The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1921-07-30
THE CHILDREN'S HOUR.
DROPPING DOWN THE RIVER.

i oISNe anu C0Cll6 were dropping
down" the Mississippi River when the
storm caught them, in the night.
Though they Had been dropping
down" several summers and knew
every foot of the river, they had
never been in such a storm before.
Their small shanty-boat was tossed
about and then drifted smoothly into
a quiet creek.
While Steve made the boat secure,
Cecile ran to see that their precious
cargo, little pile of re-made cloth
ing and some tables and chairs, was
safe.
Their Red Cross Chapter had sent
out a call for clothing and furniture.
Each school was to contribute a GER
tain amount and send it by chosen
representatives to Chapter Headquar-
tiers to become part of big parade
before being distributed. Steve and
his sister, who had been chosen by
their school, had decided to take ad-
vantage of some mild weather and to
go down in their shanty-boat instead
of by train.
Listen to the wind bowling out on
the river" said Steve "This is some
storm, and getting colder every min
ute'' >#
Suddenly cecile exclaimed, '1 hear
child crying"
Steve threw open the cabin door
and an icy wind cut into their faces.
His f1ashlight showed small shanty-
boat within few feet Of them. The
boy lit a lantern, threw a landing
plank from one boat to the other, and
ran to the cabin from which the cries
came In response to his excited call,
his sister hurried to his side. On a
bunk in the corner lay woman. AS
close to her as possible huddled three
little children, their faces blue with
cold
'This woman has fever" Cecile
said well have to move them all to
our boat"
"You go and build up the fire. di-
reeted Steve, "and I'll take the chill
dren over and leave them with you
while bring the mother"
The half-frozen babies crouched ST.
lently around the fire while Cecile
hastily made cocoa. Steve brought in
the woman, wrapped in his coat, her
thin form no burden to the sturdy
sixteen-year-old boy. She told them
she had been sick for several days,
4 f@ - ~
food. They covered her up in Cecile's
bunk and Steve fed the children hot
cocoa and bread while Cecile die what
she could to relieve the mother The
children were dressed in f1imsy. rag
ged clothes that were no protection
against the cold.
| seWe7l have to use some of the
salvage Clothes" Cecile decided. "Of
course it will spoil the Clearwater
School collection, but we can't help
that"
| Anyway the furniture is good
enough to take first price, said Steve,
as he went to get the clothes.
I In short time the three youngsters
we're smiling weakly under the cheer
ing influence of food and warmth.
1t was growing colder and the fire
was almost out. Knowing that the
undernourished children could not
stand much cold, Steve again went on
deck to get more wood, and came back
with a white face.
"Cecile!" he cried, 'tthe wood is
gone! 1t must have washed over
board during the storm" They look
ed at each other in horror and each
read the others thought.
ooh, Steve, how can WEI" asked
Cecile. Clearwater School has been
collecting that furniture for months
and think how hard we all worked
to fix it up!"
Yet, even as she protested, Cecile
knew that it must be done With
tears running down her cheeks, she
gathered the three sleepy babies into
her arms and listened to the Ratchet
blows which destroyed the last of
| Clearwater's salvage collection.
Only a few sticks of the furniture
were left when the morning dawned
clear, and the wind shifting to the
south, brought back the mild weather.
Soon they swung into the current and
dropped down the Big River. The
trip was uneventful. The children
recuperated quickly and their mother
was well enough to walk ashore when
they reached their destination, where
she speedily found friends on another
1 shanty-boat
Cecile and Steve reported at Red
Cross headquarters and briefly told
their story. They were urged, repeat
eddy, to take part in the parade to be
held after the prize-awarding next day,
even though they had used their sal
wage articles. Sadly, but politely,
they declined and made their way to
their aunt's house.
The next day when they were walk
| ing down the street, they turned a
corner in time to see the very begin
ming Of the parade. Cars and trucks
trolled by, and at last they heard a
burst Of cheers as there came in
sight big truck piled with straw.
On top of the straw, warm and rosy
and laughing, sat the three rescued
babies. The truck bore a pennant
with the words, "Salvage-Cl Clearwater
SchoOl-FirSt nY.ize"