The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1858-01-07
The Longest Night
BY CHARLES DICKENS. /.

lay on the ground tor weeks Wnen railways
were unknown, and the electric telegraph
had not been dreamed OF save by the specu.
lative Countess of London The mails had
been irregular for month past, and the
letter.bugs which did reach the post.ofice
had been brought thither with difficulty
The newspapers were devoid of all foreign
intelligence, the metropolis knew nothing oi
the doings of the provinces, and the provin.
ces knew little more Of the affairs of the
metropolis; but the columns of both were
crowded with accidents from the inclemen.
cy Of the weather. with heart rendiag &c.
counts OF starvation and destitution, with
wonderful escapes Of adventurous travellers,
and Of still more adventurous mail coach
men and guards. Business was almost at a
stand'stilI, or was only carried on by hts
and starts; families made uneasy by the fre.
quent 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 partial thaw al.
most caused public rejoicing; coaches be-
gan to run, letters to be dispatched and de-
livered, and weather.bound travellers to have
some hope of reaching their destination.
Among the first ladies who undertook the
journey from the west of Scotland to Lon
don at this time, was certain Miss Ster.
ling who Had, for weeks past, desired to
reach the metropolis. Her friends assured
her that I. Wcs q fOol.hardy attempt, and
told her of travellers who had been twice,
nay three times, showed up on their way to
town; but their advice phd warnings were of
no avui1; Miss sterlng's business was ur.
gent, it concerned others more than herself
and she was not one to be deferred by per.
sonal discomfort or by physical difficulties
from doinI what she thought was right.
So, she kept to her purpose, and early in
February took her seat in the mail for Lon
don, being the only passenger who was
booked 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 half of the journey was performed
pretty easily, thoaght tediousIy.
The second d:y was more trying than
the frst; the wind blew keeny, and pene
frnto nvorv crnv;cn of tho cn,cb. tbo nou
tal thaw had but slightly affected the wild
! fNtootIand they had 70 cross; thick heavy
clouds were gathering round the red ray less
sun; and when on reaching little road side
inn the snow began to fall fast, both the
GUARD and co'chman. Urged their solitary
passenger to remain there for the night, in
ateud of tempting the discom 'orts and per
hnps the perils of the next stage. Miss
Sterling hesitated for moment, but the lit
tie inn looked by no means pleasant place
to be showed up in, SO she, resisted their en-
treaties, and, gathering her furs more close,
| ly round her, she nestled herself into cor
ner of the coach. Thus, for time she lost
all consciousness of outward things in
sleep.
A sudden lurch awoke her; and she soon
learned that they fad stuck fast in snow.
drift, and that no efforts of tired horses could
extricate the coach from its unpleasant pre-.
dicament. The guard, mounting one of the
leaders set off IN search of assistance, while
the coachman comforted Miss Sterling by
telling her, that as nearly as they could cal.
culute, they were only mile or two from
'the squire'e," and that if the guard could
find his way TO the squire's, the squire was
certain to come to their rescue with hil
sledge. It was not the first time that the
squire had got the mailbags out of snow
wreath by that means. ....
TIE. coachman's expectations were fulfill
ed. Within an hour, the distant tinkliug o
the sledge bells was heard, and lights were
seen cleaning afar; they rapidly advanced
nearer and nearer; and soon hearty voict
was heard bailing them. A party Of men
with lanterns and shovels, came to their as
slstance, strong arm lifted Miss Sterlin!
from the coach, and supported her trembling
steps to sledge close at hand; and almos
bef.re she knew where she was, she foun'
herself in large hall. brilliantly lighted b!
a blaGing wood fire. Numbers of rosy glow
ing childish faces were gathered round her
numbers of bright eager eyes were gain!
curiously upon her, kindly hands were busie
in removing her wraps, and pleasant voice
welcomed her aid congratulated her on he
, escape. ..
cay, ay, Mary" said her host, addresfn
his wife, 81 told you that the sleigh woul
have plenty Of work this winter, and yo
: see was right"
"As you always are, uncle," a rerr
voice exclaimed. "We oil say at Hawtret
that Uncle Atherton never can be wrong.
"Atherton! Hawtree!" repeated Mis-
Sterling, in some amazement, "and uttere
in that familiar voice! Ellen, Ellen Middle
i ton.is II possible that YOU are herea"
t A joyful exclamation and rush into h,
= arms were the young girls ready reply
]. this question as she cried, "Uncle Atherto
|, Aunt Mary, don't you know your old frier
Miss Sterlinga" @ Sa
Mrs. Atherton fixed her soft blue eyes {
I'll the stranger, in whom she could at fir