The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1874-11-07
NANCY JONES' BABY.

IlrtSjId came bowling down The noun
tain side, and with Il hollow moan rushed
through TIC canons. The tall pines tossed
and bea, u.eiG heads at each rude blast of the
storm. N asses OF black clouds hung like a
funeral pail over the mountains, and the rain
poured down ia torrents.
Rabbi Creek bounded down its narrow
bed, carrying all before 1t, whirling and
wrlthing ike huge serpent, taking its way
with rapid leaps, bearing on its toaming bo-
som mass of rubbish. GIaat logs and
stumps OF trees, caught from their resting
places on some hillside, were borne on till
lost to sight. Now and then sluice.box
came floating down till dashed to pieces
against u huge boulder, telling of disaster to
some poor miner farther up the guch On,
on, swept the rushing waters taking in their
rude embrace all that crossed the path of
their.fur
Sudden AVID awful had been The coming OF
The storm, as if delay had strengthened its
power and given new energy to its ticrceneSs
Then came the change from warmth to cold
from rain ~ snow--and soon the rugged
Mills were clothed IN white, and in the gulCnes
were piled huge drifts. The Whirling masses
we're borne ON aud scattered The trees were
heavy with their burden, and when some blast
more rude than others stirred their branches
'hc t3cJIcfu limbs lifted their heads and toss
Cd about with joy at their relief.
The town of Rabbit Creek stands unshelter
cd on the hillside, and in Its unprotected state
had bccl exposed to the fury Ct the storm
The small rude HOUSES we're rocked by heavy
blasts till they lrembled on their slight ioun
cations. In the principal bar.room of the
,ovn were gathered the greater part Of The
male population Ii was II large room, with
tables scattered around its sides; in the cen
Ter stood billiard table, the boast and pride
ii the proprietor and he had been heard to
say, "Sec that billiard table: 1t cost n forth
10 set that ere piece Of furniture up IN nv
saloon And then, us surprise and wonder
was depicted on the face OF his listener, the
owner Of that ere table" would give the as
tonishlng information that "she was packed
across the mountains on mule"
IN the corner stood a mammoth stove, an,
alongside of il pile of logs, for ample wer
The heating accommodations of "old Mckcr
2ie's" SALOON, and the larger part of the crow
we're gathered around It's warm sides takin
q cheering heat the smiling hosts rubicun
countenGnce shonc like a new brass telkcttl
as he rushed around attending 10 the wan,
of his patrons. lie finally addressed one {
the crowd near the steve with:
II say. Jake, its started in good. lo
you would have had to come over in snOr
shoes
The answer came in voice singularly lJr
and sweet the man spoken 10 rs Jake wa
q person Of great size, and as he stood wit
his back to the stove, his heavy coat almo!
reaching the floor, he looked like gian
There was an indeScribable air of refncmcr
and grace about the man, and the face III,
looked out from under the broad brimme
hat was one handsome and yet sad.
"Yes Mac, was lucky, as you say, and
II keeps on thisway long, we shall be bloc
AIDED for u couple of weeks"
One or two more of the crowd here ga,
their opinion as 20 the chance of hard wi
ter; but their conversation came 10 an ahru
termination as the door OF the saloon open,
with a rush, aud In came figure which
first looRed like a mass Of snow, but by di
OF much shaking and stamping of feet, II Il
ally assumed the shape of a man, who, as
pulled of his heavy coat, disclosed to Il
crowd the well known features of the on
doctor on Rabbit Creek.
A run of salutations greeted him from .
sides, for DIR. Holmes was a man respected
old and young. He had apsle, refined fac