Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-03-24
THROUGH THE SNOW.
ICONCLCDED.

why. cross the beck by the bridge, and take
the road afore thee. But eh, sir, it's acoming
on a wild night for the moors; and now I'm
thinking, if you go by Graystones-Mr. Field
ing's park anent there-you'd find it more
sheltered like, anda bit higher still. You can't
miss the way, if ye keep this side the beck to
the mill; then cross it, and bit beyond, get
into the park by stile; the path then'll take
thee by GraystOne-pOol-a mighty piece of
water. all frozen over nov-and towards the
end leaps up the way on to the moors You
cant miss it, though it's coming on a wild
night, fear -
Gray hurries on, passes the mill, the mill
hands cottages-almOst all of them tenantless
to-day-fnds his way to the pool, and so to its
furthest side nearest the moor. As he ap-
proaches the road leading thereto, he sees a
man, dressed rs servant, standing on the
bank, rs though attending three or four boys,
VINO are skating up and down the pool They
are all OF them fine, handsome, athletic lads
and Gray knows them to be his old drawing
pupils, the Fieldings Though he has no inten.
ton OF approaching them, for they are skating
some distance from where be is to turn off, he
cannot refrain from staying a moment to watch
them As be does so, bell at the hall rings
loud and clear: its echoes are taken up in the
solemn mOors. and re-echoed back again.
''Gentlemen," calls the servant, 'sthere is
the first dinner table; you had better return
now"
They prepare, as it seems, to obey, by ska
ting towards the shore; and Gray turns away
not willing to be recognized and detained, for
he feels desOlate and low in heart For him no
welcoming feast is spread, no ear listens for
him. no eye expects him. Snow before him.
snow behind him-a sad and solemn Christmas
day to him. Yet the SHOWS of winter hide the
buds OF spring, and out of our sorrows our
truest joys are Oftenest born.
He has turned his face and his steps away
from the pool towards the moor, when a crash
" mi ,of
round, hurrying towards the pool, he sees that
the tallest youth, in skating towards the shore
grounded dangerous ice; it cracked. and he fell
through He is now struggling in the water
his head above it, his hands battling with the
ice; whilst his brothers, Fastening to his res
cue, seem in peril too. The poor demented
seryant-a coward, perhaps, by nature-stands
on the shore, wringing his hands and shouting
At dozen athletic bounds Gray has reached
the spot In another moment he has thrown
off his coat, hat, and knapsack.
stephen, Walter. Falkland :" he calls
don't attempt that; I'll come to Harry's res
cue" Even whilst ne speaks he dashes his
way across the ice, goes through it, is in the
pool; not minute too soOn-the lad is spent
and benumbed with cold, is sinking.
"A brave heart, Harry-a hand here-there,
now my arms around you-bear up I'm
Gray, your old drawing master" Holding the
lad head above water, swimming dexterous-
Jy, battling with the ice, in an anxious mo-
ment or two he has reached the shore. Hav-
ing needed Gray's warning, the other boys
are safe too, and now crowd round.
Harry is not much the worse" said Gray
kindly, as the spent and benumbed lad leans
on him and begins to recover. "A near chance;
but drop of brandy, with a run home, and a
warm bath will set him all right. Walter,
feel in my coat pocket, you'll find my brandy
flask; 1t holds but drop, but it'll do good -
So saying, when the flask is found, GRAY makes
Harry take what it holds, and then hurries
him off home.
But you'll come, Gray" says Stephen,
who is the next eldest to Harry, papa will
never forgive us, if you don't come, after hav-
ing saved us our dear Harry. We always
liked you, Gray, and were talking of you this
very morning. Come on; you're dripping like
dog"
Thank you want to be at station by
eight o'clock tonight, and at Leeds to-mor-
row; so cant. 1 have dry undergarments in
my knapSack hero, which can change in that
fodder shed yonder. Goodbye, want to cross
the moor before it is too late"
The moor, Gray, Why, you'll have a hard
fight with the snow. Our shepherds report it
as very deep But why are you tied for a few
II have left Tubbs; I taught too fast for him
out II reach Leeds by tomorrow may get a
tutorship; for there was an advertisement re-
lating to one in the last paper. So run home
stephen; IL write to you thence"
uray does not stay for any reply; but, seizing
MS coat and knapsack, hurres to the distant
sned; here he changes his shoes and neither
garments, and then, to get warm, starts off on
run, as soon as he has dressed and swung his
hnaPsacS on Up the snowy road, by the
nooriand crags on to the moor itself-a wide
"lId waste OF whitened desslation.
iet some traffic through the day marks the
light lasts and the snow holds off. an he Lsens
on al rapid pace; for the whole distance now
WuH'eISe Is Out some six miles and he is not
without hope that it will be easly effected
put presently the snow-drifts get deeper. and
paine hlm more and more at every step. The
auS ~ eaafged with snow bring day suddenly
70 close; and at last it begins to snow heaviIv
as though the clouds had burst. Still he keens
ay, not without hope. But when the road
becomes more and more indistinct when The
snow comes down heavier and heavier still
ronna Isihg Wind Whirls it round and
iouno, "nen the cold becomes so intense az to
oenumo him, even whilst he is MOVING. and he
regrets MS folly in having sighted the kindly
invitation to Mr.. Fielding's house. But CIIay
proud man, he has had the birth and edn.
n VI gentleman, and he cannot 20 fawn-
ing anywhere, unlimited, like begoa1,
At last, hopeless of regainine fbe. tra,k
SJporougniy spent, and growing drowsy, he sits
uo"h on a crag; the storm wbirIino ro,nJ
MN and freezing his blood. Then he closes
ms eyes, lost in that dreamy ethanasia which
ueolh from cold. From this he ia
aroused oy something warm and wet toucbino
MS ms nanaIsomething lying heavily on his
hs haes s..I,s n,elucssntly-almOst with difficulty
ne asserts sufficient will and yolition to oner
MS eyes; and then he sees a sbenbelpS'a opIn
bSs bHS. resL lis paws upon his knees and iicks
IL bssrd WA ~ the tne same moment loud hallo
opened MS eyes he makes faint reply fo for Ias bs
u,tereS the rescue is at hand 1t scarcely
ing snow ana stands beside him 'A0
A s.oo1 ou Piease, sir, you must come with us
ing sent me spS nsa,d Of the matter, Mr. Field
ae auss on to the moor after Won. fnp nc ons ana
% BusGr,,H aeh, could C.n live live GU. such hight" '
assistant goa can only speak. So the shepherds
nI.cs I;, h;, now coming up with the horse. thew
MN on 1t, give him some whisLy tbsy
As to bold the lSsR, 1.n and one mounting behind, 80
leao: the way back to Graystonss Rnt t'tes .Ss
A.: A.. = nafa to ind, the snow so blinds and baf.
cold - Hsan and lies IN monstrous drifts, and the
ws.,s !" .9Senumoing; yet through this desolate
Ie tney get at last, and by ocIock reacb