How Brave The Irish Heart

   "I think I'll take a look around before I turn in, Sadie. The river has been risin' steadily all afternoon and evenin', so it has, and I'd better take a look at the hencoop. I guess I ought to tie it up some anyhow. Will you light the lantern for me while I put on me boots?"

     It was a nightly custom with James to look around the place, just as Sadie took a last look around the house before she went to bed, James went outside to do his chores.

     "I'll be back shortly, you go on to bed. I'll turn out the light when I'll be comin' back in," And he started out the door.

     "Don't be long, will you, James? It's so vera dark out this night."

     Sadie turned towards the bedroom and started to take down her hair. Then thinking better of it, she went back out into the kitchen and sat down to wait for him to come in. He was longer  than  she expected, so she got up and went over to the window and looked out, but she could see nothing. It was pitch dark. Then she sat down again. She was tired, she wished James would hurry, it never took him so long before. If he didn't come soon, she would have to go out and help him. Maybe he had to tie the hencoop after all.

     She waited a few minutes longer and then went to the window again. She couldn't see the light from the lantern. Maybe he was inside. She went back to her chair, her head began to nod and she dozed a little. When she woke up it was fifteen minutes later. A quarter after ten and James hadn't come in.

     Her heart skipped a beat. Then another.

     "What was keeping him? What could have happened to keep him so long? Nothin' serious, I hope," she thought to herself with a feeling of premonition.

     She stood up and looked around her, then she threw her shawl around her shoulders and went out. It was cold and dark, darker than she had ever seen it before and James had the lantern with him. She knew where the hencoop was, so she started down the steep path. If she followed the path, she knew whe would find the hencoop alright because it stood directly at the end. She walked until she stood  in water over her shoe tops. Her feet were getting wet, she must have left the path she thought. She looked back. No, the path was there, but where was the coop? It must have disappeared. Perhaps washed down by the river. And where was James?

     She called, "James, James-s-s-s, where are you?"

     "Out here, Sadie, the posts have given way just as I stepped back into the coop to get the lantern. Get some help, quick. Get the pole, the floor has begun to tear apart and I'll not be able to hold on much longer. Hurry," answered James.

     "I'll get the pole, will it be long enough?"

     Stumbling and falling, getting up and circling around the yard she went. She had lost her direction and was not quite sure where she was going. Then she fell over something on the ground. The clothes pole, frozen in the snow so that it was leaning near the ground. She picked it up and started back. Tears were making frozen tracks down her face. She must hurry if she were to save him.

     "Call to me, so I can get me bearings. I lost them in me turnings."

     "Right here, Sadie, this way. The ropes that I tied are straining and are pretty taut. They're goin' to snap."

     "Here, James, catch hold now, it's the longest pole that I could find. You got it? Hold tight while I pull."

     "I've got it, now pull