Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1892-09-15
A MOUSE IN A JUG.

people know it, but that it is painful for
me to recall that terrible hour. This is the
story:
In the spring Of 1875 brother Fred and /
broke away from the old homestead and
went west TO make our fortunes After
drifting about for some time, we found
ourselves on the banks of a stream in
southern Kansas called the Medicine river
Here we found rich land, plenty of timber,
little danger from Indians, and it seemed
likely that we should be directly in the
path of a railroad which was slowly ex-
tending westward. This was what we had
been seeking, 50 without more ado we
staked of two adjoining quarter sections
and began the term of our residence"
We erected a double shanty on the line
between our claims, so that we lived to-
getber and yet each was on his own land.
Other men seeking homes soon came, many
bringing their families, and before long
we had several near neighbors. Better
houses than dugouts and sod shanties be-
gan TO be in demand, and as Fred and
were handy with tools we soon had plenty
of work.
Among the cliffs in our vicinity were
vast quantities of gypsum rock, which,
when burned in a kiln, is finer and better
for plaster than lime. Our supply of gyp-
sum was nearly exhausted when a neigh
Dor called on us to build house for him.
Thus it was that while Fred went to see
about the timbers he sent me to find a fresh
deposit of gypsum, and if possible one
more easily got at than an any We had yet
found.
Combining pleasure with business,
took my rifle, and having easily found the
deposit of gypsum / sought ! determined
to explore the hills to the southwark more
thoroughly than had yet done. All day
tramped through the woods and over the
hills, enjoying the early summer weather
and learning much of the surrounding
country.
Late in the evening found myself in
part of the country where had never been
before, and several miles from home.
climbed slight eminence to take an out.
look and determine the easiest way home.
Tired with my days tramp and heated by
the exertion Of climbing 1 sat down TO
rest. While was resting became deeply
interested in the sntios Of a small cloud
IN the southwest. Though the air about
me was perfectly calm the cloud was MS
ing and falling, writhing and twisting, as
II in great pain. Suddenly other little
patches of cloud came skurrying up, ap.
parently bent on finding the cause Of so
much disturbance.
THAT fellow has the colic,' ! said TO
myself, land these are the doctors"
The fancy tickled me exceedingly. Ap
parently it was a very bad fit of collie, for
the little cloud soon swelled to enormous
proportions and grew very black In the
face.
They'll have 10 bleed him or he'll have
sfit," chuckled.
This went on for some minutes, the
cloud growing bigger and blackeF, tin the
lightning began to fash back and forth
and awoke TO the fact that o terrible
storm was rapidly bearing down upon the
very spot where / sat. 1t also dawned
upon me that had been Watching the
formation Of Genuine cyclone, or twist
en-" as we called 1t, and had acted very
foolishly in not seeking shelter before.
A huge oak stood on the hill near me,
but knew too we'll the danger Incurred
by seeking shelter nDder it, A hundred
yards down the slope to the east was al
immense bowlder, behind which I hastily
concluded to crouch If nothing better
offered. Down the hill dashed. hearing
tn the distance the dull crashing of the
storm. Nearly at the foot Of the hill lay
the rock, close by a little gully, On
rounding 1t was agreeably surprised 10
find a hole in the rocky ground large
enough to admit my body. ] knelt and
peered in. 1t seemed TO be a cave some
ten or twelve feet deep, but could see
little OF the interior. 10 would afford me
shelter from the storm-but suppose
should find In it bear OF a mountain ltoni
A sudden darkening of the air and a
deafening crash from the timber ON the
other side of the bill decided me- Even a
mountain lion was better than a cyclone,
% gently lowered myself, feet first. The
bole by which entered was In the roof Of
the cave near the east side. The wall
found TO be rugged and slightly sloptng.
30 that climbed TO the floor without aecd-
dent. There was also a circular hole IN the
center Of the roof which answered the pur-
pose Of skylight, though only about two
feet in diameter.
This was all / had time 10 notice when
the storm broke in awful fury. There was
terrible roar as the wind swept over the
openings; then there was a heavy jar and
the cave grew suddenly dark. Looking up
70 note the cause was horror struck. A
single glance showed me that | had found
something worse than mountain lions.
The oak on top of the hill had been torn
up and hurled down the slope against the
bowlder, which it had rolled over the hole
thus imprisoDing me.
Hastily | climbed up the sloping wall
and strove to roll the stone away, though
knew well that a dozen men could not
stir it. ALI in vain. Daniel in the lions
den was not more securely Gagged than l.
His cave was sealed with the seal Of King
Darius, while mine bore the seal Of the
storm king.
Giddy and sick at heart I climbed down
to the floor and looked up at the skylight
Part Of the tree lay across the hole and a
limb hung temptingly inside as IL To taunt
me with an offer of help that WIS several
feet beyond my grasp. was mouse In
a jug.
AS stood there gazing wistfully at the
mouth Of my jug, my ear caught the sound
drumming water. hurried to examine this
new feature, remembering that had not
VET. exnlnred my cell IL was nnickly done.