Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1854-04-14
abe 4ailg Spy,
FRIDAY. APRIL IA, 1854.
The Longest Night in n Life.
RY CHARLES DICKRNs.


It was one of those old-fashioned winters,
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 speculative
Countess of London. The mails had been ir-
regular for month past, and the letter bags
which did reach the post-ofice had been
brought thither with difficulty. The news
papers were devoid of all foreign intelligence
the metropolis knew nothing Of the doings of
the provinces, and the provinces knew little
more of the affairs of the metropolis; but the
columns of both were crowded with accidents
from the inclemency Of the weather, with
heart-rending accounts of starvation and des-
titution, with wonderful escapes of adventure
Gus travellers, and of still more adventurous
mailcoachmen and guards. Business was al
most at standstill or was only carried on by
fits and starts; families were made uneasy by
the frequent long silence of their absent mem
bers, and the poor were stuff ing great misery
from cold and famine.
The south road had been blocked up for
nearly a month, when partial thaw almost
caused public rejoicing; coaches began to
run, letters to be dispatched and delivered,
and weatherbound travellers to have some
hope of reaching their destination.
Among the first ladies who undertook the
journey from the west of Scotland to London,
at this time, was q certain Miss Stirling, who
had for weeks past, desired to reach the me.
tropolis. Her friends assured her that it was
a foolhardy attempt, and told her of travellers
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 deter
red by personal discomfort or by physical diff
culties from doing what she thought was
right
So she kept to her purpose, and early in
February took her seat in the mail for London,
being the only passenger who was booked for
the whole journey.
The thaw had continued for some days; the
roads, though heavy, We're open; and with the
aid of extra horses here and there, the first half
OF the journey was performed pretty easily,
though tediously.
The second day was more trying than the
first; the wind blew keenly, and penetrated
every creyice 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 sun; and when,
on reaching little roadside inn the snow be-
gan to fall fast, both the guard and coachman
for the night instead of tempting the discom-
forts and perhaps the perils of the next stage.
Miss Stirling hcsitated for moment, but the
little inn looked by no means a pleasant place
to be showed up in, so she resisted their en-
treaties, and gathering her furs more closely
round her, she nestled herself into corner of
thecoach. Thus, for time, she lost all con-
seriousness of outward things in sleep.
A sudden lurch awoke her and she soon
learned that they had stuck fast in a snow
drift, and that no efforts of the tired horses
could extricate the coach from its unpleasant
predicament. The guard, mounting one of
the leaders, set off in search Of assistance,
while the coachman comforted Miss Stirling
by telling her, that as nearly as they could
calculate, they were only mile or two from
''the squire's,' and that if the guard could
find his way to the squire's, the squire was
certain to come to therresc with his sledge.
1t was not the first time that the squire had
got the MALL bags out of a snow wreath by
that means.
The coachman's expectations were fulfilled.
Within an hour, the distant tinkling of the
sledge bells was heard, and lights were seen
cleaning affair." they rapidly advanced nearer
and nearer; and soon a hearty voice was
heard hailing them. A party of men, with
lanterns and shovels, came to their assistance,
a strong arm lifted Miss Stirling from the
coach, and supported her trembling steps to a
sledge close at hand and almost before she
knew where she was, she found herself in a
large hall, brilliantly lighted by a blazing wood
fire. Numbers Of rosy glowing childish faces
were gathered round her, numbers of bright
eager eyes were gazing curiously upon her,
kindly hands were busted in removing her
wraps, and pleasant voices welcomed her and
congratulated her on her escape.
'Ay, ay, Mary, said her host, addressing
his wife, j told you that the sleigh would
have plenty of work this winter, and you see
L was right.
As you always are, uncle merry voice
exclaimed. We all say at Hawtree, that I'm
Gle Anterior never can be wrong
Anterior Hawtree 7 repeated Miss Stir
ling, in some amazement, and uttered in that
familiar voice Ellen, Ellen Middleton, is it
possible that you are heree
A joyful exclamation and rush into her
arms were the young girls ready reply to this
question as she cried, Uncle Anterior, Aunt
Mary, don't you know your old friend Miss
Strlings'
Mrs. Anterior fixed her soft blue ewes on
the stranger, in whom she could at first scarce
ly recognize the bright haired girl whom she
had not seen for eighteen or twenty years;
but by and by she satisfied herself that, though
changed, she was Ellen Stirling still, with
the same sunny smile and the same laughing
eyes that had made every one love her in her
school days. Heartfelt indeed were the greet
lngs which followed, and cordial the welcome
Mrs. Anterior gave her old friend as she con-
graduated herself on having dear Ellen under
her own roof; more especially as she owed
this good fortune to Mr.. Atherton's exertions
in rescuing her.
&C 1t is the merest chance, too, that he is at
home at present. she said I" he ought to
have been in Scotland, but the state of the
roads in this bleak country has kept him pris-
oner here for weeks
"And others as well, Ellen Middleton adj
ded; "but both children and grown people
are only too thankful to have SO good an ex-
cuse for staying longer at Belheld." And
then, laughing, she asked Aunt Mary how
she meant to dispose of Miss Stirling for the
night for the house was as full already as it
could hold.
"Oh," said her aunt g we shall manage
very well. Bel6eld is very elastic
She smiled as she spoke, but it struck Miss
Stirling that the question was, nevertheless, a
puzzling one, SO she took the first opportunity
Of entreating her to take no trouble on her ac-
count chair by the fire was really all the
she cared for, as she wished to
be in readiness to pursue her journey as soon
as the coach should proceed.
eve shall be able to do better for you than
that, Elem Mrs. Anterior answered cheer
fully. 81 cannot, it is true, promise you
state room,' for every bed in the house is
full, and know you will not allow any one
to be moved for your convenience; but have
ana chalnbar still Mt vour sarvinr which ex