The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1899-05-13

Uncle Peter had lots of stories to tell OF
hunting tigers aud wild beasts, and two
hours flew away.
Evening came on.
ICY p exclaimed James, who CHANGED
to look out of the window "do you see
that red light behind the spruce tree?
guess it's Roger Belknap's Chinese lantern
look ~
Cyrus turned his eyes in that direction.
A bright, red light shone from behind
the spruce tree, and all its branches glowed
OTIS too big a light to come from a
lantern" said Cyrus, carelessly. 'It's the
moon ~
"No, there's the moon over the church
steeple."
At that instant there was shout OF
Fire Fire Fire ~ in the street.
Cyrus and James rushed to the front
door.
''The brick school-house ~
A cry Of horror came from Cyrus lips.
Abel still in the closet flashed into his
mind. He darted down the street like
deer, toward the school. house.
The west end was mass OF red flames.
The trees and surrounding buildings glowed
with burning brightness. The fire rapidly
gained. The bells rang loudly, and soon
the engines were rafting over the street.
strong stream of water was turned on the
building
In the midst of the excitement Cyrus
Amesby came running up, hot and painting
Joel Day, the chief of the fire company,
had formerly been his fathers gardener.
'Joel ~ cried Cyrus, Selling his arm
with a quick jerk, "Abel Hathaway is in
the closet-I shut him in there to tease
him. forgot toilet let him out"
His face was white aud pitiful to behold.
Terrible agony of mind was stamped upon
it. In moment Joel thrust long ladder
to the window in the upper hall, and,
rushing up, disappeared in the black, blind
ing smoke.
When 4 bel found himself prisoner in
the closet, he pounded on the door aud
shouted to Cyrus to let him out. He heard
him 90 off, and a shivering crept over his
frame.
Half an hour went by then an hour !;
two hours. The hot, close air almost suifo-
Gated him. He knew his mother would
miss him, and that search would be made,
and the hope sustained him.
Suddenly there came streak Of light
through the crack under the door, followed
by smell of smoke. A loud cry OF Fire !.
Fire . Fire ~ followed from the street
Abel knew the school house was on fire.
A terrible death was before him.
ooh, God, help me ~ he cried in agony,
and fell senseless to the floor.
When Joel appeared, bearing the boy in
his arms, long shout of rejoicing rent the
air.
The unconscious Abel was laid on the
grass, and Dr. Hammond and crowd OF
anxious people gathered about him. His
face was white and rigid.
SIS he dead?" gasped Cyrus.
DR.. Hammond made no reply. He ten
derby lifted Abel and carried him to his
mothers house, and tried by every means
to bring the lad back to consciousness.
On the second day he opened his large,
blue eyes and stared wildly about, and
muttered strange words. Reason had fled.
The weeks and months went on. Abel
recovered physically, but his mental powers
had received terrible shock The rawlings
subsidized, but memory was gone.
He had forgotten his own name, could
not read or write a word, and walked
about the town, gentle and harmless, with
no knowledge of people or objects.
1t was thought some inexplcable acct
dent had fastened Abel in the closet and
the truth was never known to the towns
people.
Six months after the fire Cyrus confessed
all to his father.
"Oh, my poor son ~ groaned Mr.. Ames-
by zone wrong act has made you and
Abel sufferers for life ~
"Father ~ sobbed Cyrus ''f You love
and pity me, do use some of your money
in making Abel and his mother comfort
able"
Mr.. Amesby called at once on Mrs Hath
away, and requested her removal to a
small, pretty cottage near them, and sup
piled her abundantly with money.
year passed
One day Cyrus was sitting beside Abel
in Mrs Hathaway's parlor. OF late there
had been meaning in his eyes, as if light
was breaking in upon his soul. He went
to the table and took up the volume of
Longfellow's poems and looked at it fix
eddy.
"What is ?" inquired Cyrus eagerly.
Abel put his hand to his forehead.
"Prize | remember - he said joy
fully.
Slowly the past came back to him. Little
by little his memory returned, and his
mind strengthened, but it was five long,
weary years before he was fully restored.