Sturgis advertiser. (Sturgis, Dakota [S.D.]) 1887-1???, 1889-01-10

Across this small river, and q 1
steps beyond, nesting at the foot
the mountain, was my fathers fouril
mill-small it is true, and
called "The Little Mosquito -
Mill, containing, at the time -
/ write of, only one run of
stone. Yet it was an energetic
little mill for all that, and
never idle. It's busy hum, and 4
the constant running of the \
water as it turned the big
wheel, are sounds that will re- -
main fresh in my memory as 81
long as live. ~,
Ny father! All, how well I ~
can see him, in imagination, (
standing in the mill door, his -
light-gray suit plentifully be-
sprinkled with -four, a flour ~
sack in his hand, and his dark ivy
eyes smiling pleasantly upon
us children as we bounded up Il
the steps and into the mill,
ready for a game of hide-and-
seek among the barrels and -
sacks of -four that stood along
the sides of the wall and in -
every available space. Then ~
when the game was over, and -
we were tired with play, We -
would curl up on the bags and s
60 to sleep, to the drowsy -
music of the dear old mill.
Those were happy days
how happy we never fully un-
derstood, until We were brought tx
sudden realization of it by a stran
reverse of fortune, in which nv fail
lost not only the mill but our home a
most of his other property, and
moved far away and began life ag,
amid new scenes.
The night I am about to tell you
commenced at the close of a most be;
tiful day, which gave no signs of
fearful storm that was impendi
until at seven o'clock a tremendc
bank of black clouds had risen up q
spread themselves athwart the heave
Father remarked to mother Il
there was a big thunder storm comb
at which we children huddled togetf
on large, old.fashioned sofa, as v
our custom during a storm. Scarce
had father secured the doors and W
dows and returned to our little sitti1
room, when fash after fash illumin
ed the darkness, and the thunder, af
growing hoarsely in the distance, v
echoed back by the mountains, rev
berating from one end of the valley
the other. Soon the wind increased
violence until it was blowing a peri
gale, while the crashes of thunt
shook the house to it's very foundati
and the rain descended in all its pc
up fury,
One, two, three hours passed, q
still the rain came down in TORE
and the most vivid lightning continr
to burst from the clouds, followed
appalling crashes ofshunder.
Our nearest neighbor was ovel
mile away. Perhaps father thought
this, as he paced the floor nervous
and talked with mother in tones ]
intended for our ears. / noticed Il
his face was pale, and he looked al
ious. going to the window every OF
in while, lifting the curtains, q
gazing out into the inky blackness
The night. Once, when he went
the window, I slipped from my pls
on the sofa and, following him, ste
for an instant by his side. Suddel
q CLEAN of lightning caused me to {
out, disclosing at the same time an
traordinary sight to my eager ey
The whole valley was a rushing riy
with our house in its midst. and in Il
one glance had seen my fathers bug
go sailing by in its strong current,
lowed by innumerable other objec
instantly shut from my sight by
darkness, which again covered
earth, and above the terrible uproar
the storm came the unmistaka1
squealing of the pigs and the Fighter
cfuck Of the chickens, as they W,
swept he1plessly past the house.
Fathers arm was around me, and
led me back to my place on the s.
beside my two sisters. As he did $
little stream of water came from unt
the door and crept slowly but sur
across the room, increasing rapid
until the floor was almost covered W
water.
Something must be done, and dc
quickly, and father realized it. Sill
he said, addressing mother, this ii
speaking out loud; Lila, there is
one thing to do; must carry you, :
at q time, to the big double oak t
nearest the door; it is our only chai
for safety, for if the water continues
rise, in another half hour the hol