Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1869-03-31
MY EXPRESS ENVELOPE
WAS IL THE woLyEst

We were sitting by the window, Nellie and
/ |, watching the white, binding snow, as it
came slanting down shroudiug the earth deep
er and deeper with its frozen mantle.
Nellie spoke first
Edward" she said tenderly, do not 90
to Welyille to-day; perhaps we can get
along two or three days with what we have,
or until this storm is over fear to have
you 60, for it will surely blow and drift bad
| y, and the trail is already lost in the snow.
You would certainly perish before you could
reach the village" and the blue eyes filed
with tears at the bare suggestion.
Nearly two years before, we had left a
| pleasant New England home humble, but
surrounded by kind friends and turned vest
ward hoping to better our fortune.
We removed to Minnesota, and bought a
small farm which had been partially improved
by a family from Kentucky who had left the
State, being unable to endure the inclemen-
cies of a Minnesota winter, and more espe-
cially unable to sympathize with the strong
Republican sentiment which existed there at
the outbreak of the Rebellion As the farm
contained both timber and prairie, a little
cabin Of hewn logs, bordering on a creek of
pure water, We planted few flowers, and
were quite contented aud happy in our new
home so far from kindred ties, and so near
the outskirts of civilization.
Our nearest neighbors were two bachelor
brothers, from the State Of Indiana, and COM
monty known "A the " Gordons
They lived in secluded, isolated sort of a
yav seldom ,ssociating with ,ho snrroun1inT
iubabitants
They lived mllv four miles from us and
nine miles farther IN an eastorlr dircotion ,yas
the aonrishing VILLAGE of Wellyine s;,n,ted
on the bank Of a considerable river
The creek ON which wo were located bv a
cireuitous route of twenty miles or moro
ioined the river two miles below the VILLAGE
Instead of following tbe Winding stream we
always went directly TO the Village. across
the plains and over a bluff. on an old Indian
trail. which led TO St. Paul
The first wear after our arrival. what with
buying nroyisions and n martial e,ilure of
crops, our small stock of money had been
nearly expended
Now the second winter. and another
failure of crops. still more severe than the
first. had brought the grim monster hungar
nearly to our door.
| had been waiting nearly week for a
pleasant day to present itself that might
90 to the village to procure the provisions
which we were seriously beginning to need /;
but each day seemed destined to be followed
by one still more severe.
| had just told Nellie that should try to
ride Billy, our noble horse which we had
brought with us from the East,--to Wellvile
rather than to run the risk Of waiting for the
storm to abatc, when she made the expostula-
ton which mentioned at the commencement
Of this story.
L tried to reason away my wife's fears, and
as she gave reluctant assent drew on my
outer clothing and strapping a sack across
Billy" mounted him and rode away.
The wind was at my back, but | had
rough time Of it, reaching the village just
about four O'Clock in the afternoon.
had been expecting a small sum of money
from the East; bad debt which | had left
in the hands of an attorney when started
for the West, and who, several weeks before
had written me that he got clue upon some
concealed property, and thought that he could
collect the entire amount Of the obligation.
He had decided to send it by Express, and
had been looking for it for sometime, but had
at last concluded that he had failed in his ex-
peotations of reaching it.
Upon arriving at the village | went direct
ly To- the Post Office. and ealing for NV mail
was reioiced to receive among other matter \
large Express envelope addressed to Edward
Watson. Wellyille i q 10 Mimi
with sl4O marked upon the upper corner
/ hastily transferred il to NV inner cont
pocket, and turning encountered a pair of
elittering black ewes. attentivelv observing
NV moyements Roooonizing Thomas Gor=
don. / nassed the Commitments of the evening
with him. and with several of tbe villaaers
also who were nresent md soon aC,er IeT ,he
Office. Proceeding 10 n nrovision store I
made NV purchases and eptered into a snir;t-
ed eonyersation an The on,rossino tonic of tbe
war with The mercbont 2 br;sfP sbarn oved
New Enoland,r
Somotime olansod ,yb;lo ,ye ,yero tbrs ON
gaged and afor not;no ,bo a;abt of t;me I
srese with the ronorI ,bat 5ad lon" Ia
bofore me- Tho morchant nra,od no - ~ ltav ,'rv
w;th HIM until rorn;nn hn, told a. h;n, Nv stay ,Sa,
bad Ie,, Nail;a ainpe % and ~" NV ,,S n,ln IDa' a.
e.;,htorod E .La',td - - Sao SlI'' "or'I e. w
''S"'N""' '"o"'" ''"J ""eJ' nOVulViy las