A Daughter of Maryland — page 44: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Sit Py, ’ i . f ‘~ . 7 . ‘7, . oe a ~ A DAUGHTER OF MARYLAND. —99 .\Ooking very abject. From this position she was able to {ook out upon the river proper, when she was startled to find that it was several feet higher than it had been at the time she had reached the cabin, less than hour before. There was something else about its appearance that she at first did not understand. It had seemed to change its position. Then in a moment she understood what this meant. Jt was nearer the house! The soil in that vicinity being of a light, porous nature the water had eaten away huge slices of earth, until it had widened its channel to a considerable extent. Unknown to the occupants of the humble dwelling, this work of destruction had really been going on for some time. ‘*Why! it has reached the old pine!’’ exclaimed Aurian ‘*T wonder if it will-take that as it has all of the smaller trees in its way. You haven’t seen anything of Mr. Berners, aunty?’ — ‘*Habn’t see a soul, honey, but yo’ own bressed self. Do yo’ s’pose we sa’ll all be washed away, Missus Orry?’’ ‘Oh, no; I think not. At any rate we must keep up good courage. Isn’t Uncle Frost calling to you?’’ Seeing there was no possible way of escape, Aurian continued to watch the downpouring rain and the work of the river which kept up its ravenous attacks on the little summit of land like some hungry monster devouring its prey. The look of anxiety deepened on her countenance as she saw the rapidity with which the water was eating away the bank. ‘*It is undermining the old pine fast. How I wish the rain would stop. Where can Mr. Berners have gone? [ suppose he was somewhat offended at the way I left him, But if I had stopped another moment I should not have > got here in season to have escaped the torrent. ’’ For two long, tedious hours Aurian watched the storm: and the river, joined in her lonely vigil ever and anon by the half frantic Aunt Debby. comict MEM Wapato Ge anata arch esate Mie sa i i ROTOR LN VOOM da abi a AS rina ele Ice tags ATG Lia cape Ta SN ae yt} } uy k : ‘ ! Ww cS AN yy \ . rt