
yer hearts blood an peelin' yer shins!
Faith, I'll blow him up wild nitro -glycer-
ane tn morrer, so l will, an III be let |
livel''
But Mickey only laughed. He liked a
goat of spirit, he said and so he washed /
his wounds and seated himself before the I
fire to mend his trousers, he being |
mighty handy wild tn nadle," as Mrs.
Finn had told Mrs. OBrien more than once
Mrs Finn resumed her vigil beside her
sick husband, and Mickey dropped asleep
Ia the chair with his feet on the stone
hearth.
AT 12 o'clock Mr.. Finn called feebly for
water, and when he had cooled his
parched 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 fakes few against the
pane and melted, leaving little wet trails
behind them as they ran downward. The
shutters began to bang and the frail door
% groan on it's hinges as the shoulder of
he storm heaved against it. AS the gale
increased the snow forced its way beneath
he door and formed into little drift
lpon the floor. The invisible fingers of
he wind tore brick from the chimney
op and dashed it rattling down the loose
hingles. Little Mike awche with start
md joined his mother in the sick room.
She was kneeling before crucifx at
he head of the bed in prayer. As the
Wind rose higher and higher the shanty
ocked oD its foundation. Mingled with
he bowling of the tempest was the
,laintive ma-a-a-a Of the nanny goat in
he cellar and the thuds of the bnly's
lead against the cellar door as he tried to
egain his freedom. AL through the ter
ors of the succeeding two hours Mike
linn slept At least his wife thought
i'm asleep, until she touched his feet
vhile arranging the bed clothes, and