The Litchfield County post. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1826-1829, 1826-12-05


Of fatigue, over the soft flecsy snow with
the rapidly ofsa Chamois, and gails8a.
brcathless and exhausted, the door Dc tie
nearest hut.
He knocked long and loudly, knowing
from experience how sound and dreamIeSs
are the slumbers Of the peaceful herdsmen;
but hesknocked IN vain. No human voice
answered bis frantic summons, though the
low stlfied growing of a dog within soon
swelled to the indignant baying Of the
guardian OF his masters property. The
truth flashed on one well acquainted with
pastoral customs. The advanced season.
and threatening appearance of the sky.had
that day caused the herdsmen to emiarate
with their focks to the lower pastures. and :
the faithful dog remained till they should
return on the morrow for such part of their
simple store IS they had been unable tore-
move.
Franz stood rooted, in all the agony Of
disappointment; but while HE hesitated
whether to break open the frail door ii
Iqnest af retreshneu 1T least for his faintine
Icompanion, the equally slight wintlow PAVE
egresss to the alarmed sentinel from with
in, who, IN all the grandeur and majesty Of
his race, stood a moment eying the iftru-
der, as ifdeferred more by his familiar carb
than by the rifle in his hand, from springine
upon him. 1t was shaggy dog of the ST.
Bernard breed, and of uncommon size and
strength; and distracted as was the mind
of Franz, he thought he recollected having
seen him before.
The sight of the snow seemed to delight
the noble animal, and divert it even from
ITS post OF watchfulneSs; and while itrOlIed
its huge body in the familiar element, and
seemed rather to enjoy than defy the tenn
lpest, Franz cautiously entered the hut. and
seizing precipitately flask Of kirsehudsser,
which he saw on a shelf, few down the
slopes rather mechanically whistling for the
dog as a relief TO his solitude, than aware
ct the powerful ally he was enlisting H. bis
service.
/ There was a lulI in the tempest as he
}entered the defilc. The moon struggled
with sickly glimmer through the driving
Iswrack; and he could see far before him
over the now nearly uniform sheet Of snow.
But not a trace Of i human being was yisi-
BILE, nor didsthe spof where he thought he
had left Clara, present even yesfige Of
the tall slaves which he had sui Us 10 in
sure arecognition. Al shudder crept over
his frame, and re felt as If lin leaving
Clara he had been her murderer
He ran with frantic eagerress Y, and isc. !.
(rackeds his memory forskhe Signs indicative
of To spot II sought Ia vaiiato RECOGNISE. 4
and In his despair called loudly On the in
sensible and buried Clara. She answered
not-but Providence, when mans aid was
vain, had sent her q deliyerer from The
brute creation. The dog, who, in follow
ss,vE &c. Il
his own amusement than the inclinations
| of Stranger, no sooner heard the shrill
cry of evident distress, than with the admi-
Irable instinct ofhis race, improved by some
years residence with the good fathers Of
St. Bernard, he dashed through every OBJ
stacle, ploughed up the snow with his bold
front, and eagerly, yet cautiously. CROPPED
among it with his feet. His efforts, which
! Franz beheid with pious gratitude, were for
some time vague and unsuccessful; at
length their increasing energy indicated a
positive scent; he bounded over interve-
ming hillccks, and on spot which Franz
had twenty times passed over, $50 changed
was its aspect during his absence, )lbegan
to remove the snow with his paws withthe
dexterity of pioneer, and the tender
1iness Of q mother towards her sleeping
child isseG 80
EG Aglimpse Of the cloak which Franz had
suspended over Clara, suficed to make
him Join with heart and hand in the efforts
of bis gallant comrade. The cloak was
\ soon wholly disinterred, and beneath it's
friendly shelter, Clara lay, projected ~ II
from immediate contact with the chill sur
/ face Of the snow, but of course thoroughly
benumbed and insensible. Franz had inn
mediate recourse to the bottle he had
snatched from the hut. To make her
swallow any part Of its reyiving contents
was beyond his power; but the stimulus af-
forded by chatting with il her feet and
hands, seemed not wholly Intellectual; and
the dog, coiling himself, after thousand
Joyful demonstrations, into huge fIeecy
bali beside her, served by his opporfune
warmth to assist the progress Of restored
animation.
!. Tho storm was passed, and the moon
shining brightly i'm an again unclonded
heaven ; 50 that Franz could deliberately
seek spot to which he might bear Clara,
till her recruited strength should permit
her to accompany him 70 tho Gkalsts.
4 Not far from him ha dascr;ad = 2nyt az