The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1899-07-20
FAUSTINE.


iue's home-father. mother and grand
mother, besides six children. Faustine
was the only girl. but her father said not
one O: the boys could beat her In outdoor
work-whish was true.
Tie bright days passed away, and tho
wind began to blow so furiously that
Faustines father and two elder brothers
who were out on the mountain chopping
wood could with difficulty get home AS
night came on the storm deepened, the
thunder rolled the lightning flashed, and
the mad l,.t.rs leaped down the noun
tain side In IA torrent, sometimes catching
great trces and tossing them In pool OF
white foam for q moment and then dash
ing them down hundreds Of feet in tho
chasII below.
Toward cycniag the storm sbated, and
Faustire's father and older brothers went
out, feeling their way in the darkness to
the loy she'd where the mules were kept.
FaUStinc crclt out of doors too. 1t was
so tall, that she could scarcely distinguish
au.thirg. She had intended going to the
shed to see if Bose, her own mule, was
safe But she found herself in the road
WAY near the mountain stream. She shud-
dcretl at the fearful scene. 1t was grow
ing lighter every moment, and Faustine
saw lust ncrus5 the stream the wreck OF
ci,biq. She shivcrCd with fright. Whose
cabin was il? What had become of the
people who owned 1t: She asked herself
these questions, hut there came no answer
save the swish CT the foalning waters. A
great tree that the storm had uprOOted lay
directly across the stream, and pillows of
white foam were whirling in and out of
the branches.
Unrk What was that sound? 1t was
more than a sob; il must be a groan Of
anguish Whose voice was it: From
whence did it Gomez With ono hand
pressed on her wildly beating heart Faust
inc listened.
All, there it sounded again-that groan
Some one mus. DO in mortal distress
Faustine's heart almost stood still at the
dreadful Thought that some being was
crushed in that wrecked cabin across the
mountain torrent.
She tried to call her father, but she
could not command her voice. She tried
ugnin and succeeded
"Talher, OH fnthor,'
But no answer came, the ind carrying
her voice in another direction.
"Fathcrl On, father
Again her voice rang out, but her IA
Their, shut up in the shed with his boys,
feeding and otherwise caring for the
frightened mules, did not hear her.
What was to be done must be done with
| cut delay. The child realized that. She
| was sLitcring with cold and fearful appro-
| hcnSiOi, tut her resolve was taken at once.
"Ih"ras only one way. l must cross
! the stream on the fallen tree" she said,
| md i'll another moment her little feet were
| planted firmly on the great tree and her
| hands We're clinging to the branches. To
! her dismay the wind arose, and it took
all her strength to keep her hold as she
| pursued her dangerous way. The waters
! l2apCd over her feet far above her knees.
| \ great. j.gIy branch toro her hands and
| face, ard Grcl,s Gt blood mingled with the
| Gner- Natc:s. Once she lost her foothOld
| ard came near being carried away with
| the stream but with great struggle she
reg::i:.ci it.
! "f;!u~tne, Faustine,''
i II was her father calling in distress. He
| did not see her swaying form battling
! with the lDrat.t hes Of the fallen tree.
= Fui-t:,u. Eaustine! My child, where
| HIo NOu!'
She answered, but he did not hear her
| and She hurried on as fast Us possible. She
had reach, q the wreck at last. The little
| cabin Lad strCcl: the tree just before the
| latter fell ..ost Of it was crushed, and
| tie rgEGihG@r OF it was resting on its SIDE
| tossing to ami fro on the edge of the
| stream, held only by some old planks. 1t
| would soon he lousenod and would dash
| down the rocks.
Is there any one insi,io?' called Faust
iE1, for she Jaw no door anywhere, no
| windows, either.
y WOMAN head appeared through a
| small opening \ pale, frightened face
| loohrl cat.
oh. j here 10 one but you-a child?"
| she aS:,c! i, .-:cHt distress.
Il can hep yeti" answered the brave
| child. y am looking for the door
"That's III" trouble; the door in on the
| ground, underneath my feet. So are the
| windows.
y child' cry was heard distinctly.
| "s1"no on" is with you-a baby?" ques-
| toned Fnusl:I1 eagerly.
Yes, ', : !. .l'T-lEy only child
Lift her rio through the hole, then.
will take lei 20 Il safe place" And the
little one Was soon i'll Faustines arms.
who hoio her unity away.
II will sod father and the boys f,,r
| you, she said TO the mother. Don't ns
afraid"
With the child clinging closely to her
neck, ah" made tho p,rlous journey back
| over tho fallen tree. She was greeted W it'll
shouts of jcE, and her brothers joined
| hands, th:!s making II scat for her, on
which she and tho rescued baby rode to
| the cabin
The father and the boys, with the Ak,
| hurried to the wreck, and soon the weary
una bruised mother was resting in safety
| by the chimney corner; none too soon,
either, for, with noise like thunder, the
wreck tore down the stream and was
| dashed over tho rocks.
4 week later the mother died and was
buried on the mountain side. Two years
| have passed since then. An artist, sketch
Ing in the Pyrenees, exhibited picture
entitled Tho STEERS" which called forth
| great admiration. Two children stood
side by sidc-ono IL laughing little child of
4, with winsOmc, bright face the other
a girl of 10, her happy face fairly illu-
| mined with sunshine. Their arms were
wound about each other, their eyes glowed
with affection. While the artist was paint
Ing the picture he said to the elder, 1.-The
little one is your sister, l SUPPOSE
Yes. nssented Faustine. II had no
sister, but God reverentiyI sent me one
In great storm. ''-Christian Intelli-
| genccr.