The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-03-09

as have diverged from my husking
match Ito tell the doleful effect Of
drunksnness),I will come back and cay
all hands did their duty in husklng
the corn and bundling up the fodder.
and on next day Mr.. Martin had q
good number OF large ox-carte full to
haul TO his crib. AIirth filled the
huskeTs In the field. Mrs. Nancy Mar
tin. Davlds wife. and her daughters,
with the assistance OF some OF the
neighbor ladies' who come with their
husbands were preparing supper for
the huskcrs.
The family had lots OF pot.ples and
other pies, stewed chicken. roast
chicken, beef roasted. pork roasted,
mashed potatoes, roasted cold-slaugh,
good bread and butter, good coffee
and tea, plenty OF sugar and pickles
and everything that would make q
hungry man or woman rejoice.
And here let me say II bound boy
stands back at husking match / will
say for myself II stood back In the
husking match was very well up at
this bountifnl supper tabls.
Now, to give an instance OF the
goodness OF heart of David Martin
and his noble Nancy and other mem
bers OF the family. about the 3lst day
OF january. 1859, terrible flood In the
| Brandywine covered the meadows,
bringing down heavy cakes of ice. On
the rwaddle farm abouta half q mile
below but In sight of Martins house
stood a small log or frame house on
land near tho creek. The ground fur
Their back was lower, 80 the creek
made a sweep and left the house on q
island.
Mr.. Martin was away from home,
/ huf Mira Martin har ia
watching the little house and deplor.
Ing the situation OF Mrs. Cloud and
her little family, which they knew.
The husband and father were many
miles away from home. Mrs. Martin
| was In measure helpless, but when
her husband got home after dark. she
stated Mrs. Clouds situation, and as
soon as he and b 8 boys aud girls
could get home. plan of rescue was
put In motion. by brldlinR folr or
| five horses and mounted by Mr.. Mar
tin and some Of his children. daugh-
tiers, l believe and blankets and other
| Cloud warm after the rescue. until q
safe and warm shelter was reached.
The party went down the flooded
and rough land, bat soon came to the
| fast land In the meadow, about three
hundred yards from MIR. Clouds house.
which now was surrounded by water
and leo Dnd rushing torrent Of water
and ice deep enough to swim the
| horse.
| But Mr.. Martin left the weaker ones
OF the party OIL horse. and
plunged his horse In the ice.cold Hood
and waded and swan across the m6a-
dow to the house where Mrs. Cloud
was, and soon had one OF the family
| Tapped up with their own quilts and
/ coats and started across to the land,
but through much peril and danger
landed and placed one of the rescued
on the horse with the son or daughter
and started thsm off UP to his hospita-
BILE home. where all comfort was In
readiness to receive them.
So Mr. Martin crossed this flood
and brought off the entire family one
at time. And who will dare to say
that the family OF David Martin, him
self. vile and children. and all con-
cerned were not Gods noble man.
women aud children?
The Cloud house went down with
the ilood and they lost everything but
their clothes aud what small articles
they took with them as they crossed
tue flood on horseback.
AMOS @. BRINToS.
February ED, 1894.