Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1889-06-07
A Mothers Sad Story,

A disp tch from Johnstown, the scene OF the
greatest damage from the flood in western Penn
sylvania, gives the following pathetic story:
pretty pale, little woman told part Of her
sad story as she nervously c!aspcd and unclaspcd
her hands and cried in u queit. heartbl eaking
way Years ago in the Virginia valley some
where near Winchester, this sad little soul met
and loved a hardworking, Intelligent engineer
named Fem. They were married few years
ago. moved to Johnstown, where they had neat
and comfortable home. Fcnn made good wages.
their seven children were always well clad and
their mother lived with her life concentrated
upon them. On the afternoon of the food. Fem
went to Butchers and passed out of this short
history in the waters. When the food came into
the Fem house the mother gathered her chicks
in the parior and told them not 10 be afraid, as
God was present and would guard them Up
came the torrent and they went to the second
floor. and again the mother talked Of hope and
babe them be of good cheer, for papa, Heaven
rest him. would come soon III a boat and take
them away. Up, up, and up rose the water, and
now the family was forced to the top story The
rooms were very low and soon the heads Of the
mother and children were beating against the
ceiling.
Mamma" said the eldest child Il girl, would
1t not be better to go outside and die in the open
arp
Yes, dear" said the mother. we'll make {,
raft and all 80 down together
So she fought her own way and her children's
way to the window and opened it. She caught q
piece of plank, and on it put the eldest child,
with hasty kiss and "God bless you" Then
she let it float away into the darkness and the
roar OF the waves, Six times were these frail
barks frcighted with precious cargocs and arso-
sizes of pious trust. The children were fright.
ened, but obedience was part of their creed and
they made but little protest. Now came the turn
OF the last child, Bessse, the 4year old. One can
fancy what it meant. The last and dearest
There was scarce breathing space i'll the room
now and if haste was not used. death would
come there at once. To broad plank Bessie
was fastened securely, and blessed as had been
the others.
II loved them all, 0 love them ALL" said the
mother, "but had two kisses for Bessie for she
was Toms favorite aud was such good child.
She put her arms about my neck and said
You know you said God W ould take care of me
always, mamma. will he take care Of ME now?'
l told her He would, and she need not fear,
and then she was carried away.
I'm not afraid, mamma she called out. and l
heard her, although could not see her-and
that's ALL except tn 1t the roof was torn off and
foated off on it, and some Italians saved me at
Kernville, Is miles from here
''And the children. Mrs. Fem? l hope they
all escaped"
I'VE have found two fthcm dead, Bessie and
George and there is not mark on Bessie's lace i;
and oh. am SO tired. They are all gone, every
one, eight ofthem. and am going home to Vir-
giuia after all these years to rest and try to
think"
Only one mother of the hundreds-ony one Of
the multitude.