Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1861-12-26
e,..J From The Ausniic, for December
AStoryof anksgiying- Time

y i1 sfN --4--- 1911 ~
,.,7b d, $ tconSlddcd.y itGs l1Amt< Il
A railway train was fast in snow-bank.
There il had stuck, unable to move either
backward or forward, since nine o'clock or
"Wednesday evening it was now Thursday
morning, the snow was still falling, and still
seemed likely to fall, blocking up more ant
more the passage Of the unfortunate train
There were two locomotives, with huge
snow plough on tho forward one, a baggage
and express-car, and four cars filed witt
passengers. Two hundred people, all anx
ious, most Of them grumbling, were dctain
ed there prisoners, snow bound and helpless
1t was hard case, for they were more thai
two miles distant--with three feet depth o
snow between---from the nearest house. Th,
nearest village was fvo miles away at least
1t was Thanksgiving Day, too, and the!
had almost all of them ''lotted' upon
New England Thanksgiying-dinner with OLE
friends, brothers, fathers, mothers, ant
grandparents. Aud there they were, withou
so much as ration of crackers and cheese
1t was noticeable that the women on tn,
train-and there were quite number, ant
most Of them with children in their arms o
by their sides-made, as a general rule, les
disturbance and confusion than the men,
The children, however, were getting yer,
hungry and noisy by this Thanksgiving
morning.
In one of the cars were clustered as fine
family-group as the eye would desire to res
upon. 1t consisted Of somewhat large
and forid, but firmly and compactly bull
man Of thirty years or thereabout, wo
man, evidently his wife, and apparently somt
tun nr th,,ao vaars vo,,nu upr nnd thrpe bean
tiful children. t.tft 4. /.
The man was large in frame, without be
ing coarse, with chest broad and ample a.
a gymnast's and with arms whose inuscnla,
power was evident at every movement. Iii.
hair and beard (which latter ho wore full
as was Just beginning to be the custom) were
dark brown in color, and thick and strong
almost to coarseness in texture his eye wa.
a clear nazel, full, quick, and commanding
sometimes almost fierce while an aquilint
nose. full, round forehead, and u complex
ion bronzed by long exposure to all sorts o
weather, gave him an aspect to be noted II
any throng he might be thrown into. Their
was constant air of pride and determine
ton about the man, which softened,. how
ever, whenever his glance fell upon wife o.
children. At such times his face was light
ed with a smile Of peculiar beauty ant
sweetness.
The woman was of middle size. with fai
hair, incliniDg towards auburn, blue eyes
and clear red and white complexion He
expression was one OF habitual sweetnes
and good -humor, while a continual halt
smile played about her rosy mouth. Sh
was plump, good -natured, and cozy,-al
together most loyable and delicious NO
man. e'i'f l.l-.7-i7.
This pair, with their bright-looking chill
dren, occupied two seats near the stove, AM
were in constant pleasant converse, saw
when an occasional anxious and impatien
shadow fitted across the face OF the husban,
and father. On the rack over their head
reposed small travelling bag, which tn
day before had been filled with luncheon TO
the children. Upon its bottom was painte
in small white letters the name, ,Samso
Newell"
TWAS indeed, tho long lost son, returnin
| on this day to answer, so much as IN hit
lay, the prayers repeated for fifteen years b
his father and her,-returning to Sc
his former home once more, and here ncarl
on the threshold, stopped by snow storl
almost unprecedented at that season. Their
| was occasional bitterness in his impatienc
at the wearying detention, but he c0ntrolle
il as well as he was able.
During the night the passengers had bee
quiet and uncomplaining. Wood take
| from the tenders of the two locomotives
small quantities, and, when the engineer
stopped the supplies in that quarter, raj
| torn from neighboring fences and broken u
for frewood, kept them warm but after th
day had dawned, when the little treasure
of luncheon were exhausted, aud oil bega
to feel the real pangs of hunger, things a
sumed more serious aspect. Children
all the cars were crying for breakfast, an
even the older passengers began to feel Gro
and jaded. ..} .ES t4
One pleasant fellow, with an apparent
. inexhaustible flask of whisky in his pocke
and good-humor oozing from every pore
r his jolly countsnance, passe9 from carte ca
I; retailing hundred jokes to every fresh bat,
of listeners. But presently the passenge
{ began to tire of his witticisms, and one aft
another '.poohed" and "pshawed" at hi
as he approached. Then with infinite goo
nature and philosophy he retired to one
) the saloons and peacefully fell asleep. ,i
Almost equally amusing was wizene
bent, and thin old man, draped from head
foot in coarse butternut-colored homespu
> and called ''Old Woollen" by the funny i
low, who walked from car to car bewaili
I his hard lot $500 :.
!, 'T'ye left the old woman to home"
whinsd, with all the things on her hant
: an more'n fifty Of our folks comm to
ofa hundred an fifty dollars to pay, =,
morrow's the last day of grace, an L
L a.. IL. I-nk AL "A =,