The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1910-04-22
kMRIES BY THE YOUNG PEOPLE


that she must leave the childfen At
home, as Mr.. Hudson must accompany
her aad they would have 10 stay
alone The only way % get there was
with horse and team aud II would
take two OF three days 10 40. SO
they would have 10 be gone q week
certain. Finally they decided TO 60 on
The next day, leaving everything IN
charge Of tho oldest child Esther, In
the morning before starting the mother
explained 10 Esther all tho duties she
must perform during her absence each
DAY, aud said she must ever be watch
ful over the younger children. Then
she kissed them all aud trusting that
all would be well until she returned
she bid them goodbye and was OF on
her journey.
Tie lrst day passed all right. But
ON the second day Il started 20 rain
in the morning. Esther aud Joseph
hurried their work through. dressed
Isabel and Roy, and the rest Of the
morning was spent In PLAYING games
IL continued TO rain all tina, day and
Esther felt very anxious for her par
ents 20 return for she was afraid OF
the high water again as she had heard
her father say IL did great deal
Of damage. II still kept ON raining
aud II was now six days since their
parents had left.
The water was now several feet
deep, but Esther felt more cheerful ON
retiring that night thinking that her
mother would be home on the morrow.
In the night Esther was awakened by
noise downstairs. She quickly
lighted her candle and started TO 20
down. She had gone but half way
downstairs when she. stepped into
water up 20 her ankle; she went
down another stair and she was in
water mp to her knees. She could
see now that the water was rising
rapidly. She knew there was no time
TO waste so went back up stairs and
quickly related to Joseph all that had
happened. Then they dressed the
two youngest children as quickly as
possible and went into Esther's bed
room. They could see the water COM
ing in under the door and they were
greatly frightened, but Esther ever
mindful Of what her mother had said
To save her sister and brother, 50 they
10 save her sister and brother so they
climbed up the attic stairs into the
garrett and closed the door thinking
they would be safe there, but in a
short time they heard the water splash
ing against the door They knew that
soon the door would be dashed to
pieces and there would be no chance
for escape But just then Joseph hap.
pened to think of a balcony just out
side the window their father had built
few years ago as an ornament TO
the house. So they piled some chairs
up and after taking a few blankets
and some pillows climbed in the bal
cony. Then they all prayed that
they would be saved. At daybreak
they could see hen.houses, furniture,
bottles, cans, and other things floating
ON the water. In the distance they
could see a boat coming filed with
people. This gave them hope. The
children called out to the people and
the man rowed towards them. The
the boat. Then the boat-man said one
of the oldest children would have to
stay until he returned as there were
too many in the boat now. The
people thought that Joseph ought to
STAY. but his sister Esther said, No,
Che would stay. Then Joseph said
that he would stay with her, but she
said No. she would rather stay alone.
So Joseph climbed into the boat and
they were OIL.
Esther prayed while they were gone
that her sister and brothers would
reach the shore safely. After awhile
the boat returned and she climbed into
If. She was in the boat but Few
minutes when the water spiashed
against the balcony and dashed 1t 70
pieces. The mans face turned pale
for he saw what q narrow escape
Esther had had and he murmured,
tGod bless you, for you are hero
inc ~