The Opelousas courier., 1895-11-02

stepped to the door just in time to see
a playful fork OF light go through his
pet apple tree stripping off all the
apples and leaves, bat leaving intact
the branches, the baldest thing in the
township. A tremendous outburst fol-
lowed. and then, in a lull, the bleating
| of the terrified sheep was heard. Mr.:
Emmons ran down to the field, but
was knocked heels over head by the
conclusion of the thunder. When he
got up he saw a huge blade of fire
playing round the cherry tree, under
which twenty dead sheep were
stretched out. Two groups, one OF
about ten, the other numbering about
thirty. were scurrying across the field,
bleating in terror. The great blade OF
lightning flashed over the field north
ward and killed all of the smaller
group, after which it burned the
fence to ashes and sent forth a report
like the explosion of a battery. It's
fragments merged into a ball tf fire
about a foot in diameter, which
circled easily round the edge of the
pasture, consuming the fence as it
went. 1t was nearing the surviving
group of sheep, which was led by a
big, wise old ram with consider.
able strategy in his brains. See.
ing the ball approaching, the ram
bleated in command, and the sheep fol-
lowed him to the center of the field,
where they huddled together. Slowly
the electric sphere went ON consuming
the fence. This done, it rolled across
the field toward the group of sheep.
The old ram awaited it with lowered
head, bravely sounding his challenge
a few feet in front of the group under
his protection. Three little lambs, on
seeing the lightning approach, broke
away FROM the group and ran to one
side. INSTANTLY the ball went rolling
and bounding after them. One after
another it touched very gently. as if in
a game of tag, and one after anothef
they fell. The ball made a wide detour
and again approached the group Al
it circled, the old ram changed his posi-
ton, keeping his face toward the
enemy. 1t advanced, and he stood
ready to the charge. Then it tented
toward the left and tried toget through
on the other side, but the rams gen.
eralship was too good, and the fire
ball, but for a swift rise into the air,
would have come into collision with
that formidable front. The next move
Of the attacking force was to circle
round and round with great rspidity
and in narrowing circles, the protector
OF the flock following every move.
Suddenly itx5hot forward. The ran
charged and met it halt way. A ter
rife explosion followed. and the air was
full of fire needles. The flock broke
and ran, but the danger was over, for
the fragments Of the broken ball had
darted into the earth, tearing it up for
yards round. Half blinded and wholly
dazed by the wonders he had seen, Mr.
Emmons staggered back into the house.
Next morning he found about forty
dead sheep in the field. Under the
cherry tree great burrows had been
plowed in the ground, and for 16
yards round it every growing thing,
from the cherry tree to the budding
golden rod that lined the fence, was
withered and dead. AL that could be-
found of the old ram was his horns.
so twisted that the farmer is going to
ave them set in silver for corkscrews.
Mr. Emmons collected insurance on
his sheep. but the damage to his house
is q dead loss. His watch has not gond
since, and his parlor clock, while it's
retrograde speed has decreased, stead.
lastly refused to goin the proper direc-
ton. Upon every occurrence Of the
hour OF the storm it strikes with the
speed Of an alarm bakl and the force Of
an anvil.
From other placai in the region come
accounts Of the eamage done by the
but no other farm suffered az
did Mr.. Emmons'. The only other ex-
p~erience resembling his is that Of Eph
who. while coming home
late was overtaken by the storm. A
bolt Of lightning passed 50 near him
That 1t shaved his left cheek clean. and
he has not zoe able to grow hair on it
Y. Sun.
-Anrnnn -s--s-f l