Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1892-07-29

'IhfS he did Dy forming q So uaFe OF large
rocks, filing ii with small stones and
covering the whole with a thick layer of
earth. They filed the hunks with sweet
fresh straw and made pillows of two
aour sacks stuffed with the same materi-
L. Brace Barlow covered one OF these
hunks with a coarse sheet and blanket
drawn from his own slender stock OF
household goods. Uncle Phin had his
own bedding, that consisted of a thin
old army blanket and tattered comfort
er. He also had an axe, that was the
only piece of valuable property that he
possessed.
Then Brace Barlow bought several
small supply of provisions, to which he
added potatoes and dozen eggs from
his own little farm.
When all this had been accomplished
the two men surveyed their work with
great satisfaction, and nothing but his
duty to his mother prevented Brace
Barlow from joining the party and maxi
ing the voyage down the river with
them.
From information furnished by Uncle
Phin the young man gained an idea that
the greater part of their journey was to
be performed by water, and that Dale
court was somewhere in West Virginia,
within few miles of the point to
which the ark could be navigated.
This was also Uncle Phin's idea when
he learned that tho river on which his
craft was launched flowed into the Ohio,
which in turn washed one Of the borders
of West Virginia. This new name meant
nothing to him. There had been but
one Virginia when he left it, and even
of its extent he had not the slightest
conception. He imagined that, once
within the borders of the State, il would
be simple matter to discover and reach
his old home. All he knew of travel
ing and distances was. that when he
followed his young mistress to New
York, the journey occupied less than
two days, and that the one from New
York to the oil country had been accom-
plished in about the same space of time.
So now, while he was we'll aware that'a
boat, drifting with the current, would
not travel quito as fast as train of cars,
he did not for moment doubt that two
or three weeks, or a month at the very
most, would see them safely established
between the stately magnolias of Dale
court.
Had he known that between the.
place whore they must leave their
boat and their destination, there
stretched weary distance of nearly
five hundred miles, much of which was
across rugged mountain ranges, it is
probable that even his stout heart
would have shrunk from SO great an
undertaking. But he had no knowledge
Of this; and, as happily ignorant of what
was before them as was his beloved
l"lil marse," now sleeping so peace
! fully on his bed of straw, the old man
fioated contentedly over the cleaning
waters, and recalled bright pictures OF
the dear old home he hoped so soon to
see.
The night was far advanced, he was
worn out with the fatiguing labor Of the
preceding two days, there was no sound
to disturb him, and SO, after awhile, his
head sunk low over the steering oar,
and ere long he, too, was fast asleep.
Thus, with no wakeful eye to de-
termine her course, the ark drifted on
through the night; now in deep shadows
Of great hills or dark forests; then across
long stretches of silvery moonlight;
here caughtby an eddy and turned slowly
round and round; thero held for mo-
ment on the point of some glistening
sandbar, from which she would slowly
swing off and again move ahead.
While the occupants of the boat still
slept the moonlight paled before the
rosy dawn of a new day, and at last a
mischievous beam from the round, red
sun, just peepiug over the Eastern hills,
found its way into the little cabin, and
shone full across Arthur's eyes. In a
moment the boy was wide-awake and
gazing upon his strange surroundings
with the utmost bewilderment. He
heard no sound, perceived no motion,
and had not the faintest idea that he
was on boat. He only wondered whose
this strange house was, where 1t was,
and what had become OF Uncle Phin, OF
whom he could see no sign.
He almost expected to hear his Aunt
Nancy's harsh voice calling him. Then
the events OF the preceding night came
slowly back to him; and, with thrill of
Joy, he remembered that he was far
from her dreaded presence and had
actually started on a journey toward his
own dear motheHs beautiful home.
But he must get up and find out
whore he was, and what had become OF
Brace Barlow and Uncle Phin. At the
very moment he stepped from his straw
Allied bunk, there came crash, and a