Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-04-22

r should look, when Trolo found me in N
! mornings how Hautboy should get as "a
az the barn-door, and stick, with the sleigh
how | should be sitting up there, straieh
, under the buffalo, half in, half out the door
Then thought that, perhaps, Trollc
would never find me at all. StupidIy,
seemed TO think that Trollo was frozen too
In dreamy meaningless way, [ remem
bered telling Trolo that hoped | should
never see him again; and | wondered it,,
when he was freezing, he remembered il too.
All at once | feltmyself aroused. Some.
thing had happened. llautboy stood stock
still beside a fence He whinuied. and
turned bis neck to look at me.
What is it, Hautboy ?" said /, sleepily.
| managed to get out. Had we got home
Had we gone on to Ktziahs2 What had
happened
We had got home--or nearly. We were
Just outside the gate, in an enormous drift.
| could see the light in the kitchen and tho
cat sitting in the uncurtaiucd window.
That brought me to my senses Per.
haps Trollo had got home. | called out as
loud as | could "Trolo! Trolloi Oh,
Trol-lo!" Did something answer me? Did
hautboy whinny2 Was it the cat mowine
in the window ? Or was it,? Oh. what
was that2
Whoa, Hautboy Whoa Whoa, sir
Whoa You'll tread on il You'll crush
him Back sir Back
1t it under your fcot-across the DRIFT
| have my hand underneath it, can lift
it up-the still, cold thing The awful
precious thing
have it in my arms. Oh, Iautboy,
I'm so weak Don't tread on me We
shall drop back beneath the drift Back,
sir back Good pony Good cid fellow
There
Oh, Trollo, here we are Here's the
doorlatch We are getting up the steps.
It's warm inside; and set the candy on, and
| went to meet you, Trollo. Oh, Trollo,
can you hear2
Can he hearl Can he ever hear again ?
Does he know that hold him that love
him that my heart is breaking, while we
crouch by the stove that he may feel the
red hot glow ? Does he stir Do his eye
lids move2 Has Heaven taken me at my
word2-tbat dreadful word? Shall never
see him move again?
Oh, what shall | do What shall | do?
All alone in the house this awful night with
this awful little burden in my lap! If
any grown up soul were here, they would
know how to save the child
do the best can. rub him and rub
him with my numb, cold hands get bot
water-for the fire has kept like furnace,
thank God fetch water and mothers
blankets, aud get him upon the old lounge,
and | rub and wrap him and breathe on
him. Now and then | speak to him, but
get no answer. Once or twice | think
will say my prayers, but | only say " Our
Father" for | can think Of nothing else
There While | am rubbing und sob.
bing, curled on my knees in little helpless
heap beside the lounge, oh, there nc did
draw little, little breath. He chokes and
stirs his eyelids hutter.
| remember then that there is brandy on
the lower cupboard shelf. spring to get
it, calling, " "Trollo Trollo!" lest he drop
away and lie still again before can get
back | get it, somehow, down his throat
keep on calling, Trolo Trollo Trolo !"
How long before it happens cannot say
how it happens | do not know but while
| am kneeling and sobbiug, calling and
spilling brandy wildly down his neck, aud
doing everything wrong, and nothing right,
except to love him and hate myself, as if
my heart would break with love and hate,
little feeble, pleasant voice speaks up
"Her-od ?"
"Oh, Trollo. | did want to see you all
the afternoon | did did !"
Yes, Herod; | hoped you would come
to meet me, Herod."
"Oh, Trollo, look here You know you re
not the most disagreeable boy ever"
"Oh, yes, know. 1t isn't any matter,
Herod. I'm warm as toast, guess, only
little queer, somehow. But the pains amt
very bad. Did Keziah's old man get his
back up2 Did you put the candy on2"
Our poor candy has bubbled and boiled
away to Il burn on the stove. But little
want have we Of candy this long, strange
night. Trollo is very weak and suffers
much. | cannot leave him to get help.
do the best | can Towards morning he
feels better, and | crawl out to look at
l1autboy, who has broken his harness and
got safely under cover. In the grey, cold
dawn in the breaking storm | crawl into
mothers bed beside my brother, and we
drop asleep heavily, holding hands.
We sleep long and late,--I don't know
how late it is, am wakened by keziah
Phipps she has dres going and hot coffee,
aud she throws up her hands and says
" Laws mercy on me What is the matter2
What has ever happened TO you ?"
And when she knew what it was that hap
pened, she says we are to lie in bed till our
ma comes home, and she makes beef soup
for Trollo, and cries into it, so that he makes
faces when he drinks it.
Trolo is very weak, but pretty well. So
when the broth is gone We both lie still.
BY and by Jenny Fairweather comes over
to see if Trollo has been found, but we feel
too weak to see her. Then, by and by, we
hear the whistle Of tho early train,-wel
belated this morning,-by which father and
mother will be hurrying home TO see how
we have stood the storm.
We do not talk much. We lie very
still, holding each others hands in bed
Only once, say, "Trollo?" aud Trolo
says, Well, Ilerod r. and say, If live
to an old, old man, shall never forget this
night, Shall you ?"
Trollo says, no. he doesn't think he ever
shall. Then | say again, " Trollo2" But
when he says, What, Herod2' only
hold his hand little closer, for cannot
speak.
Too Late.