Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1859-02-12

y" oS' i"oo VI ohlppeF 0eOFges uduS u
ter turned up to her father, with tears
swimming in both eyes and glistening
on her cheek. She had come up be-
hind, and now possessed herself quietly
OF her fathers hand
So we turned back, and the minis
ter WI us, ('twas cruel night to be
out in,) and the wind almost took and
lifted us, and sot us down by the foot
O. the path over the rudge; but when
we got atop here, and it coined ath-
wart, it brought us all down kneelun'
and we could scarce get over to the
door. The poor mother got up from
the chimleY-corner and came forward,
but she needn' ask anythin'; and there
was very pretty thing by the fire,
(this girl was little thing, fast asleep,
but there was pretty young thing
there) that never got up or looked
round twas Milly Ressle, that was
trothpIight to James. They was to
have been married in a week, ef the
Lord willed; and twas for 'e's house
we were drawan out the timber. She
just rocked herself on the bench
She's gone, long enough ago, now sir!
SO the minister took the book and
read bit. I heard un and [ didn'
un; for [ was aw'y out upon the stormy
waters WI the poor young men. Oh,
what nigkt it was! it's no use! bIowun
and bellowun and ireezun, and ice all
along shore to leeward!
Well, then, sir, about two hours O.
night there coined lull, and then there
was a push or shake at the door, and
another-and another-alld another
$50 it was, we all thought,) and then
the door banged open. Twas naw-
thing but cold blasts coined in. and
then a lull agen for second or two
So I shut to the door; and the poor
mother broke ont acryun, and poor
Milly fell over and slipped right down
upon the hearthstone. We had q heavy
time Of it that night, sir; but when the
door banged open that time, this child,
that was q little then, lyun upon the
beech sleepun, made soart OF eurgle
like, when the first sound coined to the
door, and when the flaws O wind coined
in she smiled, and smiled agen, and
laughed as eff body my be sayun
pooty things to her in d'y time. Jesse
sid it, and plucked me by the coatsleeye,
and sid il, too.
"Well, sir, night passed zee may be
sure we didn' sleep much on'y cat maps;
and once Or twice | failed into kind
Of dwall, and started, thinkun they
was speakun to me. Mornun coined
slow and cold, colder than night. So
the neighbors coined III at mornun, and
sat by; and now and agen one 'ould
say they were fine young men; and
after bit another'd say James was a
brave heart, and how he saved a boats
crew three years ago, scullen them into
BY Harbor; and so they said how he
began to teach in Sunday School Sun
day before; and how brave e was,
when they sid the last of un scullun
aw'y round the point and over the by,
for t'other side, or for Belle-fsle, or
some place to lee'ward. So they said
James 'ould take 'em safe, phase God,
aud we'd hear Of 'em some place over
the by in d'y or two. Then they
said they wondered if the young men
could keep from freezun their hands,
and said mubbe they wouldn' git touch
ed, for they were all well-clothed, and
James 'ould keep up their spirits, and
brother Izik's little George was merry
boy, and great play-game for the rest
and my Maunsell and 'e's tother cousin,
John, were steady young men, and
wouldn' give up very easy; but they
were both quiet. and looked up TO
James, though John was a good bit
older.
"Wull, sir, the day went on, cold,
cold an blowun heavy, an the water
black an white, WI white shores, an
slob-ice all along; an more, agen, an
heavier, to leeward, sartenly. We
couldn' stir hand or foot thas day, nor
next; but the Lords day came in softer,
an we got good crew an stout punt
to search for the four poor boys that
had been three days missun, and old
Mr. Williamson, the clerk that is now,
sir, made prayer over us before we
laved. When we came to put off, they
left me standun I made no doubt but
Jesse named to spare me but | called
un back for I said, why should be
settun VII my hands folded, or walking
about, lookup out over the water, and
I may just as well be doun somethun
like father for my sons an for my
brothers orphans?
"We made for Broad Cave; for so
we thought the wind would ha' driven
the poor fellows a-Thursday; but we
couldn' get into Broad Gave, for the
slob an cakes of ice. The shore look
ed tarrible cruel. -
Skipper George sat thoughtful a
! 1nnnent and then heran AGAIN