Freaks of Fortune

in the vicinity. Aunt Susan was in the kitchen baking her weekly batch of brown brea

and get that little saw-mill I made

up the old brick oven with pine wood, which cra

there now

you put it there; I

ittle piece of candle

e candlestick on the mantel-tr

ot long," replied Levi, taking the piece of c

e was growling because his wife used so much wood to heat the oven, and Levi concluded not to see him that day, for he seemed to be in a more than usually unamiable frame of mind. He went out at th

t in the attic, to the intense delight of Bessie, who was quite ready to vote another feather for the cap of the hero. A piece of board was adjusted on the carriage

hat smoke?" ex

" shouted several

extend any further courtesies to his fair companion, he bounded

wing up pails of water to throw on the fire. Aunt Susan and Mat Mogmore were assisting him, and in a few moments several other

ue as you live!" groaned the m

it," replied Levi, in encouraging tones, as he dashed a bucket of

use! It's j

, and we shall be all right in a f

miser, as he dropped the em

is lips were blue and ashy, and his frame was motionless. Levi was alarmed by his appearance. He was either dead or had fainted, and the young man saw that he must be removed. Lying down by the side of the senseless form, he clasped his arms aroun

reached the ladder, two men had mounted the roof, and while one of them was directed to pour water on the fire, the other assisted in bearing the miser

S POSITIO

use. His post was in the midst of danger, and he went up on the roof. A plentiful supply of wate

aled in the house. The miser had worked with the energy of desperation to put out the fire, until the flames appeared to be gaining upon him, and then he was in despair. At this point the thought of his g

en death seemed preferable to losing such a vast sum of money. His god appeared to be riven from him, and the revulsion in his

e old ladies who had ministered to him, was just regaining his consciousness, but had not yet sufficiently recovered to know what had happened to him. The house wa

that the water should not drip down upon it from above. When Levi came back, he found Dock Vincent and Mat Mogmore removing the bed from his uncle's chamber.

ake fire, Lev

t had a tremendous

the poor old man, as he reeled up the road in his

bout it, I suppos

pale and ghastly as death itself; and upon it there was an expression of the most intense

house, and not much damage has been done t

Levi and Bessie followed him into the house. The wretched miser rushed into his chamber. Mat Mogmore was there, and seemed

ed the hiding-place of his money. That dark hole was the temple of his god, and all his hopes seemed to be shrou

Fairfield; but it's lucky it ain

ough," groan

t coming down from the ledges when I saw the smoke; and

you, I'm willing to help as m

d, who only desired that the neighbors would leave, so

ser. Levi was in the kitchen with Mrs. Fairfie

in dismay at the water which was still dripping down from above. "It'll take a whole

re in the oven, aun

chimbly, and your uncle fixed it e'enamost a month ago. I don't know nothin' what he

owl from her husband, who at this moment rushed into the kitchen,

" groaned the

and, what's the matter

ne!" gasped

s all

he replied

on his legs, and Levi sprang to his assista