Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1874-04-17

She plunged into 1t, but found that she
could not 90 on.
Beckie was a girl of courage, besides
which she had spirit Of adventure. She
did not think there was any especial dan
ger. 1t was dreadful storm, there was
excitement in breasting 1t, and it would be
something TO tel of afterwards; besides
she must have milk for baby-that was the
paramount idea now. As she recovered
from her plunge she thought of a kind OF
snow. hoe her father had made, and she
stepped back into the shed, and with some
difficulty, extricated II. 1t wasa long stout
stick, at the end OF which was fastened a
broad fat piece of board, like a hoe only
many times larger Cutting piece Off the
clothes line that hung there, she tied her
milk pail by It round her waist, then put
ting the handle of the snow hoe against
her breast, holding it with both hands, she
pressed on, making track for herself AS
she went by the dog kennel the animal
barked and jumped towards her, and she
stopped in the deep snow and unclaimed
him.
The gloom had so increased she could
oNdiNtlN iollhHhloh All ObJNNh III tuC bai
yard. Reaching the gate between the two
yards, she was tempted TO go back, but
again she heard Crumpie's lowing and she
pushed on, although it was hard work.
The wind and snow came so violently she
could scarcely stand up against it, and
would have fallen but for the snow hoe,
which supported her.
At length she reached the cow house.
Crumple and another COW stood there. For
tunately the snow had drifted away from
the cow-house door, and was piled against
the fence a few feet off. With two or three
digs OF her snow-hoe she cleared it away
so as to open the door sufficiently for the
animals TO 20 in. Passing in herself, she
had TO sit down a moment before she could
do anything, although the gathering gloom
alarmed her.
In an excitement and with a fierce anx.
iety about getting back, she went TO work
and milked both cows, threw them corn,
ran into the barn for hay, and then she
thought of the horses in the stable; she gave
them oats, shook the hay in their managers
and was fastening out when she saw the
milk cans which her father bad left on
bench there. She seized them and pouring
the milk into them, put the tops on secure
ly, and tied them around her waist. II
was dark, almost in the barn, and she got
out as quickly as she could, fastened the
cow-house door, and once more was amid
the raging elements.
Confused, she stood scarcely knowing
which way to 60. There WAS no sign of
the path she had made. Could she fight
her way backH The fury of the tempest
had so increased, it seemed as though moth
ing could live in it. She was almost numb
with cold but the children the baby I!
With no spoken words, but with the spirit
of Peters, "Save me, l PERISH in her
heart, she attempted to press on.
Blindly she went, staggering under the
weight of the milk, which she clung TO as
life for baby, the flakes dashing in her face
with a force that almost took her breath,
and tho wind rocking her as though sho
were n reed.
She was so cold she could not stand this
much longer. She would soon drop. She
would be frozen to death, she knew but
ever as she thought this, she pushed on.
tried TO see It, but there might as we'll have
been a wall before her.
The wind swept by in fearful gust that
rocked her back and forth, although she
was walled up, as it were on each side.
What was that II had barred just in her
path? The roof Of the dog-kennel? Yes,
it was; and she was then only about thirty
feet from the she'd She gave a cry of joy,
staggered along, feeling for the opening;
found it; and, for second, stood there
gasping.
Even in that instant it seemed as though
she would be covered up. The storm
shrieked and howled like an army of de-
mons.
She never could tell how she reached the
kitchen door, and got within. All she did
know was that she was aroused by Jamie's
crying; that she found herself upon the
kitchen floor beside a mass of snow her
milk safe; and that it was quite dark.
She was not conscious that she, a girl of
thirteen, had accomplished feat that night
which many strlng, brave men had lost
their lives in attempting the feat of going
n dozen yards in that storm.
She was very weak, and her limbs ached,
and she could not drag herself TO the stove
to renew the fire, now low. jamie put in
| fuel, while she shivered and trembled. 1t
seemed as though her blood had frozen in
her veins. The baby was crying. She at
tempted to get up, but fell back and burst
into tears. Frightened at her appearance
and manner, Jamie began to sob, and this
| aroused her.
"Get the baby's bottle, Jamie, and warm
her some milk"
Jamie wiped his eyes, and did as she told
him.
Jamie fed the baby, aad she sat by the
stove leaning over it. The children must
have their supper; but she felt herself to-
tally unable to drag herself about. She re-
membered some highly spiced blackberry
cordial her mother had made aud kept for
sickness. Jamie got her some. She drank
almost a teacupfull, then dragged herself
to the settee and laid down. She fell asleeI
and was only awakened by Wills tugglnG
at her dress.
"Beckie Beckie! 1 want some supper
and il is so dark T.
She got up so much revived, that sht
hastened TO get light, put the tea-kettl'
on, and set the table. When she tried t
draw In the shutters she could not NOV
them; the snow was banked up against th,
windows, and fell on the floor. 1t wa
with dlficulty she could CLOSE the window
again.
Beckie was so very nxious that she coul'
not eat any supper. Will had good appe
lite; but jamie complained of headache
and said he didn't want any. Beckie per
suaded him to c)me TO the table and drinl
cup of tea. She took the baby up, AM
sat there feeding it until they were done