The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1860-02-03
CHATTER III.

About Christmas there came deep fall o
snow. 1t was right .ioyfully welcomed b,
young andold.---'B Better sleighing was neye
known exclaimed the village girls as the,
talked over their anticipated sleigh rides.
Better shedding was never known, shouted
the stout farmers as they passed each othel
on the road, with loaded sleds drawn by lonc
strings Of sleek oxen and busily they im
proved it, Notwithstanding tho severity q
the weather, for every one was anxious tc
get his timber home, or his logs to the saw
mill before the January thaw.
One morning, before thesnow had felt the
action of the warm winds and foggy atmos.
phcrc of January, old Moses Barker made
preparations to go to distant piece of wood
land after u load of wood not that his well.
filled wood house needed replenishing, but
the land in question had been part of Aun,
Becky's disputed territory and, though di.
vidcd, was still unlcnced. He had heard
within few days, that Sire Benton was cut.
ting timber up there and the suspicious old
soul was determined to go and see If he had
not encroached upon his part.
II was bitter cold morning, and his wife
would fain have persuaded him TO wait for u
warmer day, saying, 'they would certainly
freeze to DEATH But hc 'pished' at her fear
swallowed his gingcred-cider, drew on hi
mittcns, and, accompanied by Ned, his hired
man, started of, lie reached the lot, and af.
ter the most careful examination, was salts
fed that no trespass had been committed
though the regular strokes of an axe among
thick grove on Bcnton's side proved thai
they were indeed clearing of.
Their wood was already cut, and they soor
began to load, but before many minutes tn,
sound of the axc ceased, and they heard tn,
heavy crash of falling tree and then loud
agonizing cry for help.
Some one is caught under the tree = cx
claimed Ned, dropping the end Of the stick
they were r,ising, and running towards thai
part of the lot from whence the cry proceeded
Barker followed mechanically. They necdet
no guide, for again and again the cry rang
through the clear, frosty air, with startling
distnctncss. When they reached the spot
they found young David Benton caught be-
meath the fallen tree, one heavy limb press.
Ing across his breast, and another just below
his knees while his face was pale and distort,
ed with agony. Quick us thought Ned
caught up an axe and struck IT into the limb
that confined his breast. The young man
groaned deeply, and his whole frame,quivcrcd
with the shock. Before Ned could strike
again, Barker caught hi, arm and cried, stop
for Heavens rake, Ned! the jar will kill
kill him. We must contrivc some other
way the cross-cut saw-run and bring il
here. We can saw the limbs of without sc
much jar. We will be as careful rs we can,
David, The continued bending over the young
man, and trying to cheer him while Ned w,l,
gone after the saw that they had fortunately
brought with them.
David tried to speak, hut his lips were
stiff with cold, and shrunken with pain, and
the old man tried in vain to distinguish hi,
words.
10 do Moses Barker justice, under all hi,
self will and obstinacy, there lurked a good
deal of the spirit Of humanity; and at thu,
moment he would have sacrificed much oI
his boarded property to have been able t.
extricatc the young man from his perilou,
situation unhurt. A sudden thought struck
him and drawing of his coat and nittens
no knclt down, and rapidly, but carefully
began to remove the snow from beneath
David's bach. He literally dug for life and
his hard hands were never put toa noblel
service. David soon experienced the benefit
Of bis cxcrtions in the diminished pressure OF
the weight across his breast; and aided by
Ned, who soon returned with the saw, Bark.
er succeeded in removing the snow until The
branch only grascd his breast. Then they