The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1871-07-26
FROZEN TO DEATH.

On small timhered stream in the
State ofNebraska, lives.a widow, whom
for convenience sake, will call the
widow Grey. Her family consisted of
five children. One is not, and two of
the older are seeking their fortunes in
a more western locality. The other
two are blooming maids, just verging
into womanhood.
The widow Grey is known far and
near, on account of a sad calamity that
befell her family the first year of her
pioneer life. The author ofthis knows
truly of the circumstance wheyeof,it is
his intention to here relate.
1t isssome fourteen years since Adam
Grey lett the State of Missouri with
his family, and crossedthe Big Muddy,
andfstruck into the vast wilderness of
the then unsettled Nebraska prairie, to
seek for himself and family home.
After trsyersing over o large portion
Of Southern Nebraska without finding
a desirable location, he turned north,
ward, and came upon a beautiful little
stream ofclcar running water, Will. a
lovely but narrow valley of rich allu-
vial soil,silently inviting the pioneers
TO take possession, and convert into
blooming fields of waving grain. a
continuous though narrow line of tim
Der stood on either bank, now in tho
middle of Il heavy foliage.
Such was the appearance ofthis love
ly place, and Mr.. Grey selected it for
his future home, and now began the
settlers labors or a cabin was to be
erected, the prairie was to be broken,
on Which the future sustenance of the
settlers family was to grow. Tt was
past the middle of the summer, when
the Greys landed here, and nothing
could be grown for their support that
season, but all their provision had to
be brought from the adjoining State of
Missouri, some eighty or ninety miles
distant. With what they brought Will,
them and one load after they had got
settled in their new abode, they had a
suiiiciency to last until late in the fall,
and that part of the season had now
arrived, the provisions were getting
scarce and another trip had to be
made. A good sleighing snow had fall
len, and Mr.. Grey concluded to take
his sled and two yokes of oxen as it
would be much better than hauling
with wagon.
It was 4 bright frosty morning. about
the middle of November, that Mr..
Grey with his eldest son, Henry, a
likely boy OF fifteen, started for Mis-
sonri to get his winters supply pro-
vision. There. was just enough snow
on the ground to make it good sleigh
ing, and our settlers, with light hearts,
pursued their way, and without any
incident worthy of record, reached
their destination, procured their load.
Returning, they crossed the Missouri
flyer, just at night, and camred on the
bluffs, that always skirt one side or the
other of this great river. The weather
had been very mild for the past two
days, and there was danger of the snow
all going off, thus making hard team
ing with sled. "But who can por-
tend the future" In the night the
wind changed suddenly to the north
west and grew colder; and in the morn
ing the snow was lightly falling.
"Come Henry said the father, 'let's
be on our road. i fcar its going to be
a regular storm, and il will take us into
the night to reacl. homer
Alas the settlers fear vas only too
we'll grounded, for Onward blew the
fierce wind, and fsser fell the snow,
while the cold was all tho!time growing