St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1897-08-27

completely around, when 1t stoo'
trembling as if in fear. Not so it
occupant. She kept the oars frml.
in either hand, steadied her boat, ant
soon got into calmer waters.
She was near the Walkers now, al
most at their door. A light gleameC
from the windows that were hal
immersed and the door stood open
Evidently it had been forced by tn
current. Sadie steered her boat t.
the side of this entrance. Grand
ma Walker, are you there? 2" sh
called.
"Bless the Lord Sadie Holman
has come for us - cried the old lady
mo she's drownded, and its hel
sperit,' spoke quavering voice.
mo it's Sadie, alive and well, Mr.
Walker" said the young girl from
out the gloom, where are you !?
"Huddled up here on the bed"
Dressed ?"
Eyes"
Cant you get to the door some
way? I'll take you to your sons
in my boat. His house is high up
you'll be safer there"
ooh! we can't" said the old man.
Eyes, we can" said Mrs. Walker,
"the water is risin so fast we shall
be drownded here. We can Study
ourselves by some chairs"
And they did; two wet, shivering
creatures hoated to the door and
were taken into he little boat, and
with words OF cheer the girl bent
to her oars. 1t was but a lew rods
to the foot of the hill where Sam $
shanty rested, and Providence help
ed Sadie to reach it. The water was
so high even here that it almost
reached the doorstep.
"Do you know anything about
the Eaton chldren?' she asked,
steadying her boat for them to land
mo, we don't, poor little creeturs,
but Sadie, don't 60 for them. You'll
be drownded yourself. Stay here to
Sans"
"Oh, | must be back before morn
ing, mother will he so worried"
"Worried! The land sake, child.
you don't seem to sense the risk !!
How come you to think OF us poor
creeturs ?"
81 knew Sam was away from
home, and you had no one to see to
you. Well, good bye" and the little
boat shot off far beyond the reach
OF the old woman's dim vision.
Back to the cations which was
next door to the Walkers was diff
cult rowing, for it was against the
steady current. Sadie's arms were
tired, and her breath came in sobs,
while her heart was losing its cour-
age. She succeeded, however, fight
ing her way inch by inch against
the seething waters. There was no
light nor sound as Sadie reached the
closed door.
MARY! Mary!" she called as she
pounded on the door with her oar.
A startled voice responded incoher-
emily. MARY, get up! Isn't your
house full of water?" A sudden
splash and cry of terror answered
her.
1.-THE cradle is covered with water
and the baby is drownded Oh! Oh
OH" The child's shrieks of terror
were hard to quell, and harder still
to bear.
at is l, Sadie Holman, Mary.
will take you in my boat to Walkers
Get up. put on your clothes, yours
and Johnny's. Are they on he bed p
yes"
Get them on, quick. Cling to a
chair, put the baby on the chair and
get to the door. Be brave, Mary
and see to Johnny"
The crying children and the, dead
baby were at last got out into the
boat, and Sadie pushed out and
down the current with her burden
A sudden gust of wind threw'them
out OF the course she had followed
before and took her over what must
have been a low fence, but It resulted
in nothing more than the risk of get
ting back.
All this time the moon shone witt
undimmed splendor, Nocloud cross
ed 1t, and Sadie unconsciously glanc
ed up at it often as a comfort anc
encouragement. She recollected that
the poor abodes ot the Walkers anC
Eatous were surrounded by short
strips OF fence, and it was thi.
she must have grazed. Steer
ing below it, she got back and guild
ed her boat to the foot of the hill
and tenderly helped Mary out with
the dead baby.
Your mother has got the baby
back. dear"
Eyes, oh yes, but to think he wa.
drownded in his little cradle and m,
asleep beside him. On dear or
dear" And the girl kissed the lit
tie white face.
Sadie stood bv her boat with tn,
dreary waste OF water stretching
before her. Now that they were sal
she began to distrust her ability t.
return. But tor her mothers anx,e
ty, she would have stayed at tn,
Walkers, Tor the short pull back
after the Eaton children had showr
her the full force OF the current anc
caused her to fear that she never
| could battle with it as far as hel
grandlathei's.
Johnny will you 60 up to th'
house and see If there is any mar
| there who will row back Will