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

river, ana Their home. But late in tn
DAY, an account of the fierce storm. an
drifting snow, they got ont of the road
which was bat an Indian trail, an,
knew not, except they relied on the di
reetien of the wind, whether they wer
travelling right or wrong.
Darkness settled a.ound them. tn
cold was paralizing their limbs, the;
team was wearied, and could scarce b,
urged forward through the deep snow
Henry could not be kept awake and til,
awful reality forced itself upon the ia
Fther that they were slowly but snrel,
freezing to death. He thought that i
they We're travelling yet in the right li
rection, that they could not be far from
home, and could only trust TO the nat
ural instincts of the oxen to take then
right, but poor brutes, they were nov
SO nearly tired out that they could moi
go much further, and soon, in crossing
hollow, they were nearly bnried in
in the deep drift. The sled stuck fast
and there remained.
The poor, half frozen father. finding
that the load could be got no further,
loosed the oxen from the sled, and
thinking he could not be far from home
covered Henry up astightly and warm
ly as he could with bedding they had
with them, aud bidding him to keep
awake for little while, and that lie
would look around and see if he could
see any sign of their home, which he
believed was not far off.
All poor fellows, we must leave
them and take look at the home they
were striving to reach.
A snow storm on the western prai-
lies is no light event, and Mrs. Grey
we'll knew that if her husband aud son
were caught in it, it would be severe
undertaking to get home through it..
Yet she hoped they would not venture
to travel through if; but strange, and
unacc0untable foreboding was upon
the poor mothers mind. She feared
for her eldest SOP, as he was not a
strong, healthy boy; and this dreadful
storm would be SO severe for him to
withstand. She slept but little that
night, and in what little she did, her
visions were grim, unearthly specters
that caused her to start and awake in
cold perspiration of terror. 1t was
near daylight, and james, her second
son, aged twelve, was up and building
q fire, having gone outside FOR an arm
tnl of wood, he hastily ran il, exelaim-
ing:
"Ma mai oh! ma !pap's oxen are
ont here in the yard, but 1 don't see
them nor the Sled"
With her heart almost. in her mouth
The mother sprang out of bed, hastily
patting on a few garments she went
out into the yard.
Yes; snre enough! there the oxen
We're, still yoked together, and gently
lowing for their accustomed feed, but
no sign of her husband or son. She
knew not what to think of the circuln-
st.nce, but her first thoughts were the
team had gotten away from them, and
as a natural consequence had taken
the road back home, and perhaps
their master was safely encampad in a
Sheltered place with good fire, await
ing the end of the storm. This was
but natural view to take of the case.
Yet, if it were not SOL She shuddered
to think what the consequence would be.
Going into the house she told
James to build good fire, get the
children up and dress them, and be
good and quiet until she came back, as
she was going to see if she could find
Pa or Henry.
Wrapping up as comfortable as
possible, the poor mother started out
on the cold, snowy prairie, every step
knee deep. She had no difficulty in
following the trial of the oxen. 1t was
row broad daylight, the storm was
ever, and the sky was clear and cold.
She got out upon the high prairie, she
looked in every direetion-nothing in
view but the white rolling plains as
far as the eye could reach. Not know.
ing what else to do, She still kept on
following the trial OF the oxen.
Oh, who can imagine the many con-.
flicting thoughts and emotions that
filed the poor woman's breast as she
waded on through the cold snow D
She had gotten nearly a mile from
home, when pausing in indecision as
whether it is best to go any further or
not, she again strains her eyes to
penetrate the distance, wien some
thing dark is discerned few hundred
peaces ahead, and she hurries toward
it as fast as her tired limbs will go; it
is CARED at last. and, 0, God, her
worst fears are realized !. Here is her
husbands sled fast in the drift, some
thing covered upio the forward part;
she raises the cogers, and, O, God!
whata sight for fond mothers eyes!
There, stiff and stark is all that once
filled her matron} bosom with Joy and