Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1854-06-16
MISC
The Longest Night in n Life.
by CHARLES DICKENS.

in the days of the Georges, when the snow
lay on the ground for weeks, when railways
were unknown, and the electric telegraph
had not been dreamed of save by the spccula-
tive Countess of London The mails had
been irregular for Il month past, and the let
ter bags which did reach the post-oflice had
been brought thither with difficulty. The
newspapers were devoid Of all foreign intel
ligcnce, the metropolis knew nothing of the
doings of the provinces, and the provinces
knew little more of the affairs of the mctrop-
oils; but the columns of both were crowded
with accidents from the inccmcncy Of the
weather, with heart-rending accounts of star
vation and dcstitution, with wonderful cs-
capes of adventurous travellers. and of still
more adventurous maicoachmcn and guards
Business was almost at standstill, or was
only carried on by fits and starts families
were made uneasy by the frequent long silence
| Of their absent members, and the poor were
suffering great misery from cold and famine
The south road had been blocked up for
nearly month, when Tartial thaw almost
caused public rejoicing; coaches began to
run, letters to be dispatched and delivered
and wcathcrbound travellers to have some
hope of reaching their destination.
Among the first ladies who undertook the
Journey IRON the west of Scotland to London
at this time was certain Miss Stirling. who
, h,d C,r vccks r,lst. desired 70 Tc;tcn the me-
,r,,r'I;s Urr iiicuds assured her that it wa :
a fnolhardv attempt, and told her of travel
lcrs who had been twice, nay three times,
showed up ON their way to town; but their
advice and warnings were of no avail; Miss
Strings business was urgent, it concerned
others more than herself, and she was not
one to be deferred 10y personal discomfort or
by physical difficulties from doing what she
thought was right.
So. she kept to her purpose, and early in
February took her scat in the mail for Lon
don, being the only passenger who was book
| ed for the whole journey.
The thaw had continued for some days
the roads, though heavy, were open; and
with the aid of extra horses here and there
the first half of the journey was performed
pretty easily though tcdiously,
The second day was more trying than the
first: the wind blew kccnlv, and penetrated
| every crcvice of the coach the partial thaw
| had but slightly affected the wild moorland
| they had to cross thick heavy clouds were
| gathering round the red rayless SUM- and
| when on reaching a little roadside inn the
! snow begun to fall fast, both the guard and
coachman urged their solitary passenger t.
| remain there for the night, instead of tempt
ing the discomforts and perhaps the perils o
/
moment. but the little inn looked by no meant
a pleasant place for to be showed up in, ST
| she resisted their entreaties, and gathering
| her furs more closely round her, she nestled
| herself into n corner of the coach. Thus, fo
a time she lost all consciousness of outward
things in sleep.
A sudden lurch awoke her and she 500,
learned that they had stuck fast in "a snoy
drift. and that no efforts Of the tired horse
could cxtricate the coach from its unpleasan
prcdicamcnt. The guard, mounting one O
the leaders, set of in search Of assistance
while the coachman comfurted Miss Stirlin
| by telling her, that as nearly as they coul
calculate, they were only mile or two frol
the sauire's,' and that if the guard coul
find his way to the squirc's, the squire wa
certain to come to their rescue with hi
sedge 1t was not the first time that tn
squire had got the mail-bags out of a sno
wreath by that means
The coachman 8 expectations were fulfilled
Within an hour, the distant tinkling Of I'll
sledge bells was heard and lights were see
cleaning afar they rapidly advanced near,
and nearer; and soon hearty voice WI
heard hailing them. \ party Of men. wit
lanterns and shoyels, came to their assis
ance, Il strong arm lifted Miss Stirling fro
the coach, and supported her trembling stel
. to sle0ne Cl'lH' 1T manu- anu almost Iclu
she knew where she was she found herself
a large hail. brilliantly lighted by blazir
wood fire. Numbers Of rosy glowing childi,
faces were gathered round her, numbers
bright eager eyes were gazing curously up,
her, kindly hands were busted in rcmovil
!. her wraps, and pleasant voices welcomed h
IT and congratulated her on her escape
'Av, ay, Mary, said her host, addressil
his wife, told you that the sleigh wou
have plenty of work this winter, and You 5
| was right.
As you always are, uncle, merry Vol
exclaimed We all say at llawtrcc. I'll
Y Uncle Atherton never can he wrong,
.Atherton liawtree repeated Miss st
ling, in some amazement, and uttered
that familiar voice Ellen, Ellen Middlet,
is it possible that You are here !
\ ioviul exclamation and rush into |
arms were the young girls ready reply
this question as she cri ID, Uncle Athert,
Aunt Mary, don't you know your old frir
Miss Stirlingr
Mrs. Atherton fixed her soft blue eyes
the stranger, in whom she could at Fl
scarcely recognize the bright haired girl VIII
she had not seen for eighteen OF twenty yea
but bv and by she satisfied herself tn
= though changed she was Ellen Stirling st
with the same sunny smile and tie sa
laughing eyes that had made every one L
81. her in her school days Heartfelt ind
were the greetings which followed, and {
dial the welcome Mrs. Athcrton gave her
friend a- she congratulated herself ON hay
dear Ellen under her own roof; more er
las ciallv as she owed this good fortune to
~, Atherton's exertiuns in rescuing her.
- 1t is the merest chance, too, that he II
at home at present, she said he ought
ice, have been in scotland, hut the state OF
;es, roads in this bleak country has kept him +
tes' oner here for weeks
''o- And others as well, Ellen Middleton