The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1908-06-06
To the Rescue.

country that their nearest neighbor
was quite two miles away, and co,h-
munication with the town was car.
ried on by the restless young How
ards, who were constantly going to
and fro.
Just now. Ernest, the youngest
Howard. was kept a prisoner at home,
the result of a fall from his bicycle
and a consequent sprained lace; and
SO he limped all about the place. feel
ing pretty lonely on this special half
holiday afternoon, when all of his
companions had gone out pleasurins.
and he was left 10 amuse himself in
doors with books and games.
The sunlight outside was madden
ing. Oh. for spin to the foot OF
the hill; then, looking ruefully at his
bandaged knee, he remembered his
last spin and tried to think Of some
thing else.
He read until his eyes danced; he
played games until he was worn out;
he explored the pantry to his hearts
content; in short he did everything he
could to kill time. which began to
hang very heavy on his hands.
At length he threw himself down
on comfortable lounge. and before
he knew it he was asleep.
When he awoke there was strange
sitting odor in the room. and Ernest
could scarcely see his hand through
the clouds of smoke.
AS fast as his lame knee could car
ry him he got out of the room and in
to the air. There was not soul
around. everybody seemed to be TAX
ing holiday. His mother and faith
err were visiting friends in the
north: his big sister Ethel. who was
keeping house In their absence. had
gone to town: and the older boys were
of on a long bicycle trip. The serv-
ants were never there on Saturday
afternoon. and as Ernest. thoroughly
frightened. stood watching the house.
he noticed little puffs OF smoke CON-
ing from the cellar and knew that ull.
less he gave the alarm at once all
hope of saving the old home would
be lost.
The nearest telephone was two
miles away. Fifteen minutes on a
wheel would have made it. and he
| looked sadly at his knee. Then a
| bright thought came to him, and he
went as quickly as he could to the sta
| ble He found Old Charlie In his
stall, and a much battered buggy. and
he went to work as we'll as he could
| to get them ready for travel. OLD
! Charlie had cnce been a race horse.
and something in the keen air sent
the blood coursing through his veins
as Ernest led him outside; SO by the
time he was hitched up he was as i'm
patient to be of as in the days OF
his youth. Five minutes more and
horse and buggy and boy were speed
ing down the road.
| Ernest had q hard time holding in
Old Charlie. He was forced to brace
his we'll knee against the dashboard
of the buggy and pull with all his
strength to keep from another tumble
down the hill: but he reached his des
tinat;on at last. and hurry call for
the engine was sent to town. Then II
volunteer fire brigade was organized
in the country store from which Er
nest telephoned. There were several
produce wagons in front of the store
and into these they all scrambled
armed with empty buckets furnished
by the proprietor. Then they tore
along the road to the Howard place
Ernest and old Charlie dashing pad
ly in front.
They were just in time. The house
was almost hidden in smoke, and o.
casionally a tongue OF fame Would
dart out from some unexpected place
The bucket brigade formed a linz
from the house to the we'll. and the
work of rescue went on quickly
while Ernest led the now prancint
and excited old race horse back tt
the stable.
He was feeling very tired and hi;
weak knee began to thrOb painfully
ana there was a queer lump In hi'
throat that shouldn't have been there
II is rather strange to see 1re com
: ing out of your house and to have al
YOUR people away. and-and all that
The lump grew greater and greater
then as the smoke cleared away AM
he saw the dear old home standin:
firm and stanch through it all. h
laid his head down by the gate pos
and the tears popped out Of his eyes
Inst then shout broke from tn
workers.
Here comes the engine!" crfet
some one, as a cloud OF dust CAM
sueaninn In the road: and. sur.