Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-11-08
THE WINDS OF THE WEST.

Sumner was a mushroom city which
had sprung up on the banks of a ravine
that cut through the western bluffs of
the Missouri. In thicket OF oak sap
lings, high up on the side of one of
those bluffs, stood hastily built house,
sided with rough, upright cottonwood
boards-as are many of its Western
neighbors-a rusty stove-pipe sticking
through the roof small window, cur
tanned by scalloped-edge newspaper,
and a white door taken from q sunken
steamboat, whose nicely finished panels
contrasted strangely with its surround
ings, completing the exterior.
One pleasant May evening, just as
the shrill whistle of steamboat echoed
among the hills, this door was opened
by pleasant young woman, who was
followed by crying child.
go Sammy, quit your noise; that's
pappy's little man see the great big
boat way yonder"-lifting him up;
"dont you see? look right sharp now,
close ag'in the bank. Does Sammy
want to go down town and see the big
boat, and see pappy p" The willing feet
toddled down the path but the mother
called, "Wait a bit, and nanny II
pack Sammy )" and, tying on a pink
sunbonnet, she took him in her arms
and started down the steep, crooked
path.
It was picturesque scene that lay
before her. The sunlight, sitting
through the trees that covered the
western hills, glinted the windows here
and there and reached, like a golden
bar, Just across the top of the forest on
the low eastern shore. Scattered through
the hollow and up the sides of the bluffs
were divers houses, from the pre-
tentious Gothic dwelling on the north
ern hill and the brick business houses
down street, to log cabins and cotton
wood shanties while the road that
wound up the bed of the ravine was
lined with long, white train of Den
bound freight-wagons.
She reached the steep main street to
find it filled with wagons that had been
turned crosswise of the street to rest the
teams. But edging her way close to
the clay bank, she reached the river
just as the steamer was leaving the
wharf. The snorting of the engine and
the shouting of the deck hands, togeth.
er with the putting of the mill near by
was too much for baby bravery, and
Sammy's lips began to quiver. Catch.
ing him in her arms, his mother sal
down on saw-log, saying, "There,
there, honey, don't be afeared; be pap,
py's man, now"
The tide-w waves of the recedine boat
sank lower and lower on the sand; the
gay crowd that leaned over the guards
grew indistinct, and she peered more
and more eagerly in among the tall cot.
tonwood trees on the opposite shore
AZ length four men came out of the
woodsand, entering skiff, started across
the river. Shewatched the skiff anxious
ly, for it frequently disappeared between
the waves which were raised by the
strong south wind-suoh winds belong
ing as proverbially to Kansas Spring,
as whooping- cough to children or gapel
to chickens.
-Four rough-looking men, in red wool
en- shirts-for lumbermen did not pre-
tend to wear coats, except in the cold
est weather. Jumped out of the skiff
and, with boisterous laughter and rud,
Jests, entered the mill. Presently on,
of them spied her, and came towards
her, saying boisterously, "Hoorah fo
you, Nancy! Whatever brought you I'M
down ERE this time of evenin' Might,
fine doins, when you oughter be t.
home gettin' your old man bite O. SUD
per Packed that young 'un down, too
III. bet Reckon you'd as we'll ge
back, right quick, now /" He snatcheC
the baby from her and tossed him Of
his shoulder, shouting, "Hoorah fo
pappy's man Peertest boy in this 'er
town Mighty proud to see his pap I
Poor Nancy ! Her husband was drunl
again.
She hurried up the street, pinniny
her sun-bonnet more closely about he
face, that the passers might not see tn
tears that would come. He had KEEP
sober so long that she had hoped h,
would come home sober again. Sh
had anticipated so much pleasure O,
meeting him, after his weeks absence
How often she had thought of it il
those long, lonely nights, when she ha
only her thoughts and her child fo
company.
1t took but few minutes to put SUP
per on the table. Then she sat dow
on the doorstep to watch for her hus
band, worrying all the time lest he le
something happen to Sammy. When @
last he came, the effects of the liquo
were wearing of, and he ate his suppe
and smoked his pipe in sullen silence
She could not eat mouthful, but sh
dared not let the tears come, for sh
knew that it would make him angry
30 she fed Sonny, laying her face O
his little head once in while to fore
back the choking lump that kept risin
in her throat. Then she hastened t
rock him asleep, lest his fretfulness di'
turb his father.
The first peep of dawn found he
busily preparing breakfast, for sh
knew that John wanted an early star
She sound of the coffee-nill woke hil
from his heavy sleep, and he lay quie
ly watching her by the light of the din
grease lamp, as she moved quickl
back and forth from table to stove
from thence to the little row of shelves
in lieu of cupboard, setting on th
dishes, watching the bacon, and takin
the ariar spr,, 1nJo,o. f,n,oa