Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1895-05-02
A Night of Terror.

gop | want to 60 so bad, mamma!
Do get papa to let mer' And Fred
Grant stood on one leg like tired
rooster, and hitched and twisted, and
did everything he could think of to
show how anxious and excited he was.
Uncle Dan Hurley was going off for
a weeks hunting on the prairies, with
a tent to live in, and he wanted Fred
to 60 too. Just ask any boy if Fred
was likely to want to 90.
But papa and mamma could hardly
decide hastily.
Say, mamma, can l? Say, man.
ma, can go?" Fred kept asking over
and over again, until at last papa said
go out on the lawn and play while
we talk it over, Fred. We will call
you when we have decided"
Fred knew he had to 90, but he did
not do so willingly. He backed out of
the room slowly, and hopping on one
foot so rs to stay rs long as possible.
But he got out at last. AS soon rs he
was gone. his papa said: "Well. what
do you think of it. mammal"
at would do him good" answered
mamma. "But there's one objection
Dan will drink little now and then"
Surely he would not, when he was
out with child in his care" said papa.
"Well, l don't know" answered
mamma, thoughtfully. Il fear to risk
it."
"Tll have a talk with him." said
Fred's papa. "And if he will promise
to stay thoroughly sober, guess Fred
may 60"
Uncle Dan promised faithfully not to
touch one drop of liquor while he was
out. But if he meant to keep the prom
Use, what made him take the little
black jug of whisky along in his stores?
However, Mr.. and Mrs. Grant knew
nothing of that little black jug. so thew
trusted uncle Dams word, and let Fred
go to the praires with him.
Oh. what fun they had at first! They
went on horseback. Uncle Dan rode a
stout gray, and had the tent folded and
strapped to his saddle behind He also
had their small camp kettle. while Fred
carried the bag which held their pro-
visions.
The first night they camped beside
beautiful stream. They p tched their
tent, built fire. hung the kettle on a
pole laid across two sticks with
crotches in them, and cooked their sup
per-
Fred turned the ponies out to eat the
sweet prairie grass, fastening them to
a stake with a long rope, so they could
not wander away. Then he sat on Il
log and watched uncle Dan preparing
their supper. And when it was eaten
he slept in the tent with uncle Dan.
He thought il was ''splendid," | don't
think there ever was Il boy who enjoy
ed a trip more than Fred enjoy ed that
one for several days.
But alas, alas! One evening when
they unpacked their camp stores uncle
Dan took out the black jug he had hid
den away. He did not let Fred see it,
but the boy soon knew that something
was the matter. He did not know
what. but he saw that uncle Dan, in
stead of being lively and telling stories
as usual. was stupid and sleepy. Fred
asked if he was sick. Uncle Dan said,
mo, only tired"
Fred was very tired himself. so he,
too, very readily laid down in the tent
and soon fell asleep. Uncle Dan al
ways carefully put out the fire, so that
it should not catch the dry prairie
grass. Tonight the black jug made
him forget to attend to the was not
himself, you see.
And so it happened that some time in
the night bright light and q cracking
sound woke Fred. He sprung up and
saw dreadful thing. The prairie was
on fire all around them. Worse: the
tent they were under was in flames.
In agony the poor boy tried to wake
his uncle; but the whisky had done it's
work too well. He could not even
rouse him. And every instant the
scorching flames came hotter and
nearer. In few moments they must
both perish, unless the boy could save
the man.
With q smothered cry to God for
help, Fred did all he could do. He
rolled and tugged and pulled, until,
with his blistered hands, he rolled the
insensible man into the little stream on
whose banks they were encamped.
Then he held uncle Dams head up,
himself lying nearly under water, un,
til the flames had passed on and left
them. He tired to drag his chilled
limbs back to shore. but could only
draw uncle Dan half way out of the
water, until he came to his senses,
where he lay.
And how do you think uncle Dan feft
when reason returned, their tent and
horses burned, their bodies all painful
blisters. wet, chilled and alone. m les
away from home-all because he had
yielded to the dreadful appetite? They
reached home at last alive. But uncle
DAN finally died from the effects o
that nights exposures, and Fred will
carry the scars OF his burns 10 tn
grave. But he will never. never toucl
one drop of liquor so long as he lives
-CarefuL Builders.