Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1874-01-22
Vhe family Circle.

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The Avalanche.
Wandering among the Alps every year,
| found myself. a few years ago, in late
summer, high up in the mountain region
of Savoy. | was all alone, as | liked to
be, and often roved through regions where
for whole day together, met no human
dwelling The wilder and more fearful
the scenery, the better l enjoyed it. |
iourneyed often from day break till dark,
upon steep declivities and paths trodden
only by channels and hunters. | was
fortunate enough to find here and there a
friendly hut, where, in company with the
herdsman, L ate supper of milk and
black bread, and slept beside him upon his
couch of hay. SO was one day here, an
other there; climbing about upon the Alps,
having little regard to the weather, which
was, indeed sometimes very unfriendly.
Once, near night, | found myself in a
wild, rocky solitude, when a storm rose
suddenly, and the thunder rolled hoarsely
in the distance. | climbed, as quickly as
possible, to a spot where | could look
about to find place in which to pass the
night. At last. after | had clambcred some
distance, and the storm had overtaken me.
| discovered in the darkness, a little hut.
Happy over my discovery, | strobe hastily
to it and knocked upon the door, in order
to ask admittance. But no answer follow
ed my continued knocking; and when l
opened the door and looked into the dark
ness, everything remained still. From
my little Undertook, which | carried with
me- | kindled a light, entered the hut,
looked about me and saw that it was I'M
occupied. 1t was Il miserable, deserted
cow-keeper's cottage, in one corner OF
which was a hearth, and near it Il rudely
made bench. In the corner opposite, lay
some hay, upon which | could find my
nights rest.
had brought with me some food and
chocolate and So | was well provided for
the night. But. though | had already
spent many a night alone in the mountains,
there came over me now an unaccustom-
ed fear and anxiety, of which was scarce
" the master Whence it came | did not
know NV hunger, also which | had
brought with me to the hut, passed away.
| could not eat, and later could not 20 to
sleep. Was it the storm, was it the light
ming and the heavy thunder, which caused
in me this painful unrest? 1t seemed To
me continually that some danger was
near \ danger! What kind of danger
Whence should it come? | sprang once
, more from my couch. struck my little
light, and searched through every corner
Of the hut. even the floor itself. but there
was nothing to be found which could have
disturbed my rest. | was alone in the
hut. So threw myself again upon my
bed of hay in order to rest, at least my
tired limbs. What else was left for me
the remainder of the night, which was in
eXpres>ibly long to me? | lost all thought
of Sleep. | threw myself from one side Il
the other of my hard bed, till at last, at
dav-break ! was able to fall asleep
But | was soon disturbed by a noise. and
it seemed to me rs if We're crushed witt
Il terrible weight. | >prang quickly from
my couch, and Immediately perceived !
strange noise like rolling thunder. such n,
had never before heard. What was it.
r But before | could reflect Il moment upon
it, the air was suddenly darkened. and !;
strange pressure shattered the hut in every
corner and Joint. Stunned by the crash. !
did not know what had happcncd; an,
When | gradually came to myself again,
became aware. to my horror. that | wa,
buried aliNe-an avalanche had ru>he,
over the little hut. Buried alive, What
that means. that most fri@htful of nj
thoughts, nobody can imagine who ha,
not himself felt such horror and deadly
anguish. prayed God for deliverancc
for he alone could help me out of this
darkness and horror of death. contrivet
a means of finding out whether ! might
really dare to hope for Il rescue. | struck
u light again, @rasped pole which was il
the little hut. and tried to bore with it into
the snow. found that the snow was not
! :. IL
itself which covered me, but only the snow
blown from it, or only snow-ayalanche
When | had pushed the pole up rs far a
possible | drew it back, and saw only q
little clearnesS in the opening. But there
was not the least ray of light in it. Mean
while this attempt did not leave me with
cut courage. With renewed strength
continued to work, hour after hour, and
tried also TO remove the snow with n Bit
of board, and to open little way the dooI
of the hut.
It was thought about noon. | suppos-
ed the weather to be friendly again, and
set all my hopes upon the hot sunbeams
which should melt the loose snow, and
might perhaps free me in two DAYS, longer
than which my food could not sustain me
but then Il little event occurred which re-
stored to me all my peace of mind.
heard light noise, like tie gentle trick
ling of water. | felt the door and the walls
Of the hut, and found them wet. The
snow could be, therefore, but Il few feet
high above the roof; and, as | had rightly
Judged, ii was fast melting beneath the
sun rays. Suddenly Il ray oflight press
ed through the opening | had made, as
also, from the roof down, one of the walls
f of the hut. What ineXpressible blessed
ness was for me in this faint glimmer
Light, light, the night of the grave is
past, past. How my soul rejoiced that my
freedom, or rather my resurrection, was
not distant. But | was obliged to wait
, still two days in my prison before the snow
had so melted and fallen together around
the little hut, that | could make path fol
myself in order to get out; and when
afterward was able to set foot again on til,
beautiful green of Gods earth, | fell upo1
nv knees to offer a hearty thanksgiving tC
the Lord of nature Then | looked about
me, and saw that | stood under a higl
overhanging rock, which had broken the
force of the avalanche, and kept it from
carrying me away into the depths. Since
this event, | have climbed many a time
among the Alps, but never alone again
and yet | have never quite forgotten the
deadly anguish of that night of burial
Goldeet Hours.
The Hare and the Hedgehog.
STORY FOR CHILDREN
The story is Il tough one to tell, Young