St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1912-05-29
Aunt HepSibah'S Tempting
of Providence

willamette Preston.

Ting anu uAluS neT Keen DldCh ~ y
upon Miriam as If to compel her t
tell the exact truth.
why yes" laughed Miriam, en-
joying her aunt's CONSERVATION
"The ground is pretty we'll WORKED
in this part of the country. There
isn't a bit Of danger, though. We
haven't had a cavern near here
ever"
"A cave-inl Mercy on u.s." Aunt
Hepsibah Jumped from her chair and
looked about as If for some means Of
escape from danger. Where can
90? What can I do? never
thought, when you asked me out
here, James, that / was coming to
be swallowed up alivel I'D rather
freeze or melt back in Maine"
why, Aunt Hepsibah, never
thought of your being afraid" ex-
claimed Miriam. you have told US
stories OF Maine of catmounts and
bears and Indians that were far
worse than anything we could have
here"
Perhaps, but one has a fighting
chance there, even with bears!"
Aunt Hepsibah resented the impu-
tation of cowardice. II don't mind
QAukGE
There is really no danger, aunt. "
Mr.. Horton laid down the evening
paper to reassure his aunt. They
leave pillars of coal at stated dis
tances to hold up the roof of solid
rock, and each chamber is strongly
tfmbered. If there was any danger
people would not build here, you
see. You will soon get used to see
A. a ohnrrf -
Eyes, one could get used to liv-
ing over a volcano, suppose, but I
am not going to try. / feel as If l
was tempting Providence every min
ute 1 stay, now / know of that cave
in over in Moosic. Unless you can
tell me, ons your solemn word of
honor-James Horton-that this
house stands on top of one Of them
pillars of coal, I'll take the first
train home tomorrow morning"
"'You mustn't go until cousin Sa-
rah comes" replied Mr.. Horton,
trying to think of some way of al
laying the fears Miriam had
thoughtlessly aroused. Catherine
will come back tonight on the late
train. You know you just made
her go away for weeks rest"
"I had forgotten all about
Sarahs coming. OF course I'll
have to wait for her,
since she comes all the way from
Michigan to see me. but shall feel
as if I was tempting Providence
every minute. Howsomever, father
used to say that those born to be
drowned could never be burned. You
find out, James, if there are any
coal mines within a mile of here and
ii there are, why you just sell out
and come back to Duxbury with
me-"
Mr.. Horton laughingly assented
and then exerted himself to enter
tain the old lady until the late train
brought his wife back from her
short visit with her cousin. But aunt
Hepsibah was not easily diverted
from her fears and when she came to
the breakfast table next morning her
face was so haggard that Mr.. Hor-
ton FASTENED to re-assure her.
THE mine boss just told me that
our entire lot stands upon terra
firma. The mines run the other
way"
Aunt Hepsibah gave a sigh of re-
lief.
Then we will go to Belleview to-
day." announced Mrs. Horton. ''The
view is the finest in the county"
DO we have to go over a miner"
inquired the old lady anxiously.
mo, I think not" Mrs. Horizons
idea OF location were conveniently
vague.
Convinced that there was no
danger, aunt Hepsibah almost for
got her fears and enjoyed the ride
up the long slope to the top of the
hill and the view from the summit,
an unbroken vista of thirty miles in
all directions.
Her peace was OF short duration,
however, for the very next morning
a neighbor rushed in to tell of the
latest disaster.
miss Newcomb, in the next
block, she went down cellar after
potatoes and stepped off the lower
step right down twenty feet into
coal mine"
After that aunt Hepsibah would
not be persuaded to leave the house.
II feel tolerably safe here, on
top of one Of them pillars Of coal
and here I will stay until Sarah
comes, then back l go to Maine as
fast as the train can take me-
But auntie, can't the Lord take
care of you as well here as in
Maine?" queried Miriam.
He takes care of us, yes, but mo-
where does it read that we can ex-
pect Him to safeguard us when we
run right into danger. We do that
on our own responsibility"
II really must go down to my
dressmaker's this afternoon" re-
marked Mrs. Horton, one beautiful
day. Miriam has a music lesson.
That will leave you all alone. Won't
you go with me aunt, then we will
call on Mrs. Allerdyce, coming
home. You liked her so much"
mo thank you, l won't tempt
Providence a mite more than l have
to-" Aunt Hepsibah was as firm as
one of her Maine hills, when once
she made up her mind" Il told
the Lord if He would get me safe