"ROCK-A-BYE BABY ON THE TREE TOP."
One day last summer, down in Texas, there was a fearful storm. It was a windstorm. The wind was so strong that it earned roofs of houses, and such things, a great way.
When it was over, some men set out to follow the track of the storm. One of them told this true story. They thought they might find things that the wind had dropped; and they might find some one hurt and in need of help.
It was near night, and quite dark in the woods, when they heard a cry. They stopped to look heard the cry and then they saw some dark thing up in a tree.
"It is a panther!" said one. "Stand off! I will shoot!"
"No; stop!" said another; "it is not a panther. I will climb up and see what it is."
Up he went; and what do you think he found, lodged in the tree!
A cradle with a dear little baby in it! The fearful wind had blown down the baby's home. It had carried off baby, cradle and all. The cradle was caught by a branch of the high tree.
Then the wind blew against it so hard that the cradle was wedged in a crotch of the tree. It was so fast that the men had to saw away the boughs to get it down.
There was the dear baby, all safe and sound, in its cradle nest No one knew where the baby's friends were, or where its home had been. The men carried it to their home, and a kind woman took care of it.
Are you not glad that the poor little baby was saved in the tree? If the cradle had fallen to the ground, you know, the little one might have been killed. Was it not a good thing that the men heard the baby cry?