St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1868-01-17
Fer the ilouna :fulks.
H0usetess By Night.

''There's Hector growing and scratching
at the side door. Run and let him in
Susie"
Susie jumped up and opened the door
and in bounded huge black dog
''Lle down Hector Down with yol
sir ~ cried Harry, as the dog leaped up,
on him and rested two fore paws on his
shoulder.
But Hector would not lie down He
commenced fawning on Harry and pull
ing at the lappels of his jacket, as if he
had something to tell him.
''For shame, Hecter. Your paws arc
all wet. You've covered me with snow.
Down, l tell YOU
Thus repulsed, the dog dropped down
and turned to Charlie. He seized Char
lies coat between his Jaws, and began to
pull il gently. Every now and then, he
would utter a low plaintive growl, look
ing earnestly all the time in Charles
face.
"IIe's got something out doors for
you," said Susie. "Perhaps it's a wood
chuck
'Iet's go and see,' exclaimed Harry
starting up.
When Hector saw the bows rise to
their feet, his delight was evident. He
ran to the hall, where their caps and
/ tippets were hanging, and stood wag-
ging his tail, and now and then giving a
sharp, short bark, while they put them
on.
"Where arc you going, boys ?'' asked
their mother, coming in at that moment
its getting near bedtime, Harry"
81 know it mother. but Hector has
found something in the snow. We think
its woodchuck, and we are going out,
Just one minute to see"
"Well, hurry back. It's very cold.
Shut the door tight after you, or the
snow will blow into the entry"
Charlie and Harry ran after the dog,
who bounded through the yard so fast
they could scarcely keep up with him.
Outside the gate, and down the open
road he led them on the run. They
were full a quarter of a mile down the
road, before they stopped to take breath.
There was little piece of wood here,
through which the road ran TO the vii
lage, two miles distant. Hector bound
ed in among the trees, but stopped when
he found the boys did not follow.
I'm not going any farther tonight,
old fellow" said Charlie. ''It's too dark
to 90 hunting"
At this IIector's excitement redoubled.
lie ran back to the boys, and then for
ward, a few steps, turning back his head
came and crouched at Harry's feet, and
uttered low, coaxing whine, which saiC
as plainly as words could have done
"Please come 4 little farther
''Let's go in and see what he has got, =
said Harry. at isn't dark, for there's
a moon behind the snow-clouds, and we
can see well enough
So they went in after Hector. Not
more than three or four yards. before
they saw two human figures in the snow.
The dog leaped forward and commenced
licking the hands of a little boy, who
sat near the trunk of tree, with the
head of a smaller boy lying in his lap.
"Who are you ?" asked Harry, in sur,
prise, when he saw them.
I'm so cold" answered the boy, in {
voice broken by sobs. "and Otto is going
to sleep SO sound | can't wake him up
'.They are freezing to death, Harry,
cried Charlie. 'People always grow
sleepy when they freeze We must hell
them up out of the snow, and get then
home quick"
Harry seized the boy who had spoken
under both arms and pulled him upol
his feet, while Charlie lifted the other
who was almost insensible. and onl,
murmured family when he was raise,
up.
The older of the two, could scarcel.
stand, but staggered about, as if his fee
and legs were quite numb.
Take hold of my ARM said Harry
''and we'll get to a fire in two minutes
Can you manage with the other fellow
Charlie p
Il guess so. with Hector's help" h
I answered. Run to the house as fast a
1 you can, and ask some one to meet me.
: Harry tucked the boys hand undc
his arm, and started off briskly, ha
dragging him along over the snow
3 Charlie had more trouble with his charge
d for though the boy was not heavy, h
was rather too large for Charlie to carry
J SO he called Hector, and placing tn
/ helpless child on the dogs back he hel
c him on with both hands while Hector, /;
g if he knew exactly what was expecte
: of him, walked slowly and carefully tc
I wards the house.
II Before they were half way there, how
; ever, Charles father met them with
:, lantern, and taking the half-frozen chill
e in his arms, carried him within doors.
The eldest boy, whose name was Frit;
was soon made comfortable, and W;
S able to cat some hot supper, and tc
;. their story. Poor little Otto, revived a
n ter a while, and at length was able to >
= up and comprehend where he was.
o Then Fritz told how they came out
h the storm. They were two little sire
:, musicians, who played each a violin, an
Q got pennies from people for their musi
il But cross old Jew was their master
,s who furnished them and dozen oth'
# boys, with their instruments, and the
= took from them at night all they earnt
!, during the day, giving them in retul
e their supper and lodging, and meag
breakfast.
i 'And if we didn't get so many pc
Is MES every night, he gave us nothing
it all to eat,' said Fritz. $50 Otto al
Of me agreed to run into the country th
!e Christmas time We didn't think 1t ba