The Portland daily press., 1867-01-26

so was quite comfortable. Venerable cen-
tlemen took blooming young girls ON hi
knees, while tall men stood bent into rio,,
angles. My attention was fully occupied with
watching the bending and cracking of tho
roof overhead. beneath its unwonted WEIGHT
ard one Of the outside passengers playfully
put his foot through a window We made
me progress until we reachvd the open coun-
uy' then every few minutes the conductor Or
usieo all hands off and push.' They grew
s'uuy VI ooeying him at length, when be in
ioii'eu them with more truth than snavitv.
'i't 'ney had better do it, Or they would have
to stay there all night.
oreaty congratulated mvscIf ,,,hon
aiShted irom the coach, that We had NO, mn
set or broken down. But Tho o,a
yet. was yet some distance from home
and before me was an unbroken snov-d,;o
full three feet deep. l got through il some
how, and the sidewalk had been broLor
through by now and then traveller, and put
ting forth every effort 1 reached the corner
from which / could see my own door only
two rods distant; but the whole street mnst
cross was piled with one huge drift, and the
wind and snow were blowing in
hurricane down the street. L was
fairly blown over into the snow
had taken of my gloves because they were
wet, and my bare hands dipped into the
ieathery snow, and the the air was freezing. /
struggled into doorway, almost frantic with
my aching hands. / thought would 90 into
this house and recover my breath, and get my
nands warmed before attempting the noun
tam OF snow betw me and my own door,
But shrank from strangers So Imade one
last desperate struggle, and reached INV door
way, breathless and nearly suliocated. and the
agonizing pain ofmy fingers Increasing had
scarcely strength to open the door, or ring
the bell. But did get into the warmth of nv
own room, plunged my hands into cold water.
and in half an hour they quite stopped ach
ing, and was warm and comfortable as to
my physical condition, bnt mentally--hor-
rors llf 1cl.-7rt o. s
Capsicus did not come with me, he
must wait for the next coach, and what if there
should be no next coach! He would start to
walk--it was well enough in the town, but
two miles over that driited road, with the
piercing blast and binding snow, he would
never reach home, no never! but perish like
Alpine hunters in the fearful drifts, and [
could not 90 in search Of him and-oh, dear!
dear dear
But then, it was no use to begin to worry
till nine O'Clock, and it was only seven now, so
r ,,of Ill
you think ?. had scarcely filed the tea ket-
tie, before the outer door opened quickly.
There was violent stamping in the hall /
rushed out. Capsicus was taking off his over
coat-calm, unruflied, warm and PLEASANT
and only said, "Pass me the broom, dear" l
really believe it was positive pleasure for him
to plough through those four feet drifts; for he
went out directly, again, to get milk for tea,
through that same drift where had nearly
perished.
q Walk home indeed! / believe that man
could have walked i've miles over the Dor
chester hills that night, and felt refreshed by
1t. shall never worry about him again, If
there are earthquakes and tornadoes.
z In the morning he went to shoveling,
throwing huge shoyelfuls over his head. 1
watched him slyly-the strong steady motion,
and GRACEFUL stalwart figure. Then began
to pity him-out in the cold, and his aching
arms; so went to the door to ask him TO
come in and get warm. Ofcourse he laughed
and said he was never warmer in his life, and
il be "on)y had great snow-shovel he could
do sometbing-but that teaspoon
But when limited that the beeEsteak and
coffee were ready, be came right in. He has
hls weaknesses, after all.
II you think have exaggerated that fearful
driit before my door, will add, that answer
ing tie door-bell just now-two days later
the diseonsolate goldman informed me that
he "had ton OF coal for me at the corner but
twenty horses couldn't haul it over that drift,
and he should have to haul it back to the city,"
And he did. L.A.p.o.
Boston, Jan. 10, 1867.