The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1874-03-05

/ must have fire. She went into the celia
and Knocked q couple OF barrels to piece
and carried the slaves upstairs.
| She slept little, for Jamie tossed an,
threw his arms out over his head, and tn
cover off him, and called water! water |!
every few moments. She had to keep n
the fire for fear he would get cold an,
when daylight came, and she awoke from
an uneasy sleep in which she had fallen
there was only couple of barrel stave
left.
She must keep the children warm, an,
she said to herself, II will do it if I mus
burn up all the furniture in the house."
Dressing herself warmly, she again
visited the cellar. There was an OLE
barrel in the corner she had overlooked
on removing some bits of iron from it sh,
found about q bushel of coal. She oarrie(
this upstairs, and with the slaves of tn,
barrel soon had bright, warm fire, ant
q good breakfast set out for Will and her
self, Jamie was so i'll he did not motto.
anything and the baby, who was always
good, slept. From the window was to b,
seen only the same dreary waste of un
broken snow. "a
All her energies this day were taxed tt
keep the fire going. She dressed Will
and the baby as warmly as possible, and
article in the house. The potato masher
the wash-board, the tubs, the shelves in
the cellar and the kitchen, the steps lead
bread-board and rolling. pin were all split
in pieces and carefully put in the stove
with bits of coal to make them last long
UnyO Hoe IN 1>o6 Co.
there was not more than enough oil in the
house to last couple of hours. Jamie
did not any longer know her; he lay NUT.
tering in delirium.
The morning dawned, and it was the
nearly overcome with drOwsiness and
fatigue-she had watched Jamie; bathed
his hot head, and put water to his lips.
It was all she could do. Help must come
with the day. She would not give up.
She used the last of the fuel to make up
the fire, and managed to make the kettle
boil. After she Had taken some coffee
and Will had eaten his breakfast, she left
him at play with Rover, and went below
stairs; and there, sitting down, had a
hearty cry. She believed jamie was
dying. She did not know what to do for
him. What should she do? Why did not
father come? Was he dead? Then she
thought, He will come if he is
alive. The children must not see me
cry" She wiped her eyes. Il must
split up this table to burn"
She lifted the ak and struck piece off
the edge-another-then she heard Rover
bark; again and again he barked. "Will
is making him, and he will disturb
Jamie, !" she thought, and she dropped the
ak and ran up stairs.
"Beckie! Beckie!," called Will, as she
opened the door, Rover is so funny; he
jumped up at the window and keeps wag-
ging his tail and barking"
A look out the window showed her
some thing moving over the prairie
toward the house. She could not tell
what it was for the showering of snow
that accompanied it. ~
"Some one is coming? Some one is
coming! she exclaimed.
As it neared, the dog sprang up and
down, resting his paws on the window
gill, and barking louder and louder, and
Will stood beside him, making little
springs and screaming:
at is father, Beckie! 1t is fatherp'
I'VE can see best now in the other
room; wrap this shawl around you"
Beckie darted through the door, and
threw open a window in the adjoining
chamber. Rover sprang up, put his head
and most of his body out-looked as
though he wished to leap-then drew
back, as though afraid, and barked more
than ever.
Now the barn hid the object-it was in
the barn-yard. 1t seemed to move slowly
and take time-a long time to the eager
advance. Rover barked
and, as if in answer, a voice
from the moving mass, in which they be-
gan to distinguish figures, called:
4" Beckie! Beckie!"
" 1t is father! It is father! Yes, yesv'
She ran down and opened the kitchen
1oor. Now she could hear but could not
zee them. She ran back again and called
,ut, and then down into the kitchen.
They were working outside. In few
something scattered the snow
light and left-she was covered with it
md her father burst into the kitchen.
"Beckie! where are you alp"
Here, father" She was hanging ON
him.
"All safe?"
Yes; but Jamie is so ill.,"
He made step toward the sitting
room door.
1--WE have no fire." she pointed to the
able. II have burnt up almost every
hing"
He had Will in his arms; he stepped to
he door.
"Men! they have no fire; she was
,hopping up the table," He turned to
her. "Where are jamie and the baby?
was afraid you would all be frozen to
leath" W
He went upstairs, took up the baby
md kissed it, and looked at jamie.
"Thank God, it is no worse"
The men were building fire in the
and there was soon another
blazing in the sitting-room.
MIR. Wilson's first care was to attend to
Jamie. He was accustomed to prescribe
or his children when they were i'll, and
ne had medicine in the house. Soon he
was seated, with Will ON his knee and
Beckie close beside and leaning against
him, the fire burning brightly, while she
old her story.
depressed her close to him, kissed her,
patted her head, and called her q heroic
little mother. Oh. how proud she was
Then he told her how he and Jack had
been caught ip the storm, They had lost
he; road and we're unable to tell where
hey were, but kept on, Oh for their lives;
1t last he became so exhausted and cold
he reins dropped from his hands, and he
fell to the bottom of the sleigh. Then
Jack, who was warmly wrapped in an
extra bear robe, seized the reins and
lrove, they could not tell whittier. Night
began to come on. After a time they
heard some one calling, and, answering,
'ound they had approached. dwelling,
he owner Of which, lantern in hand, had
come out to unloose his. dog, and had
heard Crumpies' bell, which was tied ON
3ne of the hofses. sasse sz.sza
They were taken into the house. Mr..
Wilson was so exhausted he had to be
put to bed. Upon inquiry they dissov-
,red that instead of being near H, as
hey supposed, they were not half way
here; they had been going round and
.onnd in circle.
The next morning they were appalled,
i the extent of the storm. Troubled and
lnxiOus concerning his children. Mr.. Will