, 1860-09-21
HOW ! beeame q cripple.

Nv brother Hiram liked the business Of carry
ing the mail better than did, and 90 went 70
work in . new clearing had commenced, about
a milo and half from home, and not quite
so far as the house Of my brother-in-law. usec
to stay as offen at one place as the other. u
was bad arrangement, as, in case OF aecident
neither family would be alarmed or 60 look out
for me, if should not come home. felt the
force Of this in the course Of the winter a. you
will see directly. li. . .l.. .s.lafi..ss "a. z
There had fallen one Of our old.iashioned north
ern New York SHOWS, crusted over hard enough
to bear man. was getting ready TO build me
q house in tho spring. l was ambitious, and
worked early and late, going without my dinner
some days, when the bread and meat ] had
brought In my pocket was frozen 50 bard that
could not maslcate il without taking up too much
Of my time. One day i VAS intensity cold, with
the prospect Of storm that might hinder my
work the next day, and 50 worked on As long
as could see, and after twilight l fslled tree,
which, in is descent fell against another. icoud
not bear the idea Of leaving the job half finished,
so mounted the almost PROSTATE body to cut
limb to let Il down. n ..r,- b Ne.
The body Of the tree was iorked, about forty
feet up. into two equal parts, with large projecting
limbs from both. II was one Of these bad %
cut away to bring the tree 70 the ground. 70
my haste, perhaps was not so careful as should
have been; at any rate, the tree began to settle,
and I was lust going 70 jump on, when the fork
split and as Il did 50, one foot dropped into the
space 50 that could not extricate i ior the mo.
nient but Tfet no alarm, for ! knew that
could cut away the tree In q minute, or perhaps
draw nv foot out Of the boot as the pressure was
not severe. At the first blow Of the axe the tree
took another start, rolled over, the split closed
with all the force Of It's giant strength crushing
nv foot tit the very bones were nattened, and
there hung suspended, just able 20 touch the
tin Of nv fingers IN the snow, With nothing to
rest upcn for momeDt-the air Ut zero and
growing colder-the nearest hodse mile away
NO friends to feel alarmed at my absence, ior
one would suppose me safe with the other.
My axe, IN is iall. rested upon the snow crust
about ten feet or II ouly could get that might
ave myselE 7 did not think how was tocut
myself loose from the body o. thst tree, suspen'
ded as was, head down, and suffering IRON the
rush Of tlisordered blood; but Thought In that
keen blade my only hope o. life was fixed. Just
forward Of me grew slim bush, which thought,
il could obtain, IcOuld foSm into . hook, and
with II draw the axe within my reach sa.g. N
Although the bush was Out Of my Frach, at
last succeeded il getting hold of itby means Of
loop which made By tying my suspenders
together. Ithen drew il toward me aud cut IL
off with nv pocket kniIe--one Of that sort knawn
as 3" Barlow knives,s having single blade about
two and hall inches long, and three.tghths Of an
inch wide with equal wla" ,t ~ ~ ~ ~, ~
nandle o. PecuiiaI losH IN, ~ - ..,..n,,,
and hall morn o. oone. tsuSceeesI y. ~
IN hshonlng my hook ana slO;s y. w y IAna
Of the axf IN my grasp q GeI..,n WI ~ ~. ~.
cess From me uee may lw p',sonse soa ~ ~ Y.
ground descende1 I,p,o'y " vD.su ". sOs ~, y.
more 70 litue ereSk. aMy aAs sy w. W "A.
brow OF the NIL. Inc nrst moseuneht lneee