Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-05-08

a whole night. Yet, probably il was not
more than IN hour, and 4 had no progress
worth speaking Of, though little strength
seemed left to me. | could not look up nov.
as pressed onward against wind that lit
orally seemed 10 scream as Il passed me, and
drifted the snow 10 heaps against the gates
and hedges Did I ever remember such a
sudden, blinding snow-storm as this In my life
before9 ? Never | plunged my hands deep
iuto my pockets TO warm them; but, even in
their thick drving-goves, they were be.
uatubed aud helpless. My strength and spirit
were failing. Nine or ten miles to walk even
set before home was reached; aud il seemed
asf l could not make any way, fighting on 10
the teeth of tho furious wind. felt that
long before those nine or ten miles were trav-
eled the road would be impossible. and my
strength exhausted. Faster and thicker the
snow fell now, 4 weaker grew my efforts a.
| struggled on through it, the stroug wind
drifting it 50 that at times stumbled up to
my knees and the gale rose, aud the snow
fell faster every minute. Another hours
painful effort.
The glaripg white lay all. around me, un.
broken by asingle track, and my sight was
growing din and confused still fought on
against the killing blast Of the gale. Nov
aud then il blew me completely down; but |
always could regain my footing, aud always
the dog waited for me.
/" Little use, tear, old fellow" | said
thankful 70 hear the sound Of my own voice
aud resting my hand on his soft, warm head
q" 1t is only to give il all up little farther on
Good, helpful fellow
Ga aud on, and still no house in all the
wide expausc My pace had slackeued to a
crawl, and all hope Of reaching home wa.
gradually dying within me. knew well
what fate awaited me unless could reach .
human habitation soon. knew that the IA.
tai temptation to sleep was creeping over me
aud feared had not strength to battle with
it and save my lie Only little further
and my perishei limbs would have done al
that they could do.
Starved, beuumbed and sleepy, struggled
on in The teeth Of the storm. my eyes blinded
my steps clogsed, and always growing upot
me that Irresistible longing to sleep, agains
which | fought with every power Of minc
aud body Sometimes | iancied hearc
wheels rapidly overtaking me, and [ wouc
stop IN sudden hope but moment served tC
show me it was only the peculiar effect Of tn,
wind, and that no wheels could have beet
heard, even if they could have travelled, OF
the deep snow. My hands we're now dead tC
all feeling could not distinguish what
touched when | laid my fingers on the dog
beside me. My sight, too, was surely going
| saw the faithful mastiff only as a dim blot
upon the dazzling white. | began to fancy
that, though | could see no house in all tn,
wide expanse of glaring snow, there might bt
one even close to me, which | should pass un
knowingly; and then great babyish long
/ log came over me to cry-to cry, with tn,
iciclcs thick upon my eyes
Aud now all my strength was exhausted
and without knowing at all how far still wa
from home, knew that the end of my wal
was come. Under some sheltering bank, per
haps, where the snow was deep and soft.
would rest | was worn out, aud must sleep
the desire was irresistible and overwhelnl
ing.
Somebody was waiting at home for nc
knew that, vaguely and dreamily at home
a long way of. "lll go presently when I'v
rested. Good dog Good, faithful fellow
You want rest, too" Beside roadside gat,
half-buried in the snow, fell | felt all tn
pain and anxiety going from me, as | lay heT
less aud motonlcss iu the snow and yielde
at once to the fatal temptation to sleep, whic
| had resisted as long as had power to do 81
The dog which had until that moment keI
close beside me, ran at the gate and leaped i
while | watched him sleepiy, sorry he shoul,
leave me. yet poweress TO entice him back
There was a low, distant singing in my ears
growing more and more confused. My eye
were closed and the snow-flakes coyeriu,
them, when, with an eager bark, the dog pul
his head through the bars Of the wide gat'
/ scattering, as he did so, the snow that lay
deep on them,) aud pulled atmy coat, shakiu,
1t hastily aud impatlently. | was only dream
/ lily conscious OF his motive and it was NOR,
to avoid the worrying than to obey him, that
| rose with one last effort, climbed the gate,
aud tottered on beside my guide. And now
seemed TO crawl through. as well as over, tn,
snow that had drifIed here deeper than oul
in the highway; aud for the last time bat
tied liercely aud determinedly y with the lethargy
which held me. Was my faithful dumb guild,
leading me to human help2 prayed aloud a'
| stumbled on, that it might be so prayed
while could feel that the o yer was still
mine, knowing it would soou desert me
but fancy thsre was little sound from my
stiff lips.
"Is help near, good dog, strong, fiilhful
fellow No all white aud desolate. White
lields--with just faint signs--of where--tht
hedg go.rows run. What a wide-solitary--
place--to die. Good dog Brave friend =
leading me -help--aud- and-rescue. -
How it all swims and trembles -the-great
wide white"