Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1869-12-18
HOU the Doctor Got Lost in q SnOic-
driT.

good to keep" and, as we promise not to
betray the hero's name and place of resi-
dence, we hope he will forgive us Tor tell
ing how he got lost in snow storm.
1t was pleasant place. the home of
the Doctor--iust in the edge of the woods.
The house was one of those neat little
cottages where one always expects to
find comfort, peace and happiness.
1t was almos; hidden among the trees,
with which the ground had been so lay.
ishly adorned Some were 50 large that
you would think tn y must be centuries
old.
The Doctor and his wife lived here
alone, with the exception of a boy whom
the Doctor had taken to do chores for
him. and To be company for his wife when
he was attending his patients ;foralthough
us | said, he was getting old, the people
of the little village ncar could not have
been persuaded to give up their faithful
physician.
One day it had been snowing-Such a
storm As YOU Western people seldom see.
The beautiful white flakes seemed to vie
with each other T. see which should reach
It's destination soonest. and the ky above
seemed one endless sheet ot snow.
well" said the Doctor 10 Ii wife. aS
he returned from his round of calls, II am
glad the are not many sick just now, for
| think home is the best place for an old
man like ne" and he shook the snow
from his great coat aud handedit 10 Bruce
TO hang up, saying that he should not
need it any more that night.
Just as he had seated himself nj the tea
table and his wife was pouring out his
tea. II loud rap was heard at the door,
1T is some bclatcd traveller decided
the Doctor rs he arose to open the door.
81 want YOU to 90 and see my wife.
Doctor" said the visitor rs he seated him.
SELF by thc fire.
What! so ten miles such night rs
this? 1t i, impossible retortcd the Doc
tor.
Il fear she will die, said the man, "un-
less you do. have 4 man here with me,
and we have shoycls; we will see You
safe through. if you will go"
a =, ,l, 40 anf
1t is not my purpose to dwell on his
ride there; Tor it WA, made comparatively
easy by the aid OF strong arms and ShovclS;
nor OF the sick woman, but of his journey
home. The snow was still whirling thick
and fast AS the Doctor tucked himself
snugly in hi, light cutter Tor the home
ward "trip, and started OF bri>kly; Tor
Nellie was anxious 10 get home to her
warm stable.
The Doctor WAS not very welIacquaint-
ed with the roundabout way he came, and
with the darkness and binding SNOW he
soon became bewildcrel. So after u
while. thinking he had ridden farther than
the distance to his home, he thought he
could trust his horse 20 get him out of
the difficulty, and gave Nellie full liberty
10 choose her own road so after he had
gone on for some time longer, Nellie
stopped and whinned. The Doctor UNI
muiled little, and peered around in the
darkness and snow.
"Why, Nellie, where are we?' he said
This looks very like Chestnut Ridge;
yes, there's the opening in the trees, at
the turn Of the road on the brow of the
hill-this must be Chestnut Ridgc-cight
miles from home. Well, Nellie, we may
as well camp Tor the night, for We cant
get home"
How lucky that Bruce supplied Us
well with blankets" soliloquized the Doe
tor as he unhtched Nellie from the cutter,
and fastened one OF the blankets OH her,
and turned her loose To look OF tor her
self. Then spreading buffalo robe ON
the snow and turning the cutter up, ne
wrapped himself in his blankets, and
crawled into his novel bed and was soon
sound asleep.
His faithful dog was very uneasy all
night at his masters absence, and bound
ed out a; the first opportunity to look for
him. Finding the cutter in such novel
condition, he began to bark iuriously
around it.
You can Judge of the Doctors astonish-
mcnt. when he came. out OF his bed room,
to find himselfin his own door yard, and
Nellie standing at the stable door, won
dering, no doubt, why she was treated So
coolly.-[ Western Rural.