Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1896-05-09

cue his young master.
~ will go, missus," he said; "don't
cry no more"
He looked around as he spoke for
some means of scaling the second story.
There was no ladder, and only one
staircase, but the bough of an orna.
mental tree, that overshadowed the
house, fortunately held out a means OF
access to bold heart and a strong
arm. Not stopping even to hear his
mistress thanks, he clambered up the
tree, ran out on the limb, and drop.
ping on the roof, disappeared within
the dwelling.
How breathless were the moments
that ensued. The flames were spread.
ing with frightful rapidity. The caves
of the building began to smoke, show.
ing that the fire within had reached
the roof, and soon after the whole line
of them flashed into conhsgrstion.
Meantime the lurid element poured
ont from the windows, ran upward
licking the combustible front and
streamcd in u waving, dazzling pyra.
mid high over the top of the mansion,
far into the blue armament. Millions
of sparks, accompanied by volumes
of rolling smoke, sailed down tho sky
before the breeze. completely obscur.
ing the heavens at intervals, though
occasionally this thick canopy,I artially
blowing aside, the calm moon was seen
peacefully shining down through the
rent, in strange contrast to the other
terrible scene. The roar of the con-
migration had now become intensely
loud and, to add to the horror, there
began to be heard the awful sound OF
timbers falling within the house.
Mrs. Stewart had watched the fire
in silence, her hands clasped and lips
parted ever since Juba had disappeared
within the house. Each moment ap.
peared an Eage to her. At last the
suspense, thus lengthening out inter-
minably, rs it seemed, became intoler.
able.
Oh it is vain," she cried, making
new effort to rush into the flames,
che cannot find my boy. Let me go
myself. For the love of God"
But at that instant, through the
smoke that aim ost HID the only window
that was not already on fire, appeared
the faithful Juba, holding aloft the in
FAINT. The flames were all around, and
IN moment more would overtske him.
He made rapid gesture for some one
to approach.
Four of the males, comprehending
his wish, snatched blanket and
rushed promptly forward. The heat
was intolerable, but they disregarded
it, aud standing beneath the window,
with the blanket outstretched, they
shouted to Tuba to throw the child
down to them. He had, however, an
ticipated them. The infant fell while
they were speaking, was caught safely
in the blanket, and was hurried imme-
dately to Mrs. Stewart. who clasped
it to her bosom with frantic delight.
The whole was the work of less time
than we have taken to describe it.
But simultaneously terrific crash
was heard, that made the very earth
tremble beneath the spectators; a
huge column of smoke shot up toward
the sky, from where the roof had
been and, as if propelled from force
pump, gush of intense flame fol-
lowed, leaping fnr up into the highest
heaven.
The crowd. one and all, gasped for
breath. Then came a deep, long
drawn sigh. For the roof and floors
had evidently fallen in; and the faith
full Juba, alas! was nowhere to be
seen.
A dozen persons rushed toward the
building, and, until driven back by
the heat, stood close by the window
where he had been latest visible. They
had hoped to find him there. They
had fattered themselves that there
had been time enough for him to leap.
But it was now plain this had not
been the case. He most probably felt
the floor giving way before lie threw
the child, and if so this explained the
cause of his haste. They said this to
each other as they fell back.
But there was little time for words.
Scarcely had this thought been ex'
changed before there was another
crash, and, with MON entary waving
motion, almost the entire building fell
in, 80 that what had been q stately
mansion an hour before was now only
u shapeless pile of blazing timbers.
The shouts, the exclamations, the
sobbin9s which had filled the air but
the instant before, ceased again at this
appalling spectacle. Neighbor looked
at neighbor, aghast with horror. the
lurid light adding wild, spectral look
to each enquiring face. Then sim
infamous cry rose from the crowd,
that Juba and the old nurse wero
buried in the ruins.
But suddenly from out the flame and
smoke, in the direction where Juba
had last been seen, what seemed to be
u human figure began to emerge,
crawling painfully on hands and knees.
A human figure, yet crushed almost
out of the shape OF humanity, but still
with life in it, for it moved.
And bark, q voice; q voice coming
from that mangled body. What did it
say?
Not words of pain. but words Of Joy.
Words such as the martyrs used at the
stake. "Hallelujah Hallelujah !"
For was not he martyr, tooP He
had died to save his masters child.
He was both hero and martyr.-New