Dolley Madison

“The White House is on fire!” yelled the servant from the kitchen area.

“Mrs. Madison, you must leave at once!”

Dolley turned around and watched as the kitchen burst into flames. The fresh biscuits for dinner were gone. The spaghetti, and soon the house, would go up in flames. As she glanced around, she realized that history would be lost, if she did not act quickly. She had to think fast.

Up the stairs she ran, grabbing the original oil painting of George Washington from the wall. It could not be redone. It could not be replaced.

Smoke billowed up the stairs.

“Madam,” her servant cried. “Hurry! Run!”

Dolley nearly lost her footing at that very minute, but caught the banister. Smoke filled her nose, her eyes, and her mouth. She tried to breathe.

“Just get to the front door, and everything will be all right,” she heard herself mutter. One foot in front of another . . . .

“Madam, where are you?”

“I’m here, Susanna.”

“Follow the sound of my voice!”

Dolley followed the sound of her voice and soon reached the doors of the White House. Her lungs filled with air as she sprinted across the lawn with her coat flapping in the breeze. Her husband smiled as he saw her hurry across the lawn.

Under her arm was the precious painting of George Washington. Even in disaster, his amazing lady, Dolley, had saved a piece of history