Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1891-10-29
COLONEL BRAINARD'S GATH GATH
A TRUE STORY.


many odors. "A soft, cool wind swept by
now and then, shaking the shimmering
raindrops from leaf and twig and slender
grass-blade. Yet, despite the sweet
placidity of the morning, evidences of
the terrible storm that nged all the night
before was on every hand.
The little village OF Marshville, Me-,
most conclusively bore witness to the fact
that storm in all its fury had visited it,
by its torn and twisted elms, its many
houses without chimney-tops, its orchards
wherein the half-grown fruit lay unwind
rows on the short orchard grass, and its
fields of badly-lodged corn.
The storm was the universal topic of
conversation among the village people
that morning. Groups of men, their
heavy eyes telling of long hours OF
anxious wakefulness, gathered on the
street corners, compared notes. Each
told how the house shook and the beds
rocked when the wind put its great
shoulder against the house, how fright
ened Hannah or Martha was, how his
apple crop was a dead loss, how that
"splendid piece of corn of mine would
never straighten up again in the world,
sir" and what trees on his little domain
were down, trees that he wouldn't have
taken hundred dollars for!" And yet,
running through it all. was little vein
of half-concealed pride in the fact that
the wind had frolicked so roughly with
their possessions.
"Well, neighbors," said CHEEKY
faced member of one of these little
groups, II think there's q good deal to
be thankful for. We can't expect sun
shine with gentle winds all the time.
s'pose these great storms are just as
necessary as our 'clearing-up-fires' are
in the spring. Why, just think how hot
it was yesterday forenoon! Then the
Lord sent q big storm, and all the dam
age it done was to throw down few
bricks and few apples or so, and didn't
harm hair of our heads. Now see how
clean and fresh everything is to-day
/ tell you He's pretty good to us, taking
it all round"
"You don't believe that anyone haC
anything TO do with last nights storm
do you, Story?" queried sarcastic voice
and tall, COMMUNICABLE maj
Joined the group. Haven't heard
quotation from some old book or othe
that runs like this: The wind blowetl
where it listcth!'"
The Others face flushed, but he an
swered sturdily: "And this is anothe
quotation from the same good old book
And He arose and rebuked the wind an
said unto the sea, peace, be still! An
the wind ceased and there was q grea
calm It's God Almighty's wind, Col
Brainard."
The other laughed scofingly, while
look impossible to describe hardened tn
lines of his face into iron.
'Well, then, His wind blew down m
barn last night. Now, call upon yo
, all to bear witness to the thing that
, swear! will build barn that God A
mighty can't blow down."
The glow on Story's face faded
: ashen gray. He said slowly, And / ca
I upon all to bear witness to this thin,
also, that Colonel Brainard will yet :
utterly ashamed Of the oath he has swor
before you"
3 Again came that SOOTHING laugh.
3 Don't be so solemn about it, Neigl
5 Dor Story! My barn will yet stand b.
fore your ewes, and 1 will build il {
strong for t.d Almighty 5 winds. L
you hear, neighbour"
4 Amasa Story turned on his heel al
walked away.
The town of Marshville was halved
wide, deep, still-howing river. III
: largest half of the town was built on {
eminence on the south bank of the rive
The Brainard Place, as it was called, w
built on the eminence on the north bar
n of the river and at some little distan
- from the village proper. And so,
there were no houses or buildings of al
description TO obstruct the view, o.
: standing in the village streets and loo
,e ing up the river could get good view
the Brhnard Place. The second we
after the great storm the village was I
!, wonderment. Four slow-going, pate
oxen were dragging an enormous stick
timber through the quiet streets.
Hello, Brownp' shouted one of {
villagers to the teamster, where's I'll
big fellow goingi"
That's for Colonel Brainard's m
barn, was the reply; and then ever
body know that The Colonel's oath was
idle Que.
A few DAYS later the Colonel stopp
a MT the village store. 1t was just at ed
of the evening. 1t had nst grown do
as vet, for soft amber light flooded
skies and enwrapped the earth. 1t "
lust the time when the store was full
villngers making their purchases for
morrow and getting the news of the
TO carry home.
Boys :" called out the Colonel in
bluff, hearty voice, - come up to
raising tomorrow need u e
deal of help about this one, i can tell y
, Come up. neighbors ! Story. 81
J count on you anyway. You'll be the
won't you?"
- Not |, Colonel - answered Ste
. seriously. but pleasantly. I'm Just
5 much obliged. but | amt flying in
Q face of Providence this year.
on The raising was grand succ'
o. and all who attended il came back W
Y the most vivid accounts of the siren
a of the new barn and the immensely of
. timbers.
: In a day or two aftcrward, Colo
> Brainnrd again stopped at the viii
q store.
I =" Story " he tatied, come GU. ~
u can't you? want to see you aoo'
u little matter" :.
%. Story rose to lbs feet and walked
30 to the Colonies ,arriage.
y "What is it, Colonel 2"
Brainard put his hnnd on Sto
9 shoulder and pohted up the river.
"a "Well, Storv.I want you to see 80
AZ th;,,,. g. &c ,.~s,,hrao vou haven't not
" Il before: want vou 10 see that fr
~ -. a. - t5...,.xd pIooa n