Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-02-04

was always full Of those Of her swains a.
did not care for work, and found making
loyo a pleasant pastime and Mava wa
too partial to this incense to reliuquish i
at once, and for the sake Of grave, stert
young man, who had other work than hang
ing to her apron strings all day The ono
Of all this was that Hugh grew anxious
then jealous, then angry; took to roprov
ing instead Of worshipping, and so rritated
Malva's pride all Of which eliminated ID
q desperate quarrel on Christmas Eve re.
spectiug a certain Miles Pearson, whose
over.iamiliar worship Of the flower of White
Waters, had for some time been arousing
Master llughs wrath fear that latter
| gentleman bad inherited his fathers pride
at any rate, he bore himself 80 sternly on
this occasion that Malva who was on the
point Of yielding aud asking pardon, sud.
denly nailed her colors to the mast and
said she wasn't going 70 bo hulliod -
Miles was as good as some folk, aud better.
He didn't get riley and tyrannical and for
her part she preferred Americans to half.
bred foreigners" etc. etc, blue eyes flash
log and pomegranatc checks aaame. Hugh
looked her full in the face and answered
her, very white and cold
"That is your choice then Very we'll.
The halEbred foreigner will resign you un.
til such time as you change your mind, and
ask him to come back. Good morning,
Miss Keith"
Aud so walked back to his school, and
came no more 10 Keith's homestead
This was Christmas Eve, as said, and
the weather was cold enough then; but the
real heavy snow did not set in much before
January. 1t had been falling Of and on
for several days, and it was so deep in
places that Hughs school benches had
grown empty, many from the more distant
clearings not being able to come. Still, the
master was great favorite with the chill
dren, aud these in Iowa and Minnesota arc
tough and hardy little race so on the 9th
Of January, lS7--, though the sky was
au ominous color, and barometer falling
fast about nine boys and girls arrived as
usual, and after a good warming at the
fire, began their studies
One of them, Seth Halkett, brought bit
of news
Miles Pearson's gwiue to splice with old
Keith's gal Guess there'll be grand fix.
ings down to her place. Air you a-gwiuc
to the marryn', teacher ?"
You shut up, Seth ?" cried his sister, a
sharp girl of twelve, who with precocious
womanhood, had got hold of Hugh's feel
ings in that quarter. He's always talkin'
when he knows nothin, teacher an he
aren't done one figure Of bis rcck min yet.
Seth stuck his hand dcfantly in the
raggad bands Of his corduroys, and muttercd
-" Darn the reck min > but Hugh spoke
to him mildly, and babe the girl mind her
own work. 1t was not with children that
his siernness came out.
And the snow went on falling.
1t soon grew too dark for studying The
flakes froze as they fell in solid heap on
the wndow-sill, aud bolted out the Ii aht.
One Of the boys locked out at the front
door, and got his nose frost-bitten; and a
murmur rose that they would be Obliged ia
stay in school all night Hugh went to the
back door, which was at the lee Of the
house, and confirmed the forebodug. The
road was impossible for children already
and the snow falling in two cross currents
which made a sort of frozen whirlwind in
the air. There could be no going home
that evening and he busted himself in pill
ing up the fires, and helping the old ncgresi
who waited on him to get supper ready fol
his pupils. That night the two girls who
had been plucky enough to accompany
their brothers to school slept in llugh'i
bed, while he camped down with the boy,
in the schoo.room. They kept roaring
fires, and used every wrap there was in the
house; but the cold increased hourly, and
one, the youngest child, woke crying more
than once.
And the snow went on falling.
II never ceased all the next day aud
night. Hugh kept up the fires, fed the
children we'll and told them stories Lit
tie Tommy, the youngest, cried for bis
mother at first but soon ceased when the
master took him on his knee aud comfortet
him. Still the time passed very drearily
every peep from the back room showed
only white waste Of snow, trending down.
ward to the valley, aud botting paths
fences and landmarks in one huge winding
sheet. Worse was coming still for that
night old Casey whispered her master that
the food was almost gone. Nine hungry
mouths soon make away with the content,
of one mans larder.
And the snow went on falling.
On the following day breakfast was {
miserable meal, and one ofthe girls having
discovered the cause thereof, began to wal
out that they would all be starved. Hugl
quieted her, gently but firmly, and going tC
the window pointed that the sky was clear
ing, aud the snow fakes falling less thickly
They continued to lessen hour by hour
and by noon Hugh determined to make hill
way to the nearest village store, and brinl
back food TO the hungry children.
1t was a difficult errand, even for him
who knew every inch of the way, and wa
cased in fur and leather from head to foot
All signs OF the road were obliierated
More than once he missed his way, ant
sank in the snow nearly to his thighs ant
tue cOlu Mus ~ lutthrt iuui tiit NtiO DIthNi
froze upon his lips like an icy skin. Th'
poor fellow was nearly dead when he a
last reached Ethan Balls store--a lonl
ranch, sunk deep in snow, on the outskirt
of the village and Mrs. Ball, whose tw,
boys were both at school, half chOked hin
with tumblerlul Of raw brandy, which sh,
tried to pour down his throat, in her anxiel,
to learn the fate of the children
The spirit did him good, however; an
seeing that the sky looked very threatening
he would not even linger long IN the CRATE
ful warmth but loaded small hand.sle,
with brandy, biscuit and beef, aud set Of
again refusing to allow Ball. n siekly
rheumatic man, to accompany him. Thi
husband and wife, who had never said
prayer in their lives, and only knew tn
name oftbeir Maker by the way of livel,
curse or two, braved the cold at the opel
door to cry, God keep you man, las iugl
started on his errand Of aid to the childrel
on the hill,
think lie did--though not in their sense
Only light sprinkling of snow had fallel
since his departurei so that he was abl
to retrace the journey by his own track
and was toiliug heavily up steepish bill
} when, Of sudden, his ear was caught b.
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