The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1896-11-06
A RESULT OF A FLOOD.
BY FANNIE WILLIAMS.

John Hartwell. who was busily ham
mering at some piece of boyish carpen-
try in his fathers workshop, turned
pair of kindling blue eyes toward the
excited young darkey who rushed in
with the above information.
'Wh; t's that you say, Tom Pete?"
Tom Pete repeated his statement. add
ing the remark that the Pelton boy was
"a-heavin' sticks at 'em, an maxim 'cm
run like de ole Nicki"
John put down his hammer and eX-
claimed:
III see if I can't put a stop to this
business, once for all!"
AS he spoke, he strobe out of the
workshop and started across the corn
| field, with such an air of angry de-
| termination that Tom Pete, running
after him, kicked up his heels and
grinned, in high glee at the prospect of
n collision which was sure to bring the
Pelton boy to grief.
John Hartwell and Tracy Pelton Were
| foes of long standing, though neither
of them could tell exactly how their
| feud had first arisen.
The Peltons owned n small plantation
on the Sunflower river, and the Hart
wells had come from the north some
| wears before and settled on the next
place
Tracy and John, who were nearly of
| the same age, became acquainted ard
were reaceable enough for a time,
| though they had occasional disagree
| ments, like all neighbors' boys
| But some difficulty more serious than
| usual had led to ill-feeling between
them, which had broken out At last irto
open warfare; so they were now de
clared ana downright enemies. Itwas a
pity. for they were both fine boys, each
| in his way
John was stout Young athlete. quick
tempered, quIck-witted and merry, al
WAYS ready for work or play, and
throwing himself into both with equal
energy: while Tracy was of a quieter
disposition and did not get angry or
enthusiastic in moment. but was slow
to alter his opinions after they were
formed.
"Obstinate as n mule," John said, not
stopping toShink that Tracy's affection
was even more deep and lasting than his
wrath: that he could be a very con-
slant friend as well as an obstinate
enemy.
John was in an exceedingly belliger-
ent frame of mind when he reached the
edge of the field which bordered on the
| Pelton place, and beheld his fathers
fine drove of hogs rushing pell-mell
through the corn-stubble. pursued by
| a slender. dark-eyed boy, who was vigcr-
ously pelting them with sticks, clcds
| of earth. or whatever he could lay his
hand on.
"You stop that. Tracy PeltOn!" shout
ed John. peremptorily.
Mind your own business and keep
your hogs'at home!" retorted Tracy, as
he bombarded the hogs with lively
shower of cornstalks.
Il should think this was my business.
and I'll attend to it in earnest if you
don't look outi" cried John, bristling
with wrath and resolution. IF you hit
one of those hogs again I'll hit you!"
Accepting this as a challenge, Tracy
promptly threw short stick. which
took the largest of the hogs behind the
ear and sent the whole drove scurrying
tumultuously toward their owners
premises.
John snatched up the stick and hurled
| il back at Tracy, striking him on the
shoulder with force enough to make
him very angry, if it did not hurt him
much.
He flew at John with doubled fists.
| anu JOIiii. hAAii
in the same manner.
The result was that Tracy got
whipped as usual: for the two boys had
had several battles already. and, though
Tracy invariably came out second best,
he never shrank from fresh encounter
with his stronger foe.
As for John. though he returned
home after the battle flushed with tri-
umph and greatly admired by Tom
Pete, yet he was perfectly aware that
his victory had not settled anything
1t was quite certain that Tracy was
still determined to chase the hogs and
otherwise annoy his enemy whenever
he got n chance.
However. during the days that fol
lowed neither of the boys had any time
to waste in fruitless hostilities- They
were sufficiently occupied with the bust
ness which was now demanding every
body's attention-that of saving theil
persons and property from destruction
by the waters of the river, which, aftel
rising rapidly for three days, had over
flowed its banks and was fast inundat
ing the whole region.
Water from other streams poured il
to swell the torrent, cattle wer
drowned and buildings were swep
away. And still the flood rose highe
day by day.
People were obliged to move into tn
upper stories of their houses: then. n,
the water crept up higher. to taxi
refuge on the roofs; and. at last, the!
were forced to flee for their lives to the
high ground, at a distance of manl
miles.
Mr.. Hartwell had built sort of fiat
boat, or scow. as he called il. which
proved extremely useful to himself anC
his neighbors in this perilous time.
1t was constantly in use, conveying
people TO the hills, picking up valuabl,
floating property and taking off tbs
sheep and cattle which Were huddleS
in crowds wherever some bit of higf
ground formed tiny island in the very
midst of the flood.
One day, when Mr.. Hartwell had
taken off number of cattle, as many
as the scow could safely carry. he start
ed with another man to paddle them 70
place of safety, leaving John and Tom
Pete on the housetop, which was still
out of water.
He intended tocome back for another
load of stock. and as the scow was so
heavily loaded, the boys volunteered &
remain behind and wait for his return
! In the meantime they amused them
selves by fishing for driftwood and sue
floating property as the waters brouSh
within their reach
rrNas