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

Passing in herself, she had to sit down
. moment before she could do anything
although the gathering gloom ther,
alarmed her.
In an excitement, and with fierce anxi
ETY. about getting back, she went to worh
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 in theil
hangers, and was Fastening out when she
saw the milk cans which her father had
left on bench there. She seized them
and, pouring the milk into them, put the
tops on securely, and tied them around
her waist. 1t was dark almost in the barn
and she got out as quickly as she could,
fastened the cOw.house door, and 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? The fury of the tempest
had so increased it seemed as 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 "Save me, perish"
in her heart she attempted to press on.
Blindly she went, staggering under the
weight of the milk, which she chung 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 a 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
even 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
q wall before her.
The wind swept by in a fearful gust
that rocked her back and forth, although
she was walled up, as it were, on each
side. What was that it had barred 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 OutstretcLed hands came with
singing force against the shed. She gave
a cry of JOY; staggered along, feeling for
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
demons
She never could tell how she reached
the kitchen door and got within. All
she did know was that she was aroused
by JAMES 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, a 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, new 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. Fright
| ened at her appearance 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 sat by the
stove, leaning over it. The children
must have their supper; but she felt her
self totally unable to drag herself about.
She remembered some highly.spiced
blackberry cordial her mother had made
and kept for sickness. jamie got her
some. She drank almost teacupful,
then dragged herself to the settee and
laid down. She fell asleep, and was
only awakened by Willis 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 in on the floor. 1t
was with difficulty she could close the
window again.
Beckie was so very anxious that she
good appetite; but jamie complained of
headache, and said he did not want any.
Beckie persuaded him to come to the
table and drink cup of tea. She took
the baby 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 upstairs to see if
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 get into |
one of the beds in her room, heard Will |
say his prayers, undressed the baby and |
went to bed herself.
Wearied with the days exertions she
slept soundly. 1t was later than usual
and intensely cold when she got up the
next morning. Her first glance out Of
the window showed they were buried in
snow. Al far as her eye could reach,
there was trackless waste Of white, un-
broken by a single object. The barn ap-
peared half buried, the coal-shed was not
to be seen; but the storm had abatcd.
Had they reached H in safety? Her
next thought, as she proceeded to make
the fire, was what should they do for
fuels: There was only that little pile in
the kitchen. S7@ 50 50 go u \. b
She went down stairs. Every window
was blocked up. She made fire to get
breakfast, and then opened the door. A
sheet Of white faced her. She closed it
quickly: fearing the snow would fall in
upon her; and, utterly palled, sat down
and cried. What were they to do! No
one could get to them. They had not
more than enough fuel to last during the |
day.
Presently she dried her tears, and sat
few moments thinking. Then she got up,
lighted a lamp, and went about prepar-
ing breakfast, drawing the table as close
to the stove as possible.
When she went upstairs the children |
were awake. jamie fretted and COM
planned of his head and his throat; he |
coughed, and had fever. She told him to |
lie still and she would bring him some |
coffee; and she and Will went down to |
tieir meal. N
She had determined what to do;
and, after soothing Jamie, and tell
ing him to lie still and try to sleep,
and giving Will q picture-book to amuse |
him, she began her preparations. She
must move up stairs and keep but one