The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1860-11-29
UN Err T n Z = N Q w
IN TW0 PORTIONS.


Isprang 10 my feet ms family my resolution
was taken, and, from that moment, labored
AT its execution. In short space of time
had roughly pat together the vehicle neces-
sary for our Journey, employing the very best
wood which remained. l gave 10 the Supports
OF the sledge q Considerable W III, TO prevent
their sinking in the snow. / intend IN stening
the goat behind, and tying her feet. so as to
hinder her from struggling, and propose TO
place myself IN front. Accus toned In my
childish sports 10 guide 4 sledge down steep
slopes, hope, II no accident occurs, speedily
30 reach the plain.
Meanwhile, l am about TO lie down TO rest
although the excitement would hardly allow
me TO sleep. / cannot gaze without emotion,
on The walls OF this prison, where have suf
fersd so much, and where l shall leave my
grandia theirs remains. / think, with terror
of the dis lance which lies between me and
the village; but l Will not draw back. The
thought Of being soon certain respecting my
Iathsr's fate, readers me Incredibly impatient
The sledge Is ready. Here is the rope with
which l Will tie Bianchette's feet; here is the
sheaf of straw which is TO serve her for bed
and shelter; here is the blanket which l Will
wrap around me; and, lastly, here is the BIZ
be. l Will never par with 1t more; il shall
accompany one unto life or unto dea tn.
In the last scene of my captivity, things
passed quite differently 10 what l had
pected.
GA the sist of February, the cold struck me
AS increasing in severity L therefore deter
mined not 10 lose an instant L mad 10 open a
passage wide enough tor the sledse 10 pass
through but could throw back the snow in
TO the chalet, and taat mlde my task easier
l Immediately set to work, and iabored 1t SO
heartily that at last felt tired. l was obliged
10 rest awhile. L iIgnted lire.
Scarcely Rad the smoke risen in the air, when
heard great noise outside. My first thought
was that the wolves had got scent of me,
and that they were on the point 81 devourIng
me. l Violently saul TO the door. My fright
did rot last Tong, tor soon heard my self DIS
tinctIy called by name, and L even thought
a IN xA no m zFA rod tgy.tn
ali my strength.
Instantly there arose, in the direction of the
door. confused sound OF voices, like that of
people excited by their work in hand. In q
few minutes, a toierabiy wide opening con-
pleted the passage which l had begun. IT. was
my father. He scarcely waited for the breach
In the snow TO be lairly open. He darted with
cry into the chalet. L was in mis- arms.
and your grandfather :" he asked.
was 100 mucn overcome TO ans wer led
him into the DAIRY. Heknelt beside the grave;
/ did the same; and as l endeayored 10 tell
him in detail what had passed, he saw, by my
agitation, that the attempt was beyond my
strength.
The men who accompanied him had ent tered
They were my Two uncles, and Pierre, our SER
want. They all embraced me- They saw my
preparations, and approved of them. They
decided 10 start Immediately. My nOeTators
had fds tened TO their feet small pieces of board
armed with little points they mad brought a
couple OF pairs besIueS. An one OF them was
useless L put on the other. Pierre took
charge OF the sledge. The wolves now might
come If they pieaSedi We were ali armed My
father took me by the hand, and laid on my
shoulder light gun which knew how to use.
" rms is mol the tIme,'' he said, ITO remove
my iithers mortal remains. We will come
and Ietcn them as soon as the season allows
us, wasn they snail decently receive the last
respect due 10 them, III The village cemetery"
"I ou have OWNED" replied, "my grand
fathers last wishes"
We retired for an instant into the dairy
my uncies were with us After few mo-
ments OF silence, my father, all III tears, ex-
Claimed,
"Adieu! father. No doubt am doing what
you would req uest ME 10 do, in removing this
lad as soon as possible, whose iate must have
CAUSED you Us much apprehension : 1t mas
given Father, adieu!"
We dep lr led our eyes were full of tears
The descent Was rapiu but tauguing. l Was
especially daZZed oy the light of Tue sun aud
Lue DrIilianey Of the snow. Inc cold was
severe, aud did not complain; IT was what
had saved NE.
Ai,er travelling over the snow with no other
accIuent inan sinking in IlItle from time To
time, we arrived at the spot, sui d long way
from the village, up To wnlcn they nad opened
the road in their endeavors 10 reach us. 1 was
astonIshed To see he immense labor 1t must
have cost and compreheuded that, without
the frost, long time must sui have elapsed
before L could be delivered.
You would have been rescued in the month
of December, IL the frost had held on" my
father said but the snow softeneds and We
had no choice Du' To work as hard as we could
at this undertaking. You must know, nv dear
Louis, that our neignDors have been wanting
neither In Charity nUr zeal but, within the
memory OF man, never was there such heavy
fall OF snow. Four times did We open the road,
and four times was it dritted up again"
Was it blocked up from the first day Z" l
inquired.
Ny father then informed me OF very nm
fortunate circumstance. lie nearly lost his
life from the sliding OF a mass of snow as he
was descending the mountain They picked
him up In dying state at the edge of ravine,
and, few PAGES further on hey found my
grandfathers stick, and my bottle.
Ny father was carried home senseless, where
he con tinued for three days in 4 precarious
condition. They lost all that time i'll search
ing for amongst the snow at the bottom of
The ravine. When my father came to himself
vor, which would already have been very dan
gerous, If not impossible, after the first day.
All our neighbors came out TO meet me, tes-
tifying their friendly disposition ; and blush
ed To have ever doubssd II. Every body is Gu.
rious To see BlanehetH. She is over whelmed
with caresses on my account. She Is trea ted
TO the best hay and Abe dayest litter; she will
he the most pampered and the happiest OF
goats.
God has saved my life. He has not per-
United my grandfather TO behold his family
again. But the good friend whom have lost,
taught me never to murmur at the DEGREES OF
Providence.
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