The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1893-03-02

looking at his elder daughter with
pride What are you looking at, /
Sten?'' he called to her.
why, / was looking at those clouds.
Just see them rolling up! Where did
they come from all Of suauen!
well, sure enough! We better bur-
ry and get to the house, or We'll get |
a wetting"
Rain was falling heavily when they |
reached the fence that separated the
meadow land from the corn field, and
all the sky was black with clouds.
They came to the house drenched to |
the skin ~ ra s~... p e, rGs Il -e ....
The rain poured ceaselessly all the
afternoon and night, and next morn
ing it was still coming in torrents. Mr..
! Bradford and De Witt went out into
| the storm. and toward noon the father
came in, looking very much distressed:
The river is bank-full," he said; If
| the rain keeps on two hours longer the
| corn in the bottom land will be gone.
The oats are all beaten flat"
IF the river does overflow said
De Witt. following his father up to
the door, "we're broke for this year,
sure
| Stella watched the, river 1measliy.
| BY and by she called.
| Its over! o father, will it all be
torn out by the roots?'' =
Mrs Bradford and Mamie stood by
her but Mr.. Bradford covered bis face
with his hands, and did not move or
speak.
In half an hour the whole field was
flooded. Along the bank the corn was
out of sight, and the water rushed
furiously. but over the greater part
| II W. 1opv
showing above the slowmoving yellow
water.
At dusk the rain had stopped falling,
and the water was going down. .
Stella put on a waterproof and went
down across the meadow to the edge
of the corn field She knew what the
loss would mean to her. She would
have to give up going away to school
altogether; but she was frightened py
her fathers distress, and her thought
was chiefly for him.
He had not eaten anything all day,
and was so full of despair uAat not
even Mamies arms around his neck,
and her coaxing and kisses, had any
effect to make him appear less unhap-
Ply.
Last wear it was no rain and chlnch
bugs, and this year we're flooded. Ev-
ervthings gone I don't see what's
to keep us from starving. It's what
: comes of having almost your whole
crop on bottom land But I suppose II
it wasn't this, it'd be something else!'
| Stella stood looking over the corn
field with aching heart and eyes full OF
tears The corn lay fat along the
ground On the greater part OF the
field the strong young roots still chung
| to the earth. but half exposed. The
ground was wet and heavy.
All at once her face changed. She
} turned and ran back to the house
Father she cried, as she came IN, i
believe l know a way to save 1t!
He raised his head and looked at her
his eyes dull and heavy.
i IF we can find enough men, and ge
the roots all covered up before the SUI
= comes out. I believe it will live"
I Why, Stell, the soil is all washed
out, and suppose it's about all swep
: away anyhow
= NO, it isn't! I've been down to lool
d at it, There's more than half Of it still
hanging there Don't you think !
would live.
Life and interest came slowly bacl
:, into Mr.. Bradfords face. We'll, wei
IL try it. ] don't know how it'll work
. but it won't do any hurt to try. YO'
p and De Witt had better each get on
. horse and see who you can scare up t
% help u.s.
e Il can help, too.'' Mamie said, dane
ing about Il can pack the mud aroun
a lots of stalks
N Eyes, you can help, and mother
10 have to turn out and do what she car
t. perhaps we can save 1t!
lp Following the storm, the neighbors ha
s. little to do. and in few hours eigh
RI or ten men were at work in the felt
le More came during the evening: A
y midnight the greater portion OF tn
corn was standing, and long before tn
- sun came up the next day all that ha
a. a, not been entirely swept away was
~ place again.
~ II wouldn't be surprised If you
have the beatinest crop you ever had
~ one Of the neighbors said to Mr.. Brat
III ford. as they were finishing the las
- row. Il heard of this being done one
e. back in Ohio, and the corn couldn
E, be matched for size Of ears, or numbe
- of bushels to the acre
vs. The sun ShOne warmly all day, 81
~. the corn stood green and unwithered.
ne It's stood the test Mr.. Bradfol
~ said that night at supper Stell, yo
saved ito
~ He looked across the table at Ii
w daughter, his eyes bright with tears.
when l looked at you down tnel
~ to-day working like a man to help g
- - it covered, and thought that the who
~ thing was your idea, I said to mysel
~ She's smart girl, and if her mind
81 set on going away to get more schoc
81 ing, she can go, and she can go tn
~. falI.'
e' Father Stella cried, Il know "
>;o can't afford it after all you've lost. Il
70 given it up. l don't care any NOR
w, honest DON'T
'S We'll, you're going whether l can q
~ ford it OF not. I guess We'll p,
nd through ehow."-Gertrude Sni
w in Youth Companion.
var We Are Excusable.
ng Speaking about counterfeiting al
ng the ability of the average man to d