Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1874-05-29
VOL. XLvII. NEW SERIES. VOL. Xxx.


mans back would be up tonight. We woulC
not care. We would have the candy. TrollC
would be so pleased, He would come in we
and cold. would have good, hot fire.
would get him some dry stockings Perhap,
we would roast some apples in the ashes
TrollO always liked to roast apples. We
should have a nice time that night lie
should see that Was glad to see him again,
after all He should know that | didn'i
think him the most disagreeable boy ever
knew. | should mt say much about it, for
it WAS not our way. But he should know
So put the molasses on, and then went
to the window to look for Trollo. Then
got out the bread and butter and coffee, that
they might be ready for his supper; and |
went down into the cellar and picked out the
biggest Baldwin | could find, to roast for
him. Then | went to the window again. |
was very restless. | could not keep away
from the window. The storm was beating
against the house in an awful way.
Half past four. Trollo had not come
Five: No Trollo. Quarter past five. Where
was Trollo?
1t came upon me very suddenly that it was
dark, and that TrollO ought to have been at
home half-an-houra o,-three-quarters, per-
haps. 1t come into me, ike the thrust of a
sharp knife, that something had happened to
keep the child away. Had he gone home
with Jenny Fairweather? Had he not start
ed at all? Had he got angry with me be-
cause of what said, and gone on to Kezah's
to frighten me? Or had he started, and
not got anywhere? Where could he be?
was too restless, wretched and anxious
by that time to sit anylOnger, asking my self
questions to which got no answer. de-
termined to harness up my horse. and start
out to find my brother.
1t took me some time to do this, for llaut
boy was of the opinion that the barn was
the warmest place for n horse of any sense
that night. He would not take the bits,
and made me trouble. | had To hunt up a
barrel and stand on it to reach his head
for was not tall for my age. 1t was quite
dark by the time got harnessel and drove
out into the yard.
drove a. fast as could, but that was
scarcely over a walk The long, dim, black
road stretched a solid drift, before me.
Hautboy broke it angriy, tossing the snow
hack into my face. and binding me again |
and again took the road to Jenny Fair
weather's as nearly is could make out |
NAtIt llt lNdl Hl4Elll nc AllbN-tN /
would inquire there first.
''Surely Trollo must be there ,' | said to
myself a. drove along. "Trollo will be
there '''
looked cut into the drifts a rode along
An awful fear had crept into my heart.
would not own it to myself | said, ''lle
Will be at Jenny Fairweather'S." But look
ed at all the drifts Sometimes poked them
with the hutt end of my whip. Sometimes
! called ont did not call Tr0lo,-for. of
course. Trollc must be at Jenny Fairweath-
er's. But thought | would shout little.
it did not harm.
knew the Fairwcathers' by the light in
the ,itting-room behind the red curtains |
drove up close to the back door, and went
in without knocking. carried the rcins in
with me. SO that Iautbov should not over
turn the sleigh in the drifts. from being
restless knocked with my whip on the
door.
Mr. Fairwcathcr came to the door She
held a light, and had her hand up before her
Eyes To shield them. could see into the
Jenny Fairweather sat there
llone, studying her atlas at the table. My
heart gave Sickeninc bound bat | spoke
Ip-or tried to-maniully
as Trollo here, Mrs.. Fairweather? ?"
"Troll0 No Where i he 3''
That's what don't know lie hasn't
'omc home from school at all. | thought he
must have come with Jenny | thought you
lad kept him on account Of the storm.
"Why. he started when | did =" said
Jenny. She, too. came to the door and
ookei at me He started. hut he went
be other way. came with Tommy Lark
rs Trollo didn't come with Us at all. lie
vent the other way. alone
Where can he be2" exclaimed Mrs Fair
Weather.
| did not answer | could not speak Mrs
and Jenny followed me to the
oor. They said things that did not hear
only remember telling Mrs. Fairweather
hat he must have gone to some of the neigh
.ors, and that ! should drive up the other
yay and remember her sayin. that must
ave help.-the child must he found And
hat She wished she and Jenny were men, to
% with me
got into the sleigh, and started out again
nto the storm.
| was now very cold but | did not think
luch about it. whipped and whipped !
oor Ilautboy. and We blundered along
reezing, ~tumbling.-into the other road. /
ould lust see the church. thought il | .
ould get rs far as the church, would 20 to y
he first house | came TO and get help. | ,
houted as went along. and called ont !
rollo's name. Bat | could scarcely hear I
" own voice | could not see. | could not ,
reathe My hands were stiff. | dropped I
he rein- two or three times. The wind /
lew sayagely mp the other road. 1t blew a
j our faces lIautboy did not ike it. lie +
ufied and backed and bothered me. ,
The first thing | knew, the horse stood a
till. whipped him, but it did no good | q
louted, but he would not stir | got ont to +
se what was the matter. We had struck {
] a mighty drift. which come to the crea- 1
e's Launches. +
50 fast and so frightlully our old-iashion- i
/ Connecticut storms come down a
| turned around a. well as | could, and :
Iautboy put for home. sat still, in a stu +
ID wav, in the sleigh. | let the reins hang, 7
II | could not hold them. felt very numb +
nd sleepy ! wondered if | were freezing |
, death. | thought how | should look, :
hen Trollo found me in the morning how a
autbov would get as far as the barn-door, I
nd stick, with the sleigh how should be 5
ting up there, straight under the buffalo, il
llf in, half out the door. Ii
Then | thought that, PERHAPS, Trollo a
oud never find me at all. Stupdly, v
,emed to think that Trollo was frozen too. a
4 n dreamy. meaningless way, remember 9
4 telling Irollo that hoped should never q
e him again: and wondered if, when he +
as freezing, he remembered it too. |
All at once felt myself aroused. Some +
ing had happened Hautboy stood stock a
i'll beside a fence lie whinnied, and turn n
his neck to look at me. A
"What Is it, IIautboy? - said |, sleepily. r.
to get out. Had we gone home Y
ad we gone ON to Keziah's? What had '
lppened? V
We bad got home-or nearly. We were =
st outside the gate, in an enormous drift. :,
could see the light in the kitchen and the
1t sitting in the uncurtained window.
That brought me to my senses. Perhaps ~
roo had got home. called out as loud as :,
could ''Trollol Trollo Oh, Trol-lo - Il
id something answer me? Did !Iautboy y
hnny? Was it the cat mewing in the Il
induw2 Or was it? Oh, what was :.
lat? y
Whoa, llautboyl Whoa Whoa, sir ! II II
hoa, You'll tread omit. You'll crush him Il
ack sir Back \
1t Is under your feet-acroS> the drift "
I'VE my hand underneath it | can lift it ;,
p-the still. cold thing The awful, pre- .,
Gus thing "
| have it in my arms. Oh, IIautboy, m Il
weak Don't tread on me We shall =,
'op back beneath the drift Back, sir ~
lck Good pony. Good old fellow. There 3
Oh, HollO, here we are : Here's the door .,
tch! We are getting up the steps. It's II
arm inside and set the candy on, and D
ent TO meet you. Trollo. Oh, Trollo, can
III hear?
Can he hear Can he ever hear again? -,
oes he know that | hold him; that love X