Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1899-12-01

ten by the "old people," at least. The
shouts Of the numerous younger chill
dren came from without, where thew
romped among the farm wagons and
machinery, and the horses and cattle
grazed contentedly on the fenced-in
prairie that formed the pasture. 1t
was all homely, but peaceful, and pres
emily the girls eyes, heavy with unac-
custolned vigils, closed. She did not
see the cloud rapidly swelling and TAX
ing on the ominous shape dreaded by
the prairie jewellers, the so-called
funnel form, which in this case was
much flattened one.
1t seemed but a few minutes later
when Vlasta reused abruptly in dazed
bewilderment. A distant shout, one
of alarm and warning, seemed echoing
in her ear. How dark 1t had grown.
And there were Albrecht and his little
old mother, who kept his house, stand
ing before their door, exclaiming and
gesticulating wildly. At the same mo-
ment there came a rush of furious
wind, bringing the sound Of low.
| menacing roar, while the mass of dusky
| green cloud seemed to quit the horizon
and start swiftly on an earthward
path.
Vlasta guessed instantly the peril
threatened, and sprang up with a ter
rified cry.
"My father, mother, quick! The cy-
clone! The cyclone"
Then followed wild confusion,
screaming children running to their
parents, frantic ordinations, hustle
and hurry.
Whittier should they fly for refuge
in that hour of terror? 1t was the good
mother that solved the problem with
prompt presence of mind.
| ''The henhouse, children! Let us run
to the henhousew she cried. and she
crowded her stout self and her best
feather bed. brought from the father
land, valiantly through the narrow
doorway, followed by her husband car
rying his pipe and armchair. and by
the others with whatever they CHANGED
to catch up, all racing through the
thick whirling dust to the designated
place of refuge.
In fact 1t was the most suitable one
within their reach, being really low
"dug-out" in the side of a small hill,
the front or open side facing south and
filled in with a sod wall, containing
only a small, rough door and a tiny
window, whose four small panes were
thickly coated with dust.
| tbou ,,,chad roI1 y1,oll Ia
discontinue to the usual occupants of
this abode, which few, fiuttering and
cackling wildly, from their rude nests
and perches. The father was in the
act Of closing the door after the last
one was In. when it was pushed vio-
lently open from without, and Albrecht
and his mother, lacking such shelter
of their own, flung themselves among
them.
Then the door. like that Of the ark,
was shut and braced by the fathers
stout sholder. And none too soon, for
the air was thick with flying debris
There were twelve of them-more souls
than the ark carried, and crowded into
a much smaller space, but that mat,
tered little at such a time.
The fowl screamed, the children
walled, the big mother and little
mother rocked and prayed in each
others arms, and the father bemoaned
his farm and stock; but as for Vlasta
the cyclone had given her what the
fates had otherwise denied, and the
uproar and danger were all dominated
by the joy that Albrecht was again be-
side her, so close that she could almost
feel his deep, hurried breathing.
1t was but moment, and then, with
a deafening roar. rush of darkness
choking breath of sulphur, the storm
center was upon them.
Vlasta remembered not how It hap
pened, but when she was able to re
alize anything her arms were around
Albrecht's neck and he was holding
her to him and murmuring words OF
endearment, which she felt rather thar
heard. "My love, my little one-thougt
she was as tall as he-"do not fear.
will keep thee safe-I, thine own be
loved"
Vlasta's pet white pullet luttered or
their shoulders like the white-winge6
dove of peace. The storm went swift
ly on its resistless way, leaving desola
ton behind.
Their houses were in ruins; their lit
tie possessions torn to pieces or scat
tered far and wide. even q large par
Of the growing crops rooted up OF
ground into the soil.
But their lives were spared, and they
are hardy and courageous. Sod house,
can soon rise again, and other crops
grow green on sunlit plains, and be
fore long In the new home there will
be sounds of revelry by night" anG
another merry wedding dance.