Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1874-06-12

hDll uupSllOllS 10 Nultu 1 EIl w dhNNNis
determined TO harness up my horse, and
start out to find my brother.
II took the some time to do this, for Haut-
boy wos OF the opinion that the barn was
the warmest place for a horse Of any sense
that night. lie would not take the bits,
and made me trouble. had TO hunt up a
barrel and stand on ii TO reach his head
for was not tall for my age. 1t was quite
dark by the time got harnessej and drove
out into the yard
drove as fast as could, but that was
scarcely over a walk. The long, dim, black
road stretched a soli1 drin before nc.
IIau;boy broke it angrily, tossing the snow
back into my face, and binding me again
and again. took. the road to Jenny Fair
weather's as nearly as l could make out
where the road might he. I ought I
would inquire there first.
"Surcly Trollo must be there e. | said to
myself as I drove along. "TrOllo will be
there I"
Hooked out into the drifts as | rode along.
An awful fear had crept into my heart.
would not own il 10 myself l said, Gle
will be at Jenny Fairweather's." But
looked at all the drifts Sometimes poked
them with the butt end Of my whip. Some
times I called out. / did not call TrollU-
for, OF course, Trolo must be at Jenny
| Farwealher's. But l thought l would
shout n littlc-it did not harm.
knew the Fairwcathers by the light in
the sitting room behind the rod curtains.
! drove up close TO the back door, and went
in without knocking. carried the reins in
with me, 50 that IIautboy should not over
turn the sleigh in the drins, from being
restless. knocked with my whip ON the
| sitting room door.
Mrs. Fairwcather came To- the door. She
| held light, aud had her hand up before
! her eyes to shield thcm. | could see into
| the sittng-room. Jenny Fairwoather. sat
| there alone, studying her atlas at the table.
| My heart gave sickening bound; but |
spoke up " tried to manrully:
"Is Trollo here, Mrs. Fairweather?'
"Trollo! No! Where is he?'
That's what ! don't know. lie hasn't
come home from school at all. | thought
he must ave come with Jenny. l thought
you had kept him ON account ofthe Storm
"Why, he started when | did!' said
Jenny. She, too, came TO the door and
looked at me. "IIe started, but he went
the other way. came with Tommy Lark
ins. Trollo didn't come with us at all. lie
went the other way, alone"
where can he be?' exclaimed Mrs.
Fairweather.
| did not answer. l could not speak.
Mrs. Fairweather and Jenny followed me
to the door. They said things that 1 did
not hear. only remember telling Mrs.
Fairwcather that be must have gone to
some Of the ncighLors, and that / should
drive up the other way and remember
her saying that must have help,-lhe child
must bc foundl And that she wished she
aud Jenny were men, 10 20 with me.
got into the sleigh and started out agat
into the storm.
was now very cold but | did no
think much abont it. Whipped and whip
ped poor HautJoy, and we blundered alonl
freezing. stumbling-into the other road
/ could just see the church. ] thought if
could get as FAR as the church l would go I,
the ii ST house l came 10 and get help.
shouted as l went along, and called ou
|
my own voice. could not see. coulC
not breathe. My hands we've stiff. drop
ped the reins two or three times. The wine
blew savagely up the other road. II blew
in our faces. Haulboy did not like il. H.
pufied and backed and bothered me.
The first thing knew the horse stoot
still. l whipped him, but it did no good
l shouted, but he would not stir. got ou
TO see what was the matter. We had strucl
in mighty drift, which came 10 the crea
tur0's launches.
So fast and SO frishtfully our old fash
ioned Connecticut storms came down!
turned around as well as l could an,
Hautboy put FOR home. l sat still, in stu
pid way, in the sleigh. let the reins han
. for l could not hold them. / felt YER
numb and sleepy. ! wondered if | wer
freezing 10 death. l thought how shoul
look when Trollo found me in the morn
| ing; how lIautboy would get as far as tn
barn door, and stick with the sleigh ho'
l should he sitting up there, straight, III
{ der the buffalo, half in, half out the door.
i Then l thought that, perhaps, Troll
u would mover find me at all. Stupidly,
g began TO think that Trolo was frozen to-
In a dreamy, meaningless way, remen
bered telling Trollo that l hoped l shoul
u never see him again aud wondered
when he was freezing, he remembered
Y too.
i, All at once l felt myself aroused. Som'
Il thing had happened. Hautboy stood soc
still beside a fence. He whinnied an
turned his neck TO look at me.
- "What is it, HautboyH" said sleepl,
l. managed to get out. Had we gone home
/ Had we gone on TO Keziah's? What h;
= happenedH
We had got home-or nearly. We we
'e just outside the gale, in an enormous dri
n could see the light in the Kitchen and ii
!, cat sitting in the uncuitained window.
Ie That brought me 10 my senses. Perha
o Trollo had got home. | called out as lot
l. as could "Trulloi Tr1llo! oh, Trol-lo
e Did something answer me- Did lIautb'
d whnny? Was it the cat mewing in Il
re window? Or was it? Oh, what "
i that?
d Whoa. Hautboyi Whoai Whoa, 81
e Whoa. You'll tread oniti You'll cru'
II him! Back, sir! Back
m 1t is under your leet-across the drilt!
l have my hand underneath i'll ] can lin
OF up-the still, cold thingi The awful, pI
clous thingl
ut have il in my arms. oh, IIautboy, L
1 so weak Don't tread on mel We shi
e, drop back beneath the drif Back, 81
:; back Good pony. Good old fellow. Their
< Oh, Trollo, here we are! Here's I
d, door-lalch We are getting up the steI
n It's warm inside and set tho candy o
Id aud 1 went 10 meet you, Trollo. Oh, Tro