Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1872-06-18

wind swept bowling over hill and plain,
but bevs. IN the worry heart Of the forest,
only the vail of the spirit voices rushed
through tho tree tops with tho dash OF
the storm against them, and driving the
snow through the branches. Il fell on Tho
helpless, unresisting group below--nnd
covered everything with pail. as if
making ready the final tragedy Of their
lives.
Nellie covered her own and her broth
ers' heads with tho skirt OF her dress, but
it was not large enough to protect them
all. So sho led them to clump Of
bushes bound together with tangled
vines which over.lopped them, and but.
toning up closer in their little jackets and
covering their caps down over their ears.
she made them lie down close together
under the clump. She took off her warm
sacque and laid it over them. but rs the
cold increased, they moaned and sobbed
aud could not sleep. Then the chilli took
off her thick stuffed petlicoai quilted by
her loving mothers hands. and wrapped
round The shivering boys!
Comfortsd by its warmth. they sank Ia
sleep. and Nellie's cares were over. But
not her suiferings. Wrapping her arms
in her dress skirt. with her short little
flannel petticoat huttering against her
sliffened limbs she walked up aud down
10 get warm. Her teeth chartered. her
slight frame shook and she looked from
side tp side for refuge from the deathly
chill. which clasped her in its embrace.
But there was none silent, icmorselcss,
pitilcss in its pcrsistency, tho snow fell
and clung To that scanlily clad shape.
I'LL scarcely The color OF the little red
hood was visible ne she huddled up on
The cold ground And tar and near the
storm ragged. Its huge grey death Ike
shade extended over the whole country,
making the hearts of men quake rs they
looked into each others faces and thought
of the lost children Tor whom they had
so vainly searched. but without penetrat-
ing to the heart of the forest, as they
never dreamed OF their having the
strength to go so iar
And now the child's strength begins 10
fail She lifts her head, staggers To her
lcet. and looks toward the clump. cano.
pied with snow. beneath which lie the
little brothers for whom she is giving up
her lite. Her trembling lips move. her
tongue laltors ont the words Mother.
Father.-Hom while slowly she turns
her head. casts laint look all around.
hopeless-helplcss s-resigned'
A long moan swept through the tree
tops-inarticuatc voices vailed out with
great sobs OF pain. aud an awful Pres.
encc approached II WAS Us il nil ma.
ture shrank from Tho God given relief TO
the child; on the same side sleep brood.
cd over the strange bed, where repose
the dearly loved broiheps--while his twin
brother, Death, stood beside The suffering
little sister, whose wan face wore u
shadowy smile. as she sank softly down
on the whitened ground, and his Kiss
closed her falling eyes-iorcver.
And still sleep kept watch and guard
over his charges. The snow softly
shrouded the still form. as il for the
grave. II rested lightly on the motion.
less eye-lashes. il lwlned n wreath over
tho pale taco. from which the little hooh
was pushed back, and rested in soft Ca
ress over the slight inrm. The night
wore awHy--tho snow gradually ceased,
distant shouts came nearer and ncarer.as
the Gordon OF men narrowed their 0lrOle.
and drew towards the centre of the forest.
in which they sought only the bodies Of
the lost children, for hope was extineui.h.
ed Of finding them alive.
Nesrer and nearer they came. Till The
foremost, a haggard, hollow.cyed man,
plunged into tho little opening where
the end had come The voices of .hose
who tolluwod aroused Willie. who family
oriod out, "Oh lather, fatherin
And with gasp Inc father turned 10
see his lost hoy beneath the canopy of
snow alive.
He snatohed him out, and little Johnny,
who was scarcely conscious, was lifted
from his cheerleSs couch also. But
deep groan from tho others made him
tura. Tho pathetic little form lying
apart on The slope Of knoll. meets his
eyes; no need 10 ask "is there lile'
Deaths seal is unmisiakable, and the
wan sill, faoe looks solemnly Indifferent
10 the deep sobs which broke from tho
strong hearts gathered around. the pitt.
ful death bed. awful in its loneliness, and
surroundings OF snow draped llashes,
and graceful vine wreath Of tho most
delicate traperF,
"a'to s'S'0f Ter petticoat. We were
>" ..old that she took it off and put it
over u.s.
Thus was the story told; and with
great tears dropping from their eyes. the
rude back. k.woodsmcn reverently covered
the little form which had perished for
lack Of its warmth. And the sad pro-
cession tramped in unbroken silence back
over the weary miles those little leet had
strayed, back TO the home where u wo-
- ni, haarf ,uaa hroaL;nn uuith the Ger.