Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1902-05-14
that this house is aflre. I'm going to


put it out myself.
ooh, l must-l must do it," cried
Margery, seizing the two heavy pals
of water which Mrs. Danvers kept
ready in erlittle. .conxersatory for the
purpose of watering her plants. "Tho
fire is all in that one room. If let
the firemen in they'll ruin the new
floors with. their muddy boots, and
they'll flood the whole house with
water. oh, 1 can't let them spoil that
lovely pale-green paper and those love,
ly fioors!"
So, never thinking that her mother
would rather lose thousand beauti-
full parlors than one. little loving
daughter, Margery rushed into the
dense smoke and buried the contents
of her pals straight at the scarlet
glow.
The smoke stung her throat and al
most blinded her, but she groped her
way from the room, felt her way
across the hall, ran down the stairs,
and refilled her pals at the kitchen
sink. The bath room was nearer, but
Margery remembered that the faucets
there were small. and knew she would
save time by goingto the kitchen.
She drank little cold water, filled
her lungs with fresh air at the open
door and tucked up her; skirts. Then
up she went with her heavy burden,
not spilling a drop on the precious
floors. After the third journey Mar.
gerry noticed that the scarlet spot had
diminished in size, although the smoke
was quite as dense.
II must be careful not to put on "a
scrap more water than l need said
this model fireman, as she toiled up
ward with her heavy pals. Il mustn't
spoil the dining room ceiling. l be.
heve the fire is in the pillows and BED.
ding stored in that closet. I'll open
the window and throw them all out, If
I can"
And she did, but it was not a pleas
ant task. The smoldering quilts
Lurst into flames as she pulled them
apart, and the sparks burned her
wrists and hands. But with the win.
DOW open it was possible to breathe,
and when the reking pillows had been
added to the blazing heap: on the lawn
below, the atmosphere was. decidedly
improved, although still by no. means
clear. -: - -. 80
AS they discovered afterwards, the
fire started from few oiled rags used
in polishing the hariwood.floors, and
tucked into the closet by careless
maid. 1t had burned almost through
the. Dashboard, and would in a few
moments have eaten its way into the
partitions, where it would have been
beyond control.
Margery had undoubtedly saved the
day and great many dollars although
she had, without realizing it, risked
something far more precious.
She had bathcl her face and hands,
had opened all the windows to let out
the disagreeable odor of burned feath-
ers, and was going downstairs, we'll
satisfied with ner evenings work,
when her father and mother appeared
at the front door. Perched on the
newell post in tho front hall; she told
them all about the catastrophe.
Where are the children?" was Mrs.
Dauvcrs's first question.
"Goodness!" said Margery. "Thcy
must be outdoors On the stepping
stone yet told them to stay there
until l called them, and never gave
them second thought"
And there Mrs. Danvers found them,
sound asleep in their little white night
dresses, but none the worse for their
unusual experience, for the night was
warm. -
Mr.. Danvers opened his mouth and
closed it several times before he man
aged to find words to fit the occasion.
When he finally succeeded all he said
was: s..
Margssy, ou-smen Just like little
driea/herring."
But there was something besides
smoke in his eyes, and Margery, knew
she was being thanked.-Youths' Com
panion.