Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1869-07-28


arms under the black trees; and as the
wind moaned through the branches Winnie
had prayed God to save them from the
wolves aud the Indians, and little Nat had
screamed, Papa Mamma . sobbing as
if his heart would break. All they had
found to eat was few sweet red berries
that grew close to the ground. Every
hour the poor children grew fainter and
| fainter, and at last Nat couldn't walk al
all
I'm too tired and SICK he said, and
my feets all tut. My toos and tockies is
in the boat. 0, Winnie, Winnie = he
would cry, with a great sob, why don't
mamma and papa come Oh if mamma
would only come and bring me some bread =
Don't cry, dear, don't cry Winnie
would say over and over again. III find
some more red berries soon ; and God will
show US the way home. l k7eolo he will.
Only don't cry, Nat, because it takes away
all my courage.
'All your what?' asked Nat, looking
wildly at her, as if he thought courage was
something they could eat.
'All my courage, Nat And then,
after searching in vain for more red ber-
ries, she would throw herself upon her
! knees and moan:
Dear Father in Heaven, l can't find
any thing more for Nat to eat. Oh please
show us the way home y
What was that quick sound coming to-
ward them? The underbrush was so thick
| Winnie could not see what caused it, but
she held her breath in terror, thinking of
wolves and Indians, for she knew there
were plenty of both, lurking about in these
great forests.
| The sound ceased for a moment Seiz-
ing Nat in her arms, she made one more
frantic effort to find her way to the stream,
then, seeing a strange look in the poor
little face when she put him down to take
better hold, she screamed
| Nat Nat Don't look so! Kiss Win
ME =
Hello, there y shouted voice through
the underbrush, and in another instant a
great, stout man came stamping and break
ing his way through the bushes
/ Hello. there What on airth's up
now? Ef old Joe hasn't come upon queer
game this time Two sick youngsters
starving, too, by Josh Here, you youn-
guns, eat some Nv this ere, and give an
| account Nv yourselves
With these words, he drew from some
where among the heavy folds of his hunt
ing dress couple of biscuit
The children grabbed at them frantical-
ly.
Hold up Not so sharp he said,
you must have little at time for an
hour yet. Here, sis, give me the babby,
I'll feed him and as for you, Jest see that
you don't more than ni65le.'
'Oh! give me drink " cried Winnie,
swallowing the cracker in two bites, and
for an instant. even forgetting Nat
The man pulled a canteen or fat tin
flask from his belt and gave her a swallow
of water then he hastened to moisten
Mats lips and feed him crumb after crumb
of the broken biscuit.
Another hour he muttered to himself,
as he gently fed the boy and smoothed
back the tangled yellow hair from the pale
little face, another hour and he'd bin
past mending.'
Winnie looked up quickly.
is he going to die?' she asked.
Not he,' said the man, he'll come
through right end up yet. He's got fever
on him, but we'll soon knock that under
How'd you get here, little gel p
Winnie told her story, all the while feel
ing glad certainty at her heart that their
troubles were over. The strange man
carried gun, and he had big pistol and
an axe and knife in his belt He looked
very fierce, too, yet she knew he would not
harm her. She had seen many a trapper
before, since she came to the West, and
though this man looked very grand and
wore wonderful hunting-dress, all en-
broidered and friDged, and big hat and
yellow leggins, she felt sure he was the
very trapper who had been at her fathers
cabin few weeks before and taken supper,
and warmed himself before the fire, while
he told wonderful stories about Indians and
furs, and about having many time had
fifty mile of traps out on one stretch
She remembered, too, that her father had
told her the next day that trappers lived
by catching with traps all sorts of wild
animals and selling their furs to the traders,
and that this particular trapper had been
very successful, and had great influence
among the Indians, one of the big men of
Colorado, as he said.
These thoughts running through her
mind now, as she told how they had been
lost for three whole days and two nights,
and the sight of Nat falling peacefully
asleep on the trapper's shoulder, made her
feel SO happy that she suddenly broke forth
with, 20 Mr.. Trapper! l can run now.
Let's go right home!
| The stars came out one by one that
night, and winked and blinked at a strange
figure stalking through the forest. He had
sleeping child on each arm, and yet
carried his gun ready to fire at an instant s
notice. Trudging on, he muttered to him.
self:
Well, old Joe, you've bagged all
sorts of game in this ere forest, and
trapped most every thing agoing, but you
amt never had such a rare bit of luck as
this. No wonder / stood there on the edge
of the timber-land, listening to l did not
know what. Reckon here's a couple of
skins now'll be putty popular at one market
at any rate, fetch most any price you
could name, but will let them 60 cheap;
all the pay 1 want for these 'ere critters is
jest to hear the kisses of them poor fright
ened--Hello there's light! What, a
boy! Neighbor, hello hello!'
Got 'em both !" he shouted as three
figures, two men and a woman, came in
sight through the starlight. All right,
got 'em both"
The children are awake now. What
sobs, what laughter, what broken words of
love and JOY fall upon the midnight air
And through all, Winnie, wondering and
thrilled with strange happiness, is saving
to herself: /" I knew God would show ms
the way home ~
Coal Mines and the Coal Trade.