Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1894-03-03

ter no thought beytndi<few prelim-
mary arrangements,foH rfoving next
day if it became necessary.
They retired early to. be awakened
before midnight by peculiar splash
ing sound that told only,to well what
had happened. Tie gorgef ice had
broken, and, sweeping out ti9 dam,
was rolling torrent Of water down
upon the luckless sleepefs. The
floor was already a foot in. water.
Watchmen stationed on tbS bridge
saw their danger and weF ready
with boats to rescue them. An their
haste TO reach place of safety they
secured nothing but necessary cloth
ing.
Money revealed desolate scene.
The cold, foaming waves were Hash
ing clear to the chamber windows,
the addition had broken loose and
was drifting down stream. The
trunk and money were-no one knew
where.
In a few days the water subsidized,
the Daltons repaired their house and
moved back but the trunk could
not be found.
Mrs Dalton was brave, patient
woman, she quietly buried her antic-
ipations, concealed her disappoint-
ment, and took up the work of re-
storing home.
But one day there was consulta-
ton held that she knew nothing of.
1t was between Emily and Richard
the twelve-year- old SON.
Mother is just about sick over
this disappointment. / can see it
though she tries SO hard to hide it,"
said Emily, "and l have a plan ofsend-
ing her to Chicago yet. You know
I have thirty dollars saved toward
buying an organ, my watch will
bring ten more, and if ! could only
raise ten more it would be enough"
Maybe / can earn some; I'll
try" Richard responded.
He applied for work to all the
neighbors, and studied the "wants"
column in the paper, and found
nothing more promising than this:
The city authorities had ordered
all yards and alleys 10 be thorough
~ cleaned in week. He might do
something in that line. they lived
but mile from town.
Accordingly, one raw, cloudy
morning, a boy might have been
seen trudging to town with a rake
and wheelbsrrow. He went from
place to place till late in the after
noon, but no one was quite ready for
his services.
Finally, he happened upon a back
yard strewn with dirt and debris.
which he undertook to clean for
twenty-five cents. He worked until
after dark and all the next forenoon
to earn the paltry sum but the
work was so well done, the yard
looked SO much better than those
adjoining it, that others concluded
to hire him also.
Faithfully and hard he worked,
sometimes receiving fifty cents, some
times twenty-five, and sometimes
nothing, for there are PEOPLE capable
OF defrauding a child.
At length it became known in
some way what Richard was work
ing for. II was like burst of sun
shine upon his prospects. Instead
OF seeking work he had to refuse it,
and was paid as high as dollar for
half days work. 1t was a tired
lame boy that went home at night,
but ten dollars jingled in his leather
wallet, and charmed away all feeling
OF pain.
Meanwhile, Emily had disposed
of her watch and drawn her bank de-
post. After supper Mr.. Dalton was ia
ken into their confidence sent to town
to purchase the ticket. When EN-
lily prepared breakfast the nextmorn-
ing, as was her custom. she conceal,
ed the ticket under hel mothers
plate.
They gathered at the table for
morning devotion, excepting Rich
ard he was too tired to be awakened
When they were ready to eat, Emily
slipped into the kitchen to pour cof-
fee. Mrs. Dalton took up her plate
and discovered the ticket.
Why, what is this 2" she asked.
She examined It and exclaimed:
ooh! where did you find the
trunk ?,
Mr.. Daltons answer was spoken
SO softly that Emily could not catch
it; but she heard her mother say, 81
have the best children that ever
lived" and the coffee suffered some
loss in the scene that followed. A
pair of arms we're clasped around
her neck, and some one whispered,
while tears fell fast:
You are a.dear girl, Emily, and
NAV I'D hlaec r1,, fnr +to a.n~;aor