The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1873-07-12
THE FROZEN TEAR.

What cold day it was when we were
delayed in D, the cars blockaded by
the snow. The station house was u rude
hut with beaches to SIT upon, but no stove
to warm the place, So that one might us
we'll be on the outside.
| determined 20 find warm quarters
somewhere, Tor we might be unable to
proceed on our journey for day or two.
The engine needed some repairs, and it
was many miles from any town Of consid-
cradle size.
Taking II survey of the country from the
station house loft, | discerncd at some dis.
lance an old fashioned farm house, with
| what appeared to be u guidebcard or sign
OF some kind nailed upon the side Of the
house. | started through the snow, using
my umbrella for Il walking stick, with my
satchel ON my arm, and In ten minutes was
on the old fat stone, serving for Il door step,
| and read my invitation TO walk in. ''HotL.n
The old-iashioned fire. place gave out u
warmth that greeted me when | opened
the door like the hearty hand-clasp of an
old friend. Six rough men were scattered
III different parts of the room. y table
III front of 3 closet (minus the door, was
| covered with broken pitchers, Tin pals aud
dlppers. On the shelves were many diff
terent shapes containing stock in trade |
was surprised to find liquor in this out-of
the-way place. n tall man with long thin
hair hanging about his ears placed chair
for me and asked if / wanted something to
eat. Being now warmed felt like sitting
down to Il Widespread table The land
= I
would have for dinner. After naming over
several OF my accustomed dishes and re
ceivlng Haunt got any" for my answer,
L told her to bring me what she had. A
large square table was standing against
the wall. With her apron she brushed off
some crumbs and wiped the spItters of
liquor from its stained surface. 4 plate
OF fried salt pork with sodden bread was
placed on the table this, with Il bowl OF
tea, completed my repAst. 1 was hungry,
and ate what | could, wishing when | had
finished tor some more, though not of the
same kind
| had been the object Of interest to a
gaping crowd for half an hour: and as |
arose from the table and returned to nv
seat by the fire, one Of the men with an.
parent effort to keep his feet following
alter his head held out u dirty clay n,pe.
| declined the favor, an asked if he had
any newspapers. "Nothin' but this 'ere,o
handing me 4 fragment OF month old
Sunday Star. | took from my satchel a
book of" Extracts from the Writings of
Eminent Men," and asked If / should
read to while away the afternoon.
eyes" SAID my man Of the country.
| n
thought my audience silent, appreciatiye
one, when, glancIng off my book. discov
cred them all asleep in various positions
| read till J was tired, then walked the
floor till the sun began to disappear be-
hind the hills. The men woke one by one,
had their tin pals filed with LIQUOR
6hufiied out of the door, each going his own
way.
That night | slept before the roariuo
fire III the room where | ate nay sumner
for had attempted staying in the loft,
where a bed was made for me. | shouId
have persisted before morning.
awoke late, and after breakfast walk
ed down to the station. The engineer told
me we could not move Tor another day.
We expected another engine, with men to
shovel through the snow, and provided
they come before noon it would take all
afternoon to clear the track
was returning to the house, a fit oftne
blues coming on fast, when Just at the
crossing met a man in "A sleigh.
"Where are the folks that cot stuck
here vest morn ?" came from the we'll
wrapped man.
| informed him [ was one Of them; the
otbnrs rnra SoottnroI !, Lo 4
houses around.
Maybe you could do" said the man,
cycling me from head to foot.
It was cold stan ding there in the snow
| jumped into the sleigh with him. and be
drove toward the house where | stopped
ever night.
4 came over here" said the man, " to
find some one that would say few words
over a young woman what died Yesterday
on the island. You amt a parson, be
you ?"
| replied l was not, but would 90 and
read aud pray With the family.
"'Twont do much good, l guess was
the reply, but l thought it would do
some good to hear few words from the
parsons lips"
After warming ourselves by the fire. |
and muffiing well, we started for the little
island, two miles from the shore The |
snow was deep, there being only the tracks |
where the sleigh had come over in the
mo- ming. lcould get no information from
the man relative to the death
you'll know soon enough was his |
answer to my enquiries.
a short distance from the Island shore
stood a much better house tlan | had
seen in D. The man drove toward the /
door saying:
This is my house, get out and warm
yourself"
We entered the house by the only door I.
visible, and found well kept kitchen. [
removed some of my wraps, thinking the
dead lay here. The Stranger, noticing nv
movement, said:
Well be going now"
buttoned my overcoat and followed
my guide | could see nothing before me
but an old shed. As we drew near | dis
covered a mans tracks leading to u door