The Logan County banner. [volume] (Logan, W. Va.) 1889-1903, 1892-02-11

In fact insisted that Philip would
himself attend to the other Iusiuess.
ani not leave ii in chargcsof a partner
who might be neglectful or-dishonest,
as my husband calculated 70 do when
we started on our grand way Oh max.
ing our fortune.
It was In the early autumn when
Phillip left me for the last time ere
winter The next trip he made | was
to go and not return till spring follow
ing.
While he was absent the rainy sea
son ct in, rather earlier than we ex-
pected. but ] was. well provided for
and, under the circumstances, quite
comfortable.
1t had rained spitchforks" and
poured scats and dogs for two days,
and on account Of the floods, as right
y supposed, my hus band was detained.
Being busy with packing our things
20 take 70 town where we were to
spend the winter, and caring for baby
ys1gsyyaszns fine4n@ bouncing boy zas.
ever was seem, didn't mind the storm
very much until on the third day OF
steady rain, when / became alarmed.
On the afternoon when ! looked OUT
anxiously, hoping to see Philip com
ing with the big covered wagon to take
me away was frightened at the sight
before me-
The marsh, as far as 4 could. observe
in the heavy downpour of water. was
overdowed and the food was rising and
threatening to destroy or float away
our frail little shanty.
The wind was terrific, too, and the
lightning and thunder were fearful.
But i felt more concerned for my
husbands safety than my own. for
imagined him lost ina vain attempt TO
reach baby and me, and even fancied
| could hear his voice calling amid the
tempest
However, there was nothing could
do except to fasten the rude door and
windows and go to slecpsE trusting that
the morning would find all safe and
bring bright skies again.
Our shanty was raised on posts from
the ground foot or so, and, as yet,
the floor was high and dry.
After giving baby his supper and lay
ing the darling, fast asleep. in the era
die, got into bed without undressing
and tried to rest. but the rocking of the
house and the startling claps of thun-
der and the noise of rain on the roof
kept me awake and frightened in spite
of my efforts to be calm and trustful
The lamp, shedding dim light on
the brown timbered walls and ceiling
of our sleeping room, only added to the
dismal gloominess and it was long be-
fore l couldclose my eyes.
At last was doing and losing my
self in ugly dreams when | was aroused
by feeling something drop on my bed
covering. shut my eyes again, think
ing dreamed it.
multitude of strange scratching
noises, apparently from the walls,
mingled with sharp, squeaking sounds
and more things dropping on my bed
made me sit bolt upright and look TO
see what they were.
Horrors Mice in countless numbers
driven by the raging flood without
were dropping from the rafters all
about me. Climbing on the house out
side, thence through crevices under the
caves to my room, they were coming
fighting and squeaking and falling, the
foremost pushed down by the terror
stricken army behind, till the walls
and floor-even my bed were black
with them.
With shrek jumped to my baby,
mice hitting my bare feet and running
over them, and back into bed with my
child | got, for there was no other or
better refuge for us.
There, with blankets tucked to our
necks, I sat striking and shouting and
warding off as best could the endless
army Of half-drowned mice that were
dropping on our heads and shoulders
and bed till the blessed daylight came,
with the bright sun shining through
the window, telling the unprecedented
rain had ceased.
The floor was too thick with the field
mice, some MS big as rats, for me to
step out to open. the door and drive
them forth. All could do was to sit
on the bed holding baby, thankful that
no more of the dreadful creatures were
falling on me, and wait for Phillip.
= At noon he came, for the flood soon
subsidized, and | answered his shout
with a cry Of joy.
He burst in the door, fearful that I
was in worse trouble than mice cou Id
make, and never needing the escaping
creatures me and baby in his
big, strong arms. The next day ] left
our salt-marsh tract for good and, be-
lieye, it went back to the government.
If it did they are welc ONE to it, mica
and all.--H. c. Dodge, in Goodalls Sun.