The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1857-05-28

could percieve no signs Of it--there were n,
trees standing there, nothing but a few stuntet
bushes, and vines, and long grass, and thes,
were all bending with weight Of snow. The
Thought that he was beviidered, and lost OF
the mountain, and night with all its horrors
lust at hand, was by no means. pleasant re.
Election. He pressed forward as rapidly a:
practicable without any road or knowledge ol
The course, entirely bewildered. He reached
the brow Of the mountain, just as night was
drawing her dark mantle over hill and dale
but here he found the descent impractic able,
and it was with no small share Of difficulty
that he succeeded at last in finding place
whereby dsmounting, and sliding upon his
hands and feet, and forcing his poor horse over
huge stones and frightful chasm,-he made
his way to the valley beneath.
He was now in complete darkness. Briars
vines, and the deep tangled undergrowth, as
forest trees, impeded his progress. This was
an hour of trial. All hope Of reaching house,
that night, now faded from his mind. He had
no means Of obtaining fire, and, should he even
escape from panthers and wolves, Of which, as
he knew, there was no scarcity, he felt sure
that he would freeze to death before morning.
But what could he do? He stopped, and was
standing by his horse, snd shivering with cold.
He began to conclude that he had pretty well
run his race, an! must perish in the lone, wild
| ,rn,de xp;fh pooo "a xaifnase f,io last aro,x,
inst as despair was claiming him as victim,
he distinctly heard the sound OF an axe--some
one was chopping wood not SIX hundred yards
distant. Inspired with fresh hope, he pressed
forward, thinking to get to some house, or per-
haps to some hunters camp, wnere, at least,
he could find fire. In few monents he found
a road. He then mounted his horse, aud soon
saw the glimmering Of fire and heard the
voices Of children.
| Here was a small log house, with no fence
around it. There seemed to be no other house
as kitchen, meat house, CRIB, or stable, at
had. Aladwas chopping wood-six or eight
dogs barked very furiously at the stranger, as
he rode up; but were paciied by simple
word from the " cd chopper. A woman
came to the Goor. He asked her il he could
tind entertainment for the night.
.'Weli. indeed" said she, "it's a mighty
| bad chaHce!,
siBns, madam, know OF M other. It IS
very cold and dark, and Pm almost frozen.
wish TO stay, il you can only permit me to sit
by your fire."
! . .
''Yes, sir, you can stay. Wer're mighty
! poor people; but we can feed yolr horse, and
give you snch fare as we have every day"
"That'll do. madam,-it's all can ask::''
"I.lgb', sir, and come in John, (io the
boy) take this m,n's horse, and turn ont old
Speck, and pnt him IA the pen, and give him
some co-n. Ch:ldren, get ont Of the gentle
mans way! Here, sir, take that stool. We're
too pco- to have chairs!"
The floor was earthern, beaten hard and
made smooh. The chimney was Of rude con-
struction. and there was large fire of hicko-
~ logs burning, as Alfred Walton drew up be-
fore il. AT one side of the Fireplace, was a
table. made bY driving four small stakes, fork
ed at the upper end, into the ground, and lay
ing upon them two parallel poles, across
which rough oaken boards were placed. At
this table sat three men each on stool. and
in.ently engaged in game Of cards. Beside
he cards bottle aud tin cup occupied their
respective places on the table, evidently for
the convenience OF this interesting trio.
One of the men seized the bottle and cup,
and poured ont portion of ths contents OF the
former into the latter, ard offering it to Mr..
Walton, said /: = Here's something to warm
you better than the fire! Try somer'
"Thank yon. s;r,' said the preacher. " lean
soon warm by this FIRE, and 1 do not wish to
drink any spirits"
May be the young gentleman belongs to the
temperance" suggested the woman.
"f he docs," said the man, .what Of it 2
| This rs case Of necessity"
81 do not wish TO drink-thank you, sir y
said thespreacher, and commenced taking of
his snow shoes, legginss and oyercoat.
Mamma, looky herep' said little red
headed girl, as she pointed at his watch chain
(" What is it, mammal"
| "He's got two pair of shoes on one foot, ,aad
two coats,n exclaimed little boy.
"Come away, childrer!7 said the mother.
!" The poor things never see anything or any
body out here, in the woods, and they're grow.
ing mp like wolves"
The men at the table emptied the cup which
Alfred Walton had refused, and continued
their nefarious game. Their stakes seemed tc
be acorns, most probably because they had nc
money, and, for the want Of excitement, :hey
made frequent application to the potent liquid
contained 10 the bottle. They seemed to bs
I inclined TO proceed with the game, and to leave
the newly arrived to enjoy the fire. Tie wo'
man busted herself in preparing some suppeI
for the traveller; but managed to keep up /,
conversation with him, 10 which she soon
evinced curiosity to know who he was, that
some tell rs, is characteristic Of Ewes daugh
ters everywhere.
| Alfred Walton had hastily formed the cor
j ciu.ion that-as he was among gamblers ans
the profane, and could not avoid their soeiet,
| for the night--is would, perhaps, be policy il
him /" to lie low and keep dark:" to pass for
traveller, merely, and not to afford an ide
that be was a circuit preacher. The woman
however, had determined TO know who he was