Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1872-09-05

FI-t- - VI ~ - 49, u j. - tlaA -
did, her visions we're grim, unearthiy
spectres that caused her to start and awake
in cold perspiration of tcrror4 ut was
near daylight, and James, her second
son, aged twelve, was up and building a
fire. having gone outside for an armful of
fuel, he hastily ran in exclaiming:
MA ma oh ma ]! pap's oxen are out
here in the yard. hut I don't see them nor
the sled 80 !, bsasig9dr .ei.,sE. =
With her heart almost in her mouth
the mother sprang out of bed, hastily put
ting on a few garments she went out into
the yard. 4ra szisrsR = ~ ~
= Yes sure enough there the oxen were,
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 circumstance, but her first
thoughts were the team had gotten away
from them, and as a natural, consequence
had taken the road back home, and per-
haps their master was safely encamped in
sheltered place with good FIRE awaiting
the end of the storm. This was but a
natural view to take of the case. Yet, if
it were not so 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, ard be good and quiet until
she came back, as she was going to see if
she could find Pa or Henry. ee iHrg7
Wrapping up as comfortable as posi-
bic, the poor mother started out on the
cold snowy prairie, every step knee deep.
She had ho difficulty in following the
trail of the oxen. 1t was now broad day
light, the storm was over, and the sky was
clear and cold She got upon the high
prairie, she looked in every direction
nothing in view but the white rolling
plains as far as the eye could reach. Not
knowing what else to do, she still kept on
following the trail of the oxen.
oh, who can, imagine the many con-
aicting thoughts and emotions that filled
the poor woman's breast IS she waded on
through tho cold snow? She had gotten
nearly mile from home, when pausing
indecision as whether it is best to 60 any
further or not. she again strains her eyes
to penetrate the distance, when some
thing dark is discerned few hundred
PAGES ahead, and she hurries toward it as
fast as her tired limbs will go it is gained
at last, and, o. God. her worst fears are
realized. Here is her husbands sled
fast in the drift, something covered up in
the forward part she raises the covers,
and, o, God what sight for a fond
mothers eyes There, stiff and stark is
all that once filed her matrony bosom
with joy and pride-the frozen b,dy of
her first-born son
She can not weep. The fountains are
dry-but like one suddenly struck dumb,
she looked for her husbapd-te is not
there she discovers dim tracks. leading
away to the right. She covers, revcrently
;he body of son. and turns to seek the
lovad partner of her joys and sorrows, She
follows his tracks perhaps quarter ola
mile, and came suddenly upona stiff,rigid
form in the, snow. 80 g4fst F4g
Oh, it was now all revealed, but mer--
ciful God. what an awful calamity And
to think that they should perish almost at
their own door! rr
And now what can be done? She has
not neighbor, to her knowledge, within.
thirty miles She is all alone none to con-
sole her in this sad bereavement--none to
perform the last rites for the dear depar-.
ted, All, all, dcvolves upon her. strick-
en- shoulders. Moaning il the. intensity
of her grief, she, now almost frozen her.
self, manages to return to the house.
We will not try to depict the sorrow of
the fatherless children upon learning the
sad story, nor of the widows feelings. as
with James she took the oxen and wagon,
and brought home the bodies of her hus-
band and son, aud with their own hands
dug grave and tenderely and dccently
as possible buried their beloved dead.
With the load of provisions they got
through the winter comfortably. and the
following season raised enough by tilling
the already broken prairie to satisfy their
wants, and are yet as Isaid in the begin
ing of this sketch, living on the same farm,
and will. if ever they see this, recognize it
as a true sketch. zss.eaf.sfx
The widow Gray is not yet very old
lady, her hair is as white as the driven
snow, and has ever been since that fatal
morning when she found her husband and
son frozen in the snow. =
Aud now, kind reader, you have
truthful account of a circumstance that
really occurred in Nebraska.
10 Mothers. .s9gSfat