Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-03-10

The wind and snow came so violently she
could scarcely stand up against it, ana
would have fallen but for the snow hoe,
which supported her.
At length she reached the COW house
Crumpie and another COW stood there.
Fortunately the snow had, in measure,
drifted away from the cow-house door, ana
was piled against a fence few feet Oh
With two or three digs of her snow-hoe
she cleared it away, so as to open the uoof
sufficiently for the animals to 60 In. fass
ing in herself, she had to sit down mo-
ment before she could do anything, al,
though the gathering gloom there alarmed
her.
In an excitement, and with fierce
anxiety about getting back, she went to
work and MIXED 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 ntheir
managers, and was Fastening out, when
she saw the milk cans which her father
had left on bench there. She selzed
them, and pouring the milk into them' pu,
the tops on securely, and tied them arounu
her waist. 1t was dark, almost III inc
barn, and she got out as quickly as sue
once more was amid the raging elements.
Confused. she stood, scarcely knowing
which way to 90. There was no sign OF
the path she had made. Could she fight
her way back i? The fury of the tempest
had so increased, it seemed rs though
nothing could live in it. She was almost
numb with cold but the children the
baby With no spoken words. but with
the spirit of Peters "Saye 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 the wind rocking her as
though she were 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.
She must be near the gate; she tried to
see it, but there might as well have been
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 which had appeared Just in
her path The roof of the dog kennel Yes.
it was; and she was then inside the yard,
only about thirty feet from the shed. She
put her hands straight out before her, and
with all her strength, made her way
forward. Would she never get there
She could not stand it much longer. just
then, her outstretched hands came with
singing force against the shed. 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, girl
of thirteen, had accomplished feat that
night which many strong, brave men had
lost their lives in attempting-the feat OF
going 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
attempted to get up, but fell back, and
burst into tears. Frightened at her APP
pearance 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, and 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
remembered some highly spiced blackber-
ry cordial her mother had made and kept
for sickness. Jamie got her some. She
drank almost teacupfull, then dragged
herself to the settee and laid down. She
fell asleep, and was only awakened by
Wills Juggling at her dress.
'.Beckie Beckie! want some supper !;
and it is so dark !"
She got up so much revived, that she
fastened to get light. put the tea kettle
on, and set the table When she tried to
draw in the shutters she could not move
them; the snow was banked up against
the windows, and fell on the floor. 1t was
with difficulty she could close the window
again.
Beckie was so very anxious that she
could not eat any supper. Will had good
appetite but Jamie complained OF head
ache, and said he did not want any. Beck
lie persuaded him to come to the table
and drink cup OF tea. She took the ba-
by up. and sat there feeding it until they
were done then she laid it in its cradle.
for it had gone to sleep.
After getting coal and wood for the
night. from the shetland there was not
much there,-she went up stairs to see il
there was any fire. She slept up there
with the baby, and the boys bed was
down in their fathers room. Turning
the damper in the stove, the room was
soon warm. She told the boys to 60 into
one of the beds in her room. heard Will
say his prayers, undressed the baby, and
went to bed herself.
TroNTyxrEn TO.NORROw.