Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1874-09-24
StItfttD Storp.
The Snow-Shriek.
A TALE OF THE PRAIRIEs.

lfrom Chamber Journ al for August
"Hark. There Is the snow shrek again
loud, wild. and mournful. Listen; and,
II You are wise. make use OF the warning"
Such was the admonitory remark OF Hi
ram Pell, an aged hunter in the northwest
ern prairies, in addressing three young
persons, whom he accidently encountered
on the border of small creek. One OF
the three was young lady. Metella Stew
art, about eighteen, daughter OF Colonel
Stewart, proprietor OF a well stocked farm
In the district; the others we're two gent
lemen little more than her own age.
We are far from di.res arding what you
tell US, Hiram" said the slighter OF the
two young men ''6ut we should like 10
know its precise meaning. Be pleased to
explain what is the snow Shrek
The snow-shriek." replied the hunter
OF the wilderness, sis sign of an approach
Ing and terrible storm of frost and snow.
Ii Is not often heard, and few know its
meaning. am now an old man. and have
heard it but thrice but never is the token
a false one"
1.-The sound, then. port ends extremely
severe weather. asked Metella, impress
Cd, despite herself, with the rugged SOL
mnity OF the hunter manner.
"Worse than that, Miss, a deal worse.
When the snow-shriek rings across the
plains. folks that have love tor their life
fn ba IpIi
strike their lodges at the sound, and make
the best Of their way to shelter among the
bluffs, or in wooded tract. As for the
settlers, they take wagons, and hurry of
to the nearest town, leaving everything
behind to its fate. III were the colonel,
now, that's what I'd do, and go for q week
or two to Granville, or Sparta, or even
Troy
claimed Metella, with a merry laugh,
which she could not repress, and in which
her tive companions Joined.
wait. young lady; till you see what
snow means. Reckon you'll hardly see
much then to laugh at in it, returned the
hunter, much offended. ''rm going to
make tracks, for one, and old Hiram Pell
has not the name Of being chicken-hearted
along the frontier-line. Perhaps you'll
wish, later on, you had set more store by
the warning Of q man, who had fought
many tough fight with bears and sava-
ges, before ever a spade was stuck in the
turf of the territory. GOOd-mOrning to
you, Miss; think better of it, and ask the
ing, he lifted his rifle, and strobe off along
the bank Of the creek, in the direction of
the town.
What a queer old fellow that is.' said
the taller of the two gentlemen. whose
name was Parnell. '.He seems an ana
chronism here, at this time of day, picking
up, as he does, a precarious living by trap
ping and hunting, and occasionally acting
as guide and interpreter to some Indian
agent bound for the plains. But the CO.
lionel has done him more than one kind
ness, and have no doubt that his haran-
que was well intended, although suspect
his account OF the snow-stOrms to be some
what highly colored. 1t might be as well,
however, to mention 1t at home, in case
this wind should really be a sign of bad
weather."
Colonel Stewart paid very little atten-
ton TO the reported words Of the old back
woodsman, or to the low shrill shrek of
the wind. "A cold snap, if it comes. will
not annihilate u.s." he said cheerfully;
land We rather enjoyed the heavy snowfall
of the last winter, with the pleasant
sleighing-parties while the frost held. A
pretty settler l should have made il had
needed every croaker who predicted that
locusts, drought, and Indian raiders would
hurry me out Of house and home, il dared
to pitch my tent 20 far to the West. Hi
ram Pell is . worthy old fellow in his way.
but he Is vain of his infsllibility in wood
crafl, and Is sad . Jonah - ever en-
counted"
On the day succeeding that on which
the hunters words Of caution had been
uttered, Mr.. Parnell, whose residence was
about mile on the other side Of Troy,
Was to take his departure on . journey,
the duration Of which seemed vague, since
he had merely indicsted that his absence
would probably be long one, and that it
might even be nscessary that he should
visit Europe. He had been invited to pass
this, he last evening, at the house Of the