Woman's enterprise., 1921-08-19
STORY FOR BOYS =.
(By Virginia Bransford)

ooWn on the pare mead of Sarah ROl-
Inns, as she drove her little biddies
to cool shelter.
Sarah loved all little things; her
heart yearned with a longing for a
little child, and Dan Rollins, her hus-
band, never spoke of little children in
her presence, for he did not like to
see the far away look in her wistful
eyes when he did; no little one had
come to bless this humble home, and
Sarah's heart was sad because of it..
Bye and bye the clouds began to
gather, and rain drops fell, but in
stead Of getting cooler, it became close
and hot, mutterings Of thunder filled
the air, green clouds formed in the
northwest, and lightning in vivid
flashes played back and forth along
the sky.
Dan, knowing how Sarah dreaded
these sudden storms, took his horses
to shelter, and went home. He
stopped to exmaine the door of the
storm pit as he passed it, and tried
to put on CHEEKY look as came in
whistling.
Dan was a patient, plodding man,
devoted to his wife, and did all he
could to make up to her for the sepa-
ration from her people in the far east
from which she had come several
years before.
Great gusts of wind, constantly
getting stronger, and nearer togeth-
er, came with force against the farm
house; the sky got darker and darker
"Come on Dan lets go to the storm
pit" urged Sarah.
Dan always thofght it loked cow
ardly to run to q storm pit, but to
please his wife, he put his arm
around her, to keep her from being
blown away. He led her to the
mouth Of the pit, raising the great
door, he put her gently on the top
step which led down, then just as the
storm broke in it's fury, he closed the
top door and descended.
The cool air came rushing in from
the tubes that led to the out side;
the pit was beautifully ceiled with
strong plank. Dan had done that job
himself.
A comfortable cot had been placed
for Sarah, and a quilt and pillow, a
rush bottom chair for Dan.
A shelf held the strong box that
contained matches and candles. On
the wall was rack, where the axe
and saw were kept.
Sarah kept a whole side for her
preserves and jellies, and such things
as had to be kept in cool place.
Sinking on her knees beside the cot,
Sarah knelt in silent prayer for the
safety Of those who had no such
shelter, just as Dan knew she would;
he sat with his face buried in his
hands and waited-waited, for the
storm to cease. 80 -~.
Dan climbed the steps, and with
fear in his heart, undid the clasp that
held the door. It yielded to hi:
strength, nothing had blown acros:
it. 50 he had no use for the axe ant
saw on the rack.
Looking towards the barn he saw
to his dismay that only the bare 10
was there. Next his eyes sought tn
old farm house, part Of which wa
standing. Being sick at heart hi
was about to descend and break a
we'll as he could to Sarah their loss
when an object caught his attention
there lying in full view Of the pi
was the tiny form Of a baby, lying o.
it's side, it's little body nearly nude
and the rain beating down upon it.
With one rush Dan reached il
snatching it up in his arms he rushe
to the pit, calling to Sarah, and sh
with outstretched arms received tn
little form; they found its heart beat
ing family. Some brandy was gotte'
from the shelf, and tiny drops wer
diluted and forced down its throat
it's limbs were briskly rubbed, an
the quilt was lovingly folded aroun
it. Little by little the life blood be
gan to flow, and two violet eyes op
ened into the yearning eyes Of Sara
Rollins.
Dan, leaving behind all thought
his demolished property, went i
search of the doctor. Calls for tn
good old physician were coming i
from all sides, for there was loss Q
life and much injury to many in tn
wake Of the storm, but he could nc
turn Dams plea aside.
The baby lived, and Sarah's hear
was so full Of love for the little vino
h1own stranger that Dan had all tn