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

She ran down and opened the kitchen
door. Now she could hear but could not
see them. She ran back again and called
out, and then down into the kitchen. They
were working outside. In few moments
something scattered the snow right and
left-she was covered with it-and her faith
er burst into the kitchen.
"Beckie where are you all 7'
"Hele, fatherr She was hanging on
him.
"All safer"
"Yes, but jamie is so ILL.,"
lie made n step towards the sltting-room
door.
awe have no fire !" she pointed to the
table. 81 have burnt up almost every
thing"
He had viii in his arms; he stepped 10
the door.
Men they have no fire, she was chop
ping up tho table," lie turned TO her.
"Where are Jamie and the babyH 1 was
afraid you would all he frozen to deathr
He went up stairs, took up the baby and
kissed it, looked at Jamie.
"Thank God ii is no worse he said.
The men were building a fire in the
kitchen, and there was soon another blaz.
ing in the sitting-room.
Mr.. Wilson's first care was to attend TO
jamie. He was accustomed to prescribe
for his children when they were i'll, and he
had medicine in the house. Soon he was
seated, with Will on his knee and Beckio
close beside and leaning upon him, the fire
burning brightly, while she told her story
He pressed her cluse to him, kissed her,
patted her head and called her heroic little
mother. o, how proud she was Then he
told her how he and Jack had been caught
in the storm. They had lost the road and
were unable TO tell where they were, but
kept on, on for their lives and Mt last he
became so exhausted and cold, the reins
dropped from his hand, and he fell 10 the
bottom of the sleigh. Then Jack, who was
warmly wrapped in an extra bear robe,
seized the reins and drove they could not
tell whittier. Night began to come on. Az
ter time they heard some one calling, and
answering, found they had approached a
dwelling, the owner OF which, lantern in
hand, came out 10 unloose his dog and had
heard Crumpie's bell, which was tied on
one of the horses.
They were taken into the house. Mr..
Wilson as SO exhausted he had to be put
to bed. Upon inquiry they discovered that
instead of being near II, as they sup
posed, they were not half way there they
had been going round and round in a cir
Gle.
The next morning they were appalled, at
the extent of the storm. Troubled and anx-
ious concerning his children, Mr.. Wilson
had in vain endeIvored to get help TO go TO
their assistance. There was no one there 10
help him; and the day was spent in digging
their way to the barns and out houses, re-
lieving the cattle and procuring fuel. The
day after, they succeeded in putting togeth-
er something that answered as a snow plow,
and accompanied by Mr.. Staines and his
son, al whose house they had been shelter
ed, and joined by others whose homes they
passed, had made all haste possible TO the
children's assistance. They were obliged
to stop one night. but had started again at
daylight next morning. Calling al Mr..
Giles's he had learned that Joe and "Aunt
Lizzie had started, but, affrighted at the
storm, had turned back. Then his anxiety
was increased; for he knew, from the out
Of the way situation Of the house there was
scarcely probability of any aid but his
reaching them.
81 feared to find you all dead and but
for you, little mother it would have been
So"
few days afterwards, when Jack reach
ed home, he ga, an account of the suffer-
ing and loss of life which the storm had
caused.
Long will they remember the great snow
storm Of the winter OF ls72.-.a. Nicholas
Magazine.