Johnstown Flood: An Up2U Historical Fiction Adventure
Now Mama was wiping her eyes You know whenever we get our spring rains Stony Creek goes from a gentle stream to a raging river in the blink of an eye She shuddered Thankfully the horses and cows were spared and the chickens and hens were savvy enough to stay put in the hay loft She lowered her voice It was those bold baby chicks that disobeyed their mama and got into trouble Sarah Beth felt the weight of Mama’s eyes on her Besides said Mama Papa rounded up your chicks into a coop He carried them up to the loft last night They’re safe Sarah Beth couldn’t imagine anything safe out in the barn or down in the cellar Both were filled with a foot of water and it was still rising
Sarah Beth closed her eyes and tried wishing away the rain Just then Papa opened the parlor doors and stepped inside the kitchen Mr Colbertson followed behind him Mr Colbertson and Papa were both switchmen on the Pennsylvania Railroad Mr Colbertson had sloshed his way across town and called on the family twenty minutes prior Papa had taken him into the parlor Papa patted Sarah Beth’s head He dropped a licorice whip into her hand Sarah Beth was sure it had come from the Decoration Day Parade just the day before Sarah Beth had loved marching down Main Street behind the brass band Main Street was decorated with the finest red white and blue ribbons that Johnstown had ever seen As soon as the last rap-tap-tap of the drum rang out the skies had opened up yet again
Everyone went scurrying home It had been raining ever since Mr Colbertson tipped his soggy hat to them and opened the door I’ll meet you at the depot at one o’clock Bring your lantern and rain gear You’ll be needin it alright Good bye ma’am he said Then he closed the door and disappeared in the rain Mama asked Where are you off to The railroad’s sending a work crew up to Buttermilk Pass to try to clean the tracks Papa replied Mama clenched her jaw You’ve been workin yourself nonstop since the snowfall last month Sarah Beth and her friends had enjoyed frolicking in the late snowfall But the seventeen inches agitated the crops and caused adults to fall into the foulest of moods
