Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1895-02-01
4 GIRL HERO.
The Story of a Great Michigan
Forest Fire.

farms in Isabella county, Mlch., two fam
lilies, names respectively, Wilson and Nor
eau.
The first mentioned consisted of father,
mother and their five year.old twin boys.
Samuel and Peter; while Narcisse and Mrs
MORGAN had but one child, a gHl of fifteen
called Marie Marie Moreau-a name al
most as pretty as was its American French
descended owner
In addition TO remarkable beauty. Marie
had a still more precious gift OF "a sweet, un-
selfish disposition, aud was. moreover, the
foremost among all the rcholars attending
the somewhat distant country school. But,
for girl brought up IN the woods, she
was neither very large nor strong for her
age, and the performance OF specially
daring deed was the last thing Of which
any ole could have supposed her capable
The-two log houses of these families
stood three hundred yards apart in The
midst of cleared fields, and considerably
more than that distance from any standing
timber the nearest piece of woods being
tract Of primeval forest lying over quar-
ter-mle southwest of and facing both, so
that it seemed hardly possible for either to
be endangered.
Up to the 10th of the mouth though the
surrounding atmosphere was then some
what darkened by smoke waited from the
great conflagration at Chicago, no fires
had broken out in the WllsonMoreau
neighborhood GA that day, in accord
ance with previously made appointment,
the heads of both families drove away TO
Farwell village, sixteen miles distant, to
make the final payments on and receive
deeds of their respective farms, Mrs. Will
son leaving the twins in charge of Marie,
not another person living within two miles
of her house.
The party set out IN Moreau's wagon
at ten clock in the forenoon. promising
to return not later than nine that same
night
Marie, well pleased with the prospect Of
having curly-headed Sammy and Pete"
all to herself for whole day, spent de-
lightful forenoon playing with and anus.
ing the little fellows, and in due time pre-
pared in their honor regular holiday
feast, while discussing which Sammy in.
genouslv remarked:
Me likes mudder to 60 way in big
wagon.
$50 does me, )" chimed in Pete cause
us gets lots o pies an cakes den"
Pm rather afraid, merrily said Marie,
chat I'm giving you little rogues too
many sweet things but you can run OUT
doors now and scamper round while
wash up the dishes.
us couldn't have too much honey and
jam, could US, Pete sagely observed Mas.
ter sammy
'Dess not, theys awful good, i" rejoined
Pete, and the pair rushed gleefully out.
But the next moment, though followed
by cloud of dust and smoke, they rushed
still more gleefuly in again, shouting
Oh, auntie" as the youngsters always
called Marie-"theres a b'u'ful big fire
out IN the woods. Mebbe we'll have mud
der Fourth July"
Much TO the twins surprise. Marie re.
ceived their joyful tidngs with an alarm
ed cry, aud, hurrying to the door, she
saw that, just beginning to show through
the trees, great fire was raging IN the
heart of the forest, and, driven by the
southeast gale, was rapidly approaching
the clearngs.
On the instant the clear headed girl re
allied the danger. for. parched by six
weeks, drouth, not only the grass and
stubble but also the upper soil itself was
as dry as gunpowder, and, helped on by
numerous rail fences, the flames would be-
sure to sweep across the fields and destroy
both houses, as well as every living thing
lying in their path. But, she reasoned
1.-The very violence of the wind will keeT
the fire to "A northeast course, and, though
wide enough on leaving the woods to face
the whole of our clearings, 1t will proba
bly, not extend 10 any great distance either
due east or due north.
The children, quick to catch the infec
ton of fear, had become gravely silent
and Marie, lifting the trap. door of the Gel
lar, cheerfully said;
NOW, little men, you must be brav,
and do just as auntie says. The smoke il
so bad that you'll almost smother up here
Come down to the cellar, and stay Their,
till get back. I'll be gone only littl,
while"
With the implicit confidence begotten o.
loye Sammy replied;
Yes, suntie; us'll be veal good au
not envy any more when us gets way from
the nasty smoke. 1t hurts our eyes aw
ful.
In an inclosed field back Of the hous,
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