Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1900-01-03
so.e.l,sa funnel form, which in this

EO-c' lieQs lunuel 1OFIu, HAlcA ~ saAS
case was much fattened one.
1t seemed but a few minutes later
when Glasta reused abruptly in dazed
pewilderment. A distant shout, one
of elarm aud warning, seemed echo
ing in her ear. How dark it 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-
mentthere came 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 earth
ward path.
ylasta guessed instantly the peril
that threatened, and sprang up with q
terrified cry
''My father, mother, quick! The
cyclone! The cyclone!"
Then followed wild confusion,
screaming children running to their
parents, frantic exclamations, hustle
and hurry.
Whittier should hey fly for refuge
in that hour of terr or? 1t was the
good mother that solved the problem
with prompt presence of mind.
ar'Tne henhouse, children! Let us
run to the henhouse!' she cried, and
she crowded her stout self and her
best feather bed, brought from the
fatherland, valiantly through the mar
row. doorway, followed byher husband
carrying his pipe and armchair, and
by the. others. with whatever they
Glanced to catch up, all racing through
the thick whirling dust 10 the desig-
mated place of refuge.
In fact, it was the most suitable one
within their reach, being really low
.''dug. out" in the side OF small hill,
the front or ofen side facing south
and filed in with a sod wall, contain
ing only small, rough door and o
tiny window. whose four small panes
were trick ly2c coated with dust.
In they rushed pell NELL, causing
wild; discomfort to the usual occupants
of this abode, which flew huttering
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
violently open from without, and
Albrecht and his mother, lacking such
q shelter of their own, flung them
selves among them, . anrsg -.
Then The door, like that of the ark,
was shut and braced by the fathers
stout shoulder. And none to soon, for
the air was thick with flying Debris.
There We're t8elret~of them-more
souls than the ark carried, and; crowd
ed into much smaller space, but That
mattered little at such time.
The fowl screamed, the. rhildren
walled, the big mother and little mother
rocked and prayed in each others
arms, and the ther-bemoa"ed- his
farm d 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 tbe
Joy that Albrecht was again beside
her, so c'ose that she could almost
feel his deep, hurried breathing.
1t wss but a moment, and then, with
"a deafening roar, rush of Ga. kncss,
a choking breath of sulphur, the
storm centre was upon them.
Vlasta remembered not how it hap
pened. but when she was ableto real
ize anything her arms were around
Albrecht's neek and he was holding
her to him and murmuring words of
endearmant which she felt rather
than heard. sMy3aove, my little
one"-though she was as. tall as he
z"do not fear. Y I,wiil keep thee safe
], thine own beloved" ~
Ylasta's pet white pullet futtered
on their shoulders like the whites
winged dove of peace. The storm
went swiftly on its resistless way,
leaving desbiation behind.
I Their houses were in ruins; their
little possessions torn to pieces or
scattered far and wide, even a large
part of the growing crops rooted up
or ground into he soil.
But their lives were spared, and
they are hardy and courageous. Sod
houses can soon rise again, end other
crols grow green onssunlit plains, and
before long in the new home there
will be sounds of revo!ry by night"
and another merry. wedding dance.