The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-07-29
A FAITHFUL SERVANT.
At the dead of night there was a cry.

In one of the Southern States now lneXpreS-
sibly awful!
'Fire FIRE! frew
IT rang through the wide halls and was
echoed from the negro quarter In every
variety Of the tones Of horror and alarm.
The mistress of the mansion, awaEing al
the cry, sprang from her bed. and hurriedly
began to dress, gazing around bewildered.
Fora moment she was conscious only that
her husband was absent; but she was re-
called 10 something like herself by the
shrieks Of the maid who had slept in the
room, and who, instead Of assisting hel
toilet, was pointing, with terrified gestlcu
IatioBs, TO the rudy reflection playing
against the trees in front of the house.
Suddenly to add to the confusion Of the
scene. the chamber door was flung open
and a crowd of female servants rushed IN
focking afIrghtedly together, IKE cOvey
pursued by the sportsman. They closed
around Mrs Stewards bed. screaming,
weeping, wringing their hands and deprlV-
ing her of what little presence OF mind had
been left her.
"Oh. missus. we shall be burned 10 death,
we shall, all Of US. The IRE mas caught The
staircase"
These and similar EXPLANATIONS and cries
for help filled the air and distracted heI
attention.
Meanwhile the c0n1agration became more
serious every minute Had that terrified
roar of the flames in the hall outside ana
the cracking sound that announced the
approach of the fire 20 the WOODWORK near
abe staircase. warning them that II tEey
would save their lives their flight must De
that instant. But they only hudded closer
together, Sobbing. moaning, embracing one
another fTantlcatly.
All OF once a man dashed into the room.
with agitated face and dress dlSordered.
Thrustng aside the terrified maids, he
hastily xF1TQachel his mistress.
Fly he cried, breathlessly; fly this
moment, or you'll be too late!" Then
glancing rapidly around the room, be
snstcbeJ the cover from a comfortable
which stood in tile middle Of the apartment
covered with books, pretty tribes and how
ers in vases. This he threw around ms
mistress. eXclaimng. Il will keep the ire
from catching. Come!
The sight OF his face had treasured his
mistress. Juba vas about her own age,
had been born in her fathers family, and
had ALWAYS exhibited the most devoted at
tachment TO herself personally. Above all
the servants on the plantation he was DIS
tinguishrd for a strict, religious performance
of his duties, for Juba was consistently
plous. He was also shTewd and ready IN
every emergency. and Mrs. Stewart fell
that be would save her, even at the peril Of
his life.
Juba. even while speaking, had seized heI
baud and dragged her toward the staircase
But now a gust OF wind drove such volumes
II thick, black smoke toward them that size
was almost sufoeated, and sue "@N$.a Nn'
able 10 pIucrcu. II was not time 4
hesitate, so Juba, snatchjBx her in ms arm
as he would q child and dragging the cove
entirely over her face, dashed into the roll
ing volumes Of smoke and down tile grea
staircase.
He was not moment too soon. Scareel
had he reached the bottom, followed by ii
affrighted maids, before the passage W,
closed entirely by a dense wall Of fam
Neither he EOr the female servants, indeet
escaped entirely unhuTt, bu: the table-cOvi
effectually projected Mrs. Stewart.
Juba had scarcely, however, placed b
mistress safely on the lawn before 81
started up, crying:
so re is the baby? Who has seen Il
on, il is 10 the house yotP
he would have rushed toward Il
bt4zns doorway If she had not been i
etaafig and fOrcibly detained.
n servants looked at each other IN di
nat In the suddenness with which Il
sanf sration mad spread, and in the eXcit
Eeat u their mistress danger, nobody hi
talHg6t of the child. j 4" as an only on
Doy Don't SeATs old, who slept with q
49, or NANNY. size was called
a5asshoid, IN back room In the npp
sts.rg Mrs Stewards first thought on h
saa5rs had been TO lock for her daTlin
for this the absence OF the chi
nisHf ave been even longer overlooked
aass haH Of the house was now III ia
lfS p0QfEE8 cut lHFDilBL
= from the mouth of iazzassce. SO IL
gsegs by that way was IN possible. III.
- seeoad storE--a as also bnrning a
ssa7 r first eSor, for the fire had brok
re 1riFinaliy. To reach the apa
-rsera the nurse, Dro5s bly, paraiyz
egsf i. was still Hith the ehid seem
8 out Of the question.
Ees here was one present who det
sagd 70 make the attempt The sight
ather's face, and the sound Of I
n Rfl int fse
px3 rho restrained her, exhausted bv j
Elrstss IS TO escape, Qe termIned Juba 90
Is ieast to rescue his young master
~ 20. missas," he said ''don't c
4s laoked around. as be spoke. far son
sssNr IT sealing - second tory. The
80 iaqdrI O1iy one staircase; D.
tgb Of tree that overs hadOwed Il
sc-s- Ultimately held out means of acCe
= ls.sff heaFt and strong arm Not sto
ks5g even TO hear his mistress thanks
8 dsm Tered up the tree, ran out on the lin
. -Ia cropping on tie roof. disappeart
within The dwelling.
BOW GREATNESS were the moments TIL
spsnea The flames were spreading wit
tEightfuI rapidity.
The ayes of the building began to snok
slow that the fire had reached the roo
A-HiOGs Of sparks, accompanied by yo
Lmes rolling smoke, sailed down the SIX
DsIoTe he breeze, completely obscuring Il
heaven at intervals, though OCCASIONAL
tals ~ canopy blowing aside, the cal
moon as seen peacefully shining dow
fbFo the rent, in strange contrast to Il
other Sc terrific scene.
The roar OF the cOuflagration had now bt
GENE intensely loud, and, TO add to the no
TOR, there began to be heard the awful SCUM
OF timbers falling within the house
Mrs. Stewart had watched the fire in G
lence, her hands clasped and lips parte
ever since Juba had disappeared within II
mouse. Every moment appeared an age
heT' AT last the suspense, thus leugthenir
cut inteTminably as it seemed, became il
tolerable. -
''oh, it is in vainP she cried makin6,
Iresh eifoTt to rush Into ths flames. All
n19L 19d nv boy. Let me 60 myself"
AT that Instant, through the SMOKE tina
almost MD the only window that was no
already on fire, appeared the faithful Jpb
holding aloft the infant. The flames wer
all around and in moment more woul
oFertake him. He made rapid gesture fo
some one 10 approach.
Four OF the males, c0mprehending hi
promptly forward The heat was ,ntoier
aDle, but they disregarded II, and standin,
beneath the window, with the blanket ont
stretched, they shouted to Juha to throw
the child toward them. He had, how
ever. anticipated them. The infan
fell while they weye speaking. was cangh
baleiy ID me blanket and was taken i'm
medlately te Mrs. Stewart, who clasped
70 her bosom with frantic delight. Tn
whole was the work OF less time than W
have taken to describe It,
Bnt simultaneously a terrific crash wa
heard that made the very earth tremble be
neath The spectators; a huge column O
smoke shot up toward the sky, from wber
the roof bad been, and a gush of intens
hame followed. leaping far up into tb
highest clouds.
Inc crowd, one and all, gasped:for breath
Af o. EnEH % nz -