Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1841-07-29

hangin' over a cheer by the kitchen fire.
place Pm afeared you trod on The cat Us
you come up, didn't you l-Goodness gra-
cious me how cold il is How the wind
blows 7
Having admonished Mrs. Quaintley not
to stand talking IN the cold, ! hurried into
my office, prepared few medicines, en-
veloped myself in coats, overcoais, cloaks,
,ppets and comforters, and seizing buff
falo robe, went to the stable to assist
Flummery. Ny poor old horse had jus,
got upon his legs, and as he did so, he
shook himself, and fetched a deep, heart
felt groan. 'It is cruel business on all
hands, FIummery,' said !, but especially
so for Codger.'
Yes, master, pretty hard for Codger,
and for you too, MASTER
In a few moments was ready, and
drove out Of the gate at "A snaiFs pace,
having Turk with me. This was young
bull dog that thought great deal OF. !
liked the idea ofhaving some living thing
near me on that dreary night, and the
warmth impaired to the feet was not a
secondary consideration. 1t was impossl-
bic TO see beyond few yards, owing to
the drifting snow and sleet. Oh! how
the winds raved, and howled, and swept
through the top of my sulkey, as If they
woud have actually carried it away and
several times my horse was brought to q
stand, unable to oppose their violence, and
ben; his head tothe earth until they should
have passed by. He had carried me
about hall the journey, having been on
the road an hour or more, when he sud-
denly stopped, not by the force of the
winds, but OF his own accord !; and not
withstanding my urgent entreaty, reso-
lutely refused to advance another step.
The place was a cold, bleak meadow, far
from human habtatlon, and the only al
tentative appeared to be, TO advance or
perish on the road. jerked the reins
and applied the whip, but when every en-.
deavor TO urge him on proved fruitless, !
sat still in silent despair, and looked at
the cold moon, struggling dmly at inter
walls through the heavy drifting clouds,
and spoke to the dog who lay whining and
whimpering at my feet.
AT last, summoning up energy, This
will never do, said and sprang out.
examined the harness in every part by
the ligh; of u lan,ern which had with
me. 1t was oil right. then seized the
horse by the head, but he drew back with
a spirit and determination which had
never seen him manifest before. Happen
ing to cast my eye downward, saw the
tide coursing at my very feet, bearing on
its bosom large cakes of ice, which were
carried along by the force OF the current.
The bridge had been carried away by
the late lreshet, and | remembered that
the messenger had advised me to take a
different road. Thanking a kind Provl.
dence Tor having preserved me from de-
structiop, retraced my steps mile to
where another road branched off; and
here seriously debated the propriety OF
prosecuting my journey any farther; but
a sense Of duty urged me on, to contend
against all obstacles. was so fortunate,
however, as to meet with nothing serious
until reaching turnpike gate, which be-
ing thrown wide open, passed through,
never stopping 10 pay the toll. But the
pikeman had heard the ratling Of wheels,
and rushed out, bare- footed, and clad on
Iy in a long shirt.
Halo = shouted he, IN an eager voice.
| halted abruptly, and counted out
three ponce into his trembling hand.
'Bom'nabe cold night = said he, hold
ing up the pennies close 10 his eyes and
turning them over in the dim light oil the
moon.
Yes replied !, laughing in spite Of
myself, at tho ridiculous figure which he
cut. My little Turk appeared affected
in like manner, and without giving any
intimation OF what he was about to DO,
sprans from the sulkey and seized the
pikeman's garments. verify thought
that he would have pulled it oil his back.
The man hoped about IN his bare ieet,
fiirhtened Out of his seven senses, and
raised grea, alarm, which brought his
wife out also and at the instant the dog
returning to his place under the buffalo
skin, inflicted on Codger a terrible thwack
and departed. Onward, onward we went,
at the rate Of four miles an hour, but were
now happily approaching the journeys
end, for heard the booming Of the Allan
tic waves, as their deep bass mingled with
the wntry winds. Bravo = exclaimed |,
speaking 10 Turk and to Codger, on arriv-
ing at the place of destination, and seeing
a light in the window Of the house here
we are at last, in spite of all obstacles
and for myself, may be tho means OF
saving low-beng's lie.
Buoyed up by this hope, pulled the
latch OF the kitchen door and went in.
Thoroughly chilled, my first object was
TO get warm; and Notwithstanding every
in few minutes my fingers
burned. and tingled, and panied me TO
such degree that could have wept, as
| often have done when child, on the
same account. A negro was hanging
over tho fire, half supplied by the heat,
who answered my inquiries as well as ne
could, rubbing his eyes open with his fists.
Presently woman came down with a
dim light in her hand, but made no more
of me than if had come only hundred
yards. Sho said the patient had been
kind O. niling' for week or more, and
didn't seem to have any relish for his
witiles;' whereas he generally had won
derlul appetite TO eat. But this evening
he was stomach sick, and thought that
he required doctorin.' Just at present he
was in sound and pleasant sleep, and