Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-11-16
she would have asked me-"

she sat LOOKING out OF the WlnQOW.
The roof of long porch sloped below
It.. 1t was very old, as was all the
large farmhouse. The shingles on 1t
were loose and warped. Grandpa had
told her she must not get out on 1t.
No danger of her doing that, Polly
had thought, when he spoke of 1t. 1t
always made her dizzy to be in high
places, and nothing would have temp
ted her to step out on that steep roof.
So she thought.
At the back end of the porch was a
low building used for wood house.
The shingles Of this were also old and
loose.
! Now, as Polly's eyes wandered idly
on outside things, they stopped near
the edge of the wood house roof.
whats that? Dust?"
But how could there be any dust
there this time Of year
.'Why-I believe"
Polly sprang to her feet, still gaZ-
ing fixedly out of the window.
1T is-yes, it's smoke
For one moment she stood with
hands clasped in terror. At once she
guessed what it was. A tall pipe.
which carried off the smoke from the
kitchen fire had lately blown down.
Grandpa had said it was not safe with
out it, for now cinders might blow on
the dry, old roof. This very afternoon
he had gone, with the hired man, to
bring home a new pipe.
| But perhaps that new pipe was COM
ing too late.
There had been great fire in the
kitchen all the morning, Polly knew
along with which had come a new
birthday grievance in the fact of Aunt
Sarah's not having asked her to help
about what she was baking. Some
thing good 1t must have been, too, by
the smell; but she hadn't even baked
her a patty-pan cake or offered her
so much as cOOky.
Polly watched the smoke. Only a
little curl at first, but getting larger.
She was about to scream. for what is
more natural than to scream at sight
of fire where fire should not be?
But, with a sudden effort she con-
trolled herself Grandm" was the only
person in the house tept herself.
She could do nothing. She was not
strong and fright might do her great
harm. The curl of smoke grew larger.
Now it came in punches with the
gusts of wind. Now-yes, there was
little tongue of flame.
In all her life Polly will never for
get the terror which came over ner
with the thought of all that was de-
pending on her in this dread emer-
gency. The old buildings which formed
the dear home of all she loved lay at
the mercy Of pitiless destroyer, un-
less she, with her feeble hands, should
prevent it. Could she?
For one or two moments she held
her breath, sending up swift prayer
that she might be enabled to do the
right thing. Then she snatched up q
rag rug from the floor, and brought
her water-pitcher to the window. She
opened it. Could she step out? Her
head seemed to swim with the
thought. But there was no time to
lose. With the rug under her arm, and
in one hand the pitcher, trembling in
every limb, she walked along the shak.
ing, rafting shingles; the whole roof
seemed to sway under her feet. She
reached the end, but never could re-
member how she got down upon the
lower roof.
But she trampled down her fears, as
she bravely did the work she had
come to do Pouring the water over
the rug, she beat upon the fire with it
again and again. The bit of flame was
soon put out; but how long it seemed
before she saw the last of the smoke,
and could feel sure that no shoulder
ing danger was left!
At length, certain Of this, she turned
sick and faint. The edge OF the porch
roof had crumbled under her feet as
she had stepped down from it; and
nothing could have induced her to
climb upon it. She could not get down
without help and for long hour she
waited in the cutting wind.
Grandpa and Caleb came at last.
Caleb put up a ladder, and brought her
down; and grandpa carried her into
the house in his arms.
Aunt Sarah was just coming in the
gate. and, with every one else, was
shocked and Mortified, as Polly,
through quivering lips and just able
to keep back her sobs, told her strange
story.
"Well, I've heard tell Of heroines
DoIOTe, Sdlu 81 dHupd, DuS uou
know as ever heard Of Drawer little
one than you, Polly"
what shall we give herr" said
grandma, as they flew about and
petted her, and seated her by the fire
wrapped in warm blankets.
Peppermint tea" said grandfather.
"Catnips better" said grandma.
Nothing like gingertea," said Aunt
Sarah, positively.
And long before it could be agreed
on, three bowlfuls had been made; and
Polly had to take some of each kind.
She thought within herself that she
would easily get over her out-of-door's
experience; but whether she should
live through the remedies was thing
to be doubted She was, however, too
polite to say so when such a kind fuss
was being made over her; and 1t is
PLEASANT to be able to say that whether
it was due to the petting or the wrap
ping or the teas, Polly suffered no
harm from her exposure.
"And here is her birthday letter"
said grandma when at length Aunt