Beadle's Dime Novels No. 35: East and West — page 62: what you’re looking at

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

62 THE BEAUTY OF WILLARD’S MILL. increased the strangeness of the scene, by showing all its most appalling features. The only dry land visible between the bluffs and the river was the top of the ridge leading down the creek. As the house stood on the lower, that is, most depressed end of this ridge, it was surrounded by this time on all sides. The new foundations and the lumber were ‘ floating widely about the bottom. About an hour after daylight the flat-boat returned, bring- ing a freight of several persons, whom Constance recognized as her acquaintances of the log-cabin by the slough—all but the boy, Ike—/e was missing, though it was hoped he had been picked up by the others, or In some way escaped to a settlement up under the bluffs. These poor, homeless chil- . dren, and their parents, were feceived joyfully by the family, and made warm and comfortable. The presence of somebody needing their protection, more troubled and tried than them- selves, seemed to inspire new life and hopefulness. Even the cowardly Constance found comfort in administering assistance to these poor people, whose house had been washed all to pieces by the wind-driven waves, and was now floating in fragments over the prairie. “You can no longer regret your usefulness, Mr. Harris,” said Minnie, at the first opportunity. “No, thank God! not quite so mutch as formerly. But are you pleased with me for it, Minnie ?” “Did you do it to please me?” asked the young girl, soberly. “Tm afraid I did, Minnie. I think Wat did, too,” he added, eyeing her closely. “Then I regret it for both of you,” she said, turning away with dignity. conmiclooks.com