The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-17

the SUBJECT, gave MIN narrowing uetdlS VI
the programme of the day of Judgment, as
laid out by themselves He knew he ought
not to be frightened. since his father and
mother held no such uncomfortable belief
They would never think of wasting time
making ascension robes. and yet they had
many warm friends among the Millerites.
These two facts seemed almost irreconcil-
able to his child mind, and he wished Sc
cretly that his mother would make a robe,
lust for fun Billie and he We're so little
that they could both hang on to the same
one. sin case''-he had heard his father use
that expression-just lin case"
Late one afternoon he was gathering
eggs in the barn loft. quite oblivious OF
the outside world as he whistled gayly.
Suddenly red glare lit up the whole
place. He turned, but the brilliance of the
western skies blinded him. Up above sailed
graceful white wings, and Basso knew that
only the sheet of flame prevented his see
ing the white-robed angels who belonged
to the wings" And had he been whistling
so loudly that Gabriel had blown his trum-
pet in vain? He tried to call Billie Queer
how dry his throat was. 1t was so quiet,
too. Where was everybody? He sank
back upon the hay feeling suddenly very
tired, and closed his eyes. But there fol-
lowed no rustling of ascension robes or
songs triumphant and presently, peeping
through his eyelids, he discovered that the
glare had died away, the sun was just
sinking behind the cornfields. and his own
dear little Kentucky mother was calling,
"Basso! Basso!"
The Millerites had set the time of their
departure from worldly care at midnight,
April l. 1874, and at the appointed hour
gathered at the Undertook Mote u in
the thick darkness to fly to realms above
There were hemp stacks all around one OF
the large fields on the McCarty farm,
across the river, and ii was the day held
by some fools sacred to promiscuous
joking. So, while the soul-infiamed Mil
lerites solemnly waited, signal fire
doubtless from one of the unseen angel
camps surrounding them) famed up
against the blackness, and then the whole
heavenly host seemed to send forth radi-
ance to light them on their way upward.
Among the pupils in Mr.. Wizards school
for the deaf and dumb in Indianapolis
(Note III, in 1877, was Henry Rowles, a
boy from Michigan. Some years before he
had been lost in the wilds Of his own State
for several days, and during that time had
seen and escaped narrowly a lynx, a VOL
VERNE and a bear. He had never recov-
cred from the fright of that terrible ex-
perience, and would go long distances to
avoid a strip of woods So it was with ter
ror that he found his father had decided to
take charge of a farm lying just north Of
what is now Clifford avenue, for there,
across the road, lay dense. dark forest
(now Woodruff Place, in which all sorts of
wild beasts were probably waiting to
spring upon him. But his pitiful and siren
uous, though silent, objections had no ef-
feet except to prevail upon his friend Basso
to stay with them the first night spent in
their new home. Basso was now twelve,
Henry's own age, and felt for him the
deepest sympathy. True, the Millerites
had long ago disbanded, but he had never
forgotten that fright. and would even now
sometimes wake up in the night in a cold
perspiration from having dreamed it all
over again.
1t was autumn. The days were growing
very short, and before supper was over
candles had to be lighted in the kitchen.
Mrs Rowles had made some delicious
ginger bread in the shape of animals and,
perhaps unfortunately to Bassos share
had fallen horse, while Henry's cake was
certainly a bear These they were allowed
to take into 1.-The other house, as in those
days the sitting room across the open hall
was called, ard by the huge fireplace at
the base of the "cat and clay" chimney
(Note lid the two boys sat, eating with
misery care, crumb by crumb, those won
derful animals, who could conjure up the
fiea-bitten gray, the Millerites and the wild
beasts Of Michigan. The silence was rude
,
the wall Of a thousand lost souls. Basso
glanced sharply around, then ram to the
door and peered into the darkness. With
his quick wit the deaf mute felt something
unusual had happened, and joined Basso as
the latter stepped out into the chill night
air. There came another laundering roar
and groan. Surely Henry must hear that
uncanny noise. But he heard nothing, and
saw only the unmistakable terror In
Basso's face. Across the road lay that
awful woods, wherein must be concealed
lair of demons. They alone could emit
such blood-freezing sounds. But nearer
STILL fortunately, in the silence which en-
sued, Basso could hear Mr.. Rowles at the
corn crib. Mrs. Rowles had been settling
things a little more carefully in the milk
house than she had before been able to-,
that first busy day in the new place. Now
she opened the door and looked out. By
the Pickering light of the candle she held
Henry could see his mother, and pulled
Basso toward her.
what was that noise?' she asked, in
startled tones.
II don't know. I'm going over to the
crib to ask Mr.. Rowles." Mrs Rowles and
Henry followed. Mr. Rowles thought he
had heard something; "but this here corn
makes such an everlastin' racket couldn't
tell what it was he said.
We'll, you just listen now" commanded
Basso. AS if to illustrate the remark, a
series of short. sharp, but powerful, boots
rent the air.
That's an aowl" said Mr.. Rowles.
heard an owl like that"
That's So" said the man, with a puz-
zed shake of the head. There was a wild
err, more unearthly howl and demoniacal
roar. The deaf mute looked from one face
to another, and his hand crept to his
fathers arm in pathetic eloquence of his
fear. But presently, the strange dis
turbances ceased, they all went to the log
house and talked over the unusual occur
slept much that night. OF course, 1t might
be a strange wild beast, Basso thought,
and again 1t might be a warning OF the
time OF judgment, and he preferred not to
shut bis eyes till after midnight. Next
morning, as the boy walked nOmeWard.
feeling freer and happier with every step
he took, he met his older brother Major,
riding the old white pony.