The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1904-03-09


the matter. and | Sprang out of bed
ana ran from room to room to find
where the fire was, with the baby I'M
der my arm
"Ou opening the door into the kit.
chen, | saw that the partition next
the shed was all abaze and ready TO
drop, The stairway leading to the
chamber where the children slept ran
up ont of the kitchen. and the fire had
crept round nearly to it,"
But what made YOU think that tho
ashes set the fire. interrupted Eben.
Because I'd taken them mp sunday
morning and set them just outside in
the open shed in an iron kcttle-I
hadn't calculated on the winds blow
ing so hard-and forgot them, and
that's where the fire caught So you
see it was the ashes fast enough.
shaking and dragging the children
ont of bed. | got on to them. somehow.
what clothes | could lay my hands on.
and throwing blankets over their
heads. told them to run downstairs
and out of doors as fast as they were
ready; but being walked s. sudden and
the fear of the fire fairly dazed them.
"Your Aunt Inn. next older than
the baby. was the last one. and some
how | was so fiustered couldn't find
anything to put onto her. for now the
fire was roaring down in the kitchen
even above the roar of the wind and
| was afraid 1t would cut me off en-
tirely.
at last I felt out coat that be.
lOnged to one of the boys, and | had
scarcely buttoned her into it when n
sudden light burst into the dark cham
Der.
MY heart leaped into my throat as
thought of the great punches OF tow
and linen-yarn-more than two hun
drcd skeins. which I had Just finished
spinning-hanging round the sides of
the stairway. They had taken fire"
But you didn't go down through
that. grandma:" cried Nell.
'There was no other way. my dear.
And there were the babies in my arms,
besides those who had gone down be.
fore.
But | couldn't stop long TO con-
slider. On the beds were big wooden
coyerlets. and, throwing one of these
over my head, | dashed down the
stairs. with Ann under one arm and
The baby under the other. for | hadn't
put the little thing down once, for
fear She would crawl away in the con-
fusion and darkness. and | should
never find her again.
The hot flames burned my hands
anu feet as | went through them. The
way was completely cut off out Of
doors. rs | had feared, except through
a north window. and the smoke in the
kitchen was so thick that it almost
stopped my breath.
II can't remember how got across
the room to that window. But found
myself before it, and trying in vain to
open it, for it had ben fastened down
securely to keep the snow and wind
from driving in. 4 light stand stood
near. and with that | broke the win.
dow through. sash and all, and leaped
outr
And, in her earnes.ness. the old lady
half rose from her chair and thrust
enerSetically with her cane at an i'm
aglnary window In ,he bright depths
Of the big fireplace.
"Ann says | fell down. and perhaps
| did: | don't remember" she added
subsiding into her chair and rocking
gently.
after little spell" continued
grandma. II got breath enough tC
wallow through the snow around the
house. but | couldn't find one OF the
children. | was about to give up ii
despair. thinking that, in their be
wildcrment. they might have got into
the fire. when | heard shouts from the
hOg-house out by the barn. They had
driven the pigs MP and had all hud
died together in their warm beds.
"Well, knew we couldn't stay there
all night. for the children wasn't halt
dressed. and none Of MS had on any
shoes. and 1t was bitter cold! 1t
seemed as though we had escaped
from the fire only TO be frozen"
Aud tear stood on grandma's S
withered cheek T the remembrance OF
that nights grief and suffering,
But couldn't bear TO hear the
little things cry aud see them freeze
by inches she went on. after a time;
so spnrrlng up courage. wrapped the
coyerlet about me as well as ! could
ana went out on the hill away back OF
Uf the barn. through the binding snow
to shout for help.
"Grandfather's brc..ier. yOnr Great.
uncle Daniel. haa then moved into the
neighborhood. and his house wasn't
more than a mile on by the road and
much nearer across lots. But the wind
came from that quarter. and my voice
didn't reach three rods.
"old Brlndle. their dog. however sci
to bowling most GolefulIy-at sight OF
the fire, suppose-and lie kept 1t VI
so long 1t woke Uncle Daniel at last
and. after a while. | saw n lanteri
coming through the fields. We had {
road across In the winter.
| Then knew that help was at hand
and began making my way back {,
the children.
| There wasn't much OF the hous'
left standing now but .he big chimney