Randolph journal. [volume] (Winchester, Indiana) 1865-186?, 1867-01-31
"r1rr ..x., VI IT,. :


-
a.nusin- - social gathering.
Tn >noU->:orn.
II wa4 a DARK Dtrenber night.
wild and stormy f.N..r sine mid
day the -sOrm hal fallen with UNI
wearyiDg pfr-eV erapU. AMI nov
Icy Il ,.p ortiz erdIld. IhJdbeen
iettinc,. a; M oil = ln,cr than
usual, and hid f., ci.1s ,lrpary
moor for some two miles, To reach
my home. confess felt chilled
at the prospect of such "a walk In
such u storm; bat wrapping my
plaid around me. AMI staff IN hand,
set forward thinking % the bright
little home | should soon reach, and
the dear ones who were waiting my
return with lOving welconle.
Soon left the busy town, and rs
many light~. behind me, and
stepped out into the dismal moor.
The snow lay much deeper here on
fhe untrodden fOotpdth, ana seemed
20 fall more heavily than before 20
thick and binding. that J found
.nvself perDetualiy >traying from
the proper roadway. and with diff
Guilty retracetl my steps; the cold
felt keener also, and Il sharp east
wind had risen. At times | grew
almost GREATNESS with the struggle,
and had 10 pII,c for gathering
strength ere faced the storm once
more AT length | reloiced to see
the guidin@ post, when was
Il r H. - =
against which | was thankful to
lean for few -erpadt, until [ had
recovered breath. I was Just on
the point Of starting oll'a fresh, when
a faint sound of human voice
caught my ear. Startled, | listened
but all was still. I shaded my eye
with my hand, and stared anxiously
into the surrounding darkness; hut
naught could | discern beyond Il
wilderness OF snow, and | was Just
concluding my imagination had
deceived me, vixen again the same
mGrnur came floating through the
air. nHH uIIHH trn
Feeling that, with the guidc-post
so near, ! could scarcely lose my
way, fastened forwart. i'm the di-
recti0l OF the sound, aai soon dis
tinctly heard n ciIild's V-oicy reDeat-
iny the Lords PRAYER. " had Il
strange effect in such "A Storm aud
such place, and my heart heat
high when the gentle "Anen" was
said. I#flf to- 1870.
I called est, Whose voice j.
that" but there WAS no reply.
called again moro loudly than be-
fore, and then the timid answer
came, "JoEnnie'S," and few steps
brought me to a boy some eight
years old, standing shivering in the
snow.
MY poor little man" said are
you all alone?"
NO" he replied, "Nelly Is here;
but she grew 10 cold and tired |
could not get her on. and now she
Is fast asleep. I felt sleepy too, but
thought | would say my prayers
first" And rs Istoopel down to
the bundle ofsnow he had indicated
a. being Nelly he whispered
softIy, Illus Jesus sent you:'
''Surely he has" answered: "had
you not said your prayers, Johnnie,
you might both have persisted.
But how came you here, my boy"
I'VE went into town this morn
ing, to see grandma. Il was snow
ing them" he said innocently,
"when we left hOinc.'
s'And where j. YOU honle?'
asked, land who i, your father"
Farmer RuthIand, he replied;
eve live 1T High Firm"
High Farm" Happened 10 lie on
the road to my own house, 80 told
Johnnie We world all 20 home to-
gether. lie rejoiced when lie heard
my name, and remarked To him
self, "Iow well ii was 4 said my
prayers"
found Nelly indeed halt asleep,
wrapped in heavy tape, which the
devoted little fellow had Invested
himself of i'm his cndcavOr To keer
her warm. Nor could | induce him
to put IL on until he saw me raise
Nelly tenderly in my arms and
wrapping her in my great plaid,
gathered her cloSe 10 my bosom,
prepared TO carry her.
"Nsw Johnaie,' I said. "you
keep hold Of the skirt of my coat,
and VIZ will soon be at High Farm
The cold seemd To- have become
more intense, the falling snow more
dense than ever. MlnfuIly the lit
tie fellow kept up 10 my side. though
the snow by this time reached up
tn his knees. tried tn cheer him
'aswe trudged along, but l felt the
drag upon my cont becoming great
cr. aud it was evident his strength
and heart were falling hinl-then a
suppressed Sob broke rom him. and
he chung more closely To ne y ]
bent down, trying a. so0thc and
comfort him.
"Iou are "A brave little man."
-aid: ave Will -oO.l reach the farm
now. Think OF the bright fire there
the nice warm milk and bread, and
mothers loving Kiss. all waiting for
YOU"
al eau not walk further" he
sebbed. "Oh, take Nelly home.
but let me lie dawn here. will
say my prayers agaiB, and perhaps
Jesus will send some GA. else 10
help me.
"No. no. I answered -cheerily,
81 can not leave you behind, John
-,ic: YOU must make a herse of me,