, 1893-01-11

OOJo oN "a INV VI ~ W hlNh OH1
sire had also taken up quarters owing to a
recent domestic event, and We're sleeping as
boys only can sleep, having no heavier respons
sibilities than Unsuitable ~appetites, when at first.
fai4tly, and gradually a little more
distinctly, our slumbers were broken by the
dread cry of fire. Ny eldest brother, who
in some miraculous manner heard the alarm
first. jumps up in sleepy CONSERVATION
pummels and thus rouses up the other occu-
ants If the room, and shouting Ere! Fire
q LUCKILY put us into a state of intense alarm.
What are you boys mixing that confounded
noise about at his hour of the night?7
gruf1y cries Dad, much annoyed at being
disturbed by our racket; but at the word
Fire, he is Immediately and fully awake
and begins dressing with all possible expedi-
ton, declaring he mnst 60 to render assist
apce, and we boys also struggle into our
clothes determined to be spectators of what
had been hitherto an unknown sight; our
mother. who of course, is in a state of great
allrln, demonstrates at being left alone, but
the Old gent suffering in his excitement,
som othing about luty to every citizen to
hasten to assist in pumping the fire engines,
starts off at a smart trot in the direction Of
the glare, which had now brilliantly lighted
up the sky in the west and we bound along
close in his track. Entering the main street,
We meet excited crowds, all hurrying along
With the same object, namely, to assist i'll look
ing on. Reaching the scene of the conaagration,
a terrible sight meets our eyes. The whole
of the building occupied by Mr.. Browne,
with the exception of the top floor, appears
wrapped in one sheet of fame, and wing to
some unacco untable delay, after wards explain
ell to be due to Mrs. Brownies u~nwillingness
to descend the fire-escape, until fully and fash
ionably dressrd-the inmates were still in the
l,ru;o- I,,,Il;~r, IT. G-,t - - ~oco,o1 frOno
this perilous situation, is the nurse maid she
appears screaming at the window of the top
storey in her night dress, and Is speedily car
ried below half insane from fright, presently
Mrs. Browne condesce nds to make an appear
ance, followed lastly by Mr.. Browne. Getting
these people below necessarily occupies q little
time. and the fire RACES ie Ger Ethan ev er, the
fl amns jumping ont Of the lower windows are
s:orchin3 the escape, AS soon as Mrs. Browne
reaches the street she.calls to the servant maid
who trembling with fea, 'And,excitcInen has re-
manned to witness her mistress descend safely
TO hand her the child. FThe childMum' she slut
ter< in an hysterical manner, 81 thought you
would bring baby. ooh my God, cries the
miserable mother, Il had supposed she had gone
first with YOU AMI frantically rushe back to
the escape as if 30 rescue her child, but over
COM. by her distIs IS, she falls into a dead
swoon 1t the foot of the ladder. 1t seems al
most hopeless to think of returning to
that blazing hell to search for the child, when
at this moment a hoarse barking is he2rd'above
the angry cracking Of the fire and standing on
the topmost. window ledge, erect and excited,
is Brownie, barking furiously to attract at
t~ention.' III! why run the sisk of being burn
Ell 30 death to save a dog? says one of the fire.
men, when in thesame moment the idea strikes
another in a. fash Of Inspiration, if the dog can
live there is yet hope the child may he res
cuel, and rtisiies up the escape. Calamity
fighting his way up through the overpower-'
ing heat, The flames as they dart from out of
the openings of the windows at times barring his
progress, but watching his chance as they mo-
mentarily recede he rushes up higher and
higher and finally, pluck overcoming the
:terrible difficulties of the ascent, reaches the
top window ledge and Brownie, who bad never,
ceased his barkings, springs back into the room
and disappears from sight followed by the
: brave fireman the room is alight in several
places and full of choking smoke, but Brownie
continuing his incessant bark leads the way
10 the rurse maids room at the back of the
house, and there lying quiet and motionless,
apparently suffocated in her little crib, is baby.
10 snatch her up and drag a sheet from off
the bed and rush to the front window, is but
the work OF q moment hastily rolling the