Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1902-02-13

OF A FLOOD
[Original.l

waiting years for the advent of a little
one fell into one Of those perversions of T.
the maternal instinct, the lavishing of
her affection on dumb brute.
She adopted a puppy which she nam /
ed Spot. 1t grew up to be an ugly little (
beast and John hated it. Margaret (
gave it crib to sleep in, the choicest /.
food, bath daily, and when John was
not present even brushed its teeth.
What do you want to make child .
of a dog for?" John would ask snap
pishly.
81 love spotty dearly" Margaret
would reply.
One morning John overheard his wife !
talking to the dog: "Spotty, dear, l |
want you to go and bring me a baby. |
You'll find it somewhere-in the wood /
perhaps. 1t will be in silk handker |
chief, tied at the corners. There will /.
be bit of paper pinned to the handker-
chief, giving the baby's name and tell |
ing why It's mother left it in the wood, |
poor woman"
That's n likely thing to happen"
muttered John.
Take the handkerchief in your
teeth" Margaret went on, where the |
four corners are tied together and |
bring the child to me-"
John went to Memphis to a foundling
asylum and applied for a baby TO |
adopt. There was zone to be had |
whose parentage satisfied him, for he
was somewhat particular in that re
speCt, so he went back to Margaret
disappointed and empty handed, and
Margaret went on making a child Of
Spotty.
Soon after this John was reading in
the local newspaper telegraphic dis
patch stating that the river was rising
rapidly above and fears were enter |
tained that the levee at several weak
points would not stand the pressure.
His house stood on ground above the
highest flood mark, so he did not fear
for his and Margaret's safety, but he
dreaded the food for his neighbors'
sake and the destruction Of his own
and their property.
"John," said his wife, last night l
dreamed that Spotty had gone away
and come back with a baby tied up in
n silk handkerchief"
John groaned.
"Spotty! Spotty! Come, get your
breakfast" she called.
Spot didn't respond, and Margaret
went out into the yard TO look for him.
She called, but without reply. She
hunted among the rosebushes and un
der the magnolia trees, in the barn, the
woodhouse everywhere, but there was
no Spot Then she set all the negroes
hunting, but when the sun went down
that night there was no sign Of the
Child-dOg.
The flood proved the highest ever
known. The levee burst above the
Oldershaws', and the country was COW
cred with water. Margaret wrung her
hands and gave up Spot for drowned
and pleaded with John to take a boat
cn1 go IN searCn or MS Dony. JOnn re
fused until he saw that his refusal was
downright cruelty. Then he got out
the oars, unclaimed the boat and after
taking his wife in with him pulled
away into the wood behind the house.
John Oldershaw felt like a fool but |
he is not the first husband who has
acted stupidity and wisely at the same |
time In pleasing his wife.
They were met by everything that |
could float, animate and inanimate |
Furniture, dwellings, sections Of fenc- |
ing barns, were floating about in pro |
fusion. a wee kitten on board new |
ed to them piteously. A lamb on the |
roof Of an outhouse bleatcd. Half |
dressed people who had escaped in |
boats at midnight were pulling for dry |
land. John Oldershaw saw the wreck |
about him and remembered that he |
was looking for n drowned dog.
"See the little ark Margaret eX
claimed.
Whoever has not seen one of those |
old cradles, now obsOlete-as all cradles |
are, for the matter Of that-made OF |
wood, one end covered with the same |
material, cannot understand the CXCla- |
nation What Margaret saw was one |
of these cradles, and, what was more |
wonderful to relate, she heard n bark, |
and a dogs nose protruded above the |
gunwale of the cradle boat about where |
the slits for handles were.
ITS Spotty"' cried Margaret in
ecstasy.
80 it is" said John.
'Why doesn't he put his paws on the
side and show himselfT' said Marga- |
ret.
Hes afraid of upsettIng his boat"
said John.
John pulled for the cradle and was !
soon alongside Of it. Margaret sy.@-G .
the tiny craft, and there, lying on soft (
bedding, was an infant. When ii saw /
Margaret looking down at it, the child's
face broke into a smile. Its eyes /
laughed, and Its little arms and legs .
vibrated like shuttles.
Spotty sat and barked and when all |
fear Of overturning the cradle was at |
an end Jumped into the boat, kissed |
Margaret and In all respects equaled |
the incessant motion Of the baby.
So few people win believe this story |
that | scarcely have the heart to finish .
1t, but the rest of it IS Of more impor-
tance than what | have told. The baby, |
boy, was adopted and reared 10y John /
and Margaret OlderShaw ana not tlll /
he was grown did he discover that he |
was the son of n rich planter not far
up the river, both of his parents hay
ing been drowned when he was swept /
away by the flood
John after the advent Of the little I
stranger treated Spotty with especial .
kindness, though Margaret, strangely .
enough, never afterward considered .
him anything but dog.
HESTER b. MERIWETHER.