The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1891-10-29
COLONEL BRAINARD'S Oath.
a TRUE STORY.

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 ragged all the night
before was on every hand.
The little village of Marshvile, Me-,
most cOnclusively bore witness to the fact
that a storm i'll all its fury had visited it,
by its torn and twisted Gins, its many
houses without chimney-tops, its orchards
wherein the half-grown fruit lay in wind
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 wakefuness. 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 dead loss, how that
''splendid piece of corn of mine would
never straighten up again in the world,
sin" 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.
"WelI, neighbors," said a CHEEKY
faced member of one of these little
groups, 81 think there's a 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
III the spring. Why, just think how hot
it was yesterday forenoon! Then the
Lord sent a big storm, and all the dam
age it done was to throw down a few
bricks and a few apples or so, and didn't
harm a hair of our heads. Now see how
clean and fresh everything is to-day?
| tell you He's pretty good TO u.s. taking
it all round"
''You don't believe that anyone had
anything to do with last nights storm,
do you, Story?" queried a sarcastic voice,
and tall, commanding looking man
Joined the group. Haven't [ heard a
quotation from some old book or other
that runs like this: The wind bIoweth
where it listeth?"
The others face flushed, but he an
swered sturdily: "And this is another
quotation from the same good old book
And He arose and rebuked the wind and
said unto the sea, peace, be still! And
the wind ceased and there was a great
calm It's God Almighty's wind, Col.
Brainard"
The other laughed scofingly, while a
look impossible to describe hardened the
lines of his face into iron.
'Well, then, His wind blew down my
barn last night. Now, call upon you
all to bear witness to the thing that [
swear! | will build barn that God AL
mighty can't blow down"
The glow on StOry's face faded to
ashen gray. He said slowly, And call
upon all to bear witness to this thing,
also, that Colonel Brainard will yet be
utterly ashamed of the oath he has sworn
before you"
Again came that soothing laugh.
Don't be so solemn about it, Neigh
Dor Story My barn will yet stand be-
fore your eyes, and [ will build it too
strong for God Almighty's winds. Do
you hear, neighbour"
Amasa Story turned ON his heel and
walked away
The town of MarshvilIe was halved by
a wide, deep, still-fowing river. The
largest half of the town was built on an
eminence on the south bank of the river.
The Brainard Place, as it was called, was
built on the eminence on the north bank
of the river and at some little distance
from the village proper. And 50, as
there were no houses or buildings of any
description to obstruct the view, one
standing in the village streets and look
ing up the river could get good view of
the Brainard Place The second week
after the great storm the village was all
wonderment. Four slow-going, patient
oxen were dragging an enormous stick OF
timber through the quiet streets.
Hello, Brown!' shouted one of the
villagers to the teamster, ''wheres that
big fellow going?"
That's for Colonel Brainard's new
barn, was the reply; and then every.
body knew that the Colonels oath was nc
idle one.
A few days later the Colonel stopped
mt the village store. 1t was just at edge
of the evening. 1t had not grown dark
as yet, for soft amber light flooded the
skies and enwrapped the earth 1t was
Just the time when the store was full Of
villagers making their purchases for the
morrow and getting the news of the day
to carry home.
Boys !" called out the Colonel in his
bluff, hearty voice, come up to the
raising tomorrow | need goo6
deal of help about this one, can tell you
Come up, neighbors Story, | shall
L Il
won't you?"
Not |, Colonel !" answered Story
seriously, but pleasantly. I'm just al
much obliged, but | amt flying in the
face of Providence this year.
The " raising was grand success