Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1858-11-27

\ NUIhhuiCuaNtt = w wv BieN " Wv e'~Nt /
munf But what's upf The looks mortal
pale aud thin; hast been badlyr
Your cart--it's empty, isn't itg was the
hurried reply.
'Ay, for sure said Tom. I unloaded Z
foods down Y fair grouhd, aud now I'm for
putting Topsy into T. staple here'
The party, having followed the patient
to the door, now rapidly explained matters
10 Tow, who, with the characteristic kind
ness Of his countrymen, Immediately placed
his vehicle at his friends disposal, resumed
the reins, and would at once have set forth
In search Of the little ones; but that the
doctor insisted on the mOuntebanks having
some refreshment before he started. Eat
he could not; so he and Tom we're each
supplied with dram to keep out the cold;
the excsemen lent his large blue cloak to
father, the schoolmaster supplied him with
q thick woolen comforter; Joe Ostler pro-
duced bis Sunday boots and stockings, and
a warm sleeved waistcoat; and Mrs Daw-
son contributed pair of trowsers aud
hat that had belonged to her late husband.
The doctor having declared that unless his
patient consented to put these things on, he
eaOAAA 0C ONtatuNu Dy ululn tOlNNs lut
Hnountebank reluctantly consented to allow
Joe TO equip him in them, although his i'm
patience during the operation amounted to
agony. In few minutes his hasty toilet
was completed; Joe assisted him into the
cart; the doctor, furnished With wine and
other restoratiyes, took his seat; aud the
Ostler threw in bundle of horseclotbs aud
a spade.
Now, Topsy, old lass, as quick as thee
canst 7 shouted Tom bat the depth of snow
rendered speed impossible All the inmates
Of the Travellers Rest, except its mistress,
followed; not word was spoken; suspense
Is generally silent. The travellers had pro-
eeedcd nearly foHr miles without finding
any traces Of those when they sought,
when suddenly the mountebank, who had
hitherto been perfectly mOtionless--if we
except q quick, nervous twitehing about
she corners Of his mouth--hastily clutehed
the doctors arm, whispering: See! see!-
there ? The dOcter looked in the direction
indicated by his patient, but shook his head
The dim gray of the morning presented
nothing to his gaze but Que uubr0ken sur-
face Of snow; his vision was not sharpened
by parental love and fear. The father now
attracted TOMS attention to the same spot
and bade him drive that way. 'Seel seep
said he-their gravesr
"A snow-drift, loikely,' replied Tom
Keep up thy heart nun; we'll soon see
what it is. Gee! gee! laSsp
AS they neared the place, every one per-
ceived, indeed, mound of snow, present
ing exactly the appearance of grave; and
to complete the resemblance, there stood
Q headstone.
On! onl said the father. o Tom, drive
eni How slowly we get alongp
AT last they stopped, the mountebank
pushed aside the hands extended to assist
him, leaped wildly out of the cart, and
stood for moment silently contemplating
their grave. Joe took the spade and be-
gan removing the tall white heap that look
ed SO like headstone. In little while,
having shoveled away quantity of snow,
the top Of large drum became visible; OF
sight of this, the mountebank's face was
alternately flushed and pale, pale and flush
ed. Keen anxiety marked the conntenan-
ces of the whole party, and all eyes were
so intently fixed Oh Joe's operations, that
none had observed a receut addition to
their number 1t was a woman-young,
fair, and of an interesting appearance
Presentlment, destiny's grim shadow, had
whispered TO her the sad tale of her chill
dreu's luckless fate; and leaving the two
younger ones to the care of a neighbor, she
had set out for Eglinthorpe, resolved to
know the worst. Softly she went up to
the mountebank, gazed mournfully upon
his altered countenance-for illness and
anxiety had done their work-and pressing
his hand affectionately, she said, 'Husbandp
The effect of that one word was truly magi-
cal. The unhappy man, whose eyes were
burning with fever, and whose pent-up grief
was driving him to the very verge Of in
sanity, Gently, gently cried he, as Joe
began to dig away the snowy mound which
it was now certain covered his children
gently! Don't disdgure my pretty dar-
lings.'
Joe threw the spade down, tenderly drew
away with his hands the remainder of the
snow, and revealed to the expectant parents
the lifeless forms of their dear offspring
There they lay, as in a tranquil sleep. Al
fy's right arm encircIed his little brothers
neck; his left hand graSped firmly the col
lar Of the old coat in which they were en-
yeloped, and it was evident that to the last
the loving boy had Striven TO pull the gar
ment tightly round MidgkinS to shield him
from the cold.
Dead dead = cried the poor father, with
q groan of anguish; i knew it,
Mother fell ON her knees beside her little
ones, and covering her face with her hands
wept bitterly. The doctor lost not mo-
ment in parleying, but STOPPING down, be-
gan chafng Alfys frozen limbs. Joe p
said he, abruptly, the wine look sharp
There's hope yet
What sweet music was in that simple
sentence music that stayed the torrent Of
mothers tears, and caused fathers counte.
nance TO beam with hope. Halfa-dozer
pair of willing hands were soon employed
in using every means suggested by the doc
tor for the recuseitation OF the young sui
ferers. Happily, their earnest endeavor
were crowned with success; for anon, Alfy
half opened his eyes, and on seeing his faith
er bending anxiously over him, be said
somewhat indistinctIy as one speaks in 4
dream: Father, have you come to fetch
nsr
. Al