The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-12-22

| and hard as stone.
Like shock from battery the awful
, truth flashed through Bob's brain,
and he .clutched at the bed-post to
save himself from falling, as his lips
parted and he gasped:
MY God, he's dead!"
And then the horrid reflection seized
him that he was there alone with the
King OF Terrors-all alone with the cold
and silent dead, and his feet took unto
the wretched little coward that he was,
tearing through the hall like wild man
and screaming at every step. Down the
stairway he flew, three steps at q time,
bounding like rubber ball, and yelling
with all the force of his lungs.
"Jack's dead Jack Rogers is dead,
and cold as clay!"
The servants heard him first, and ran
to meet the half clad :.lunatic, with gap
ing mouth and wondering eyes. His
suspenders dangled at his sides, his
slippers had dropped on the way, and
his shirt, by your leave, had escaped
from the confines of his pantaloons so,
while he was attempting an adjustment
of his apparel, the door of the widows
chamber flew open, and the little lady
popped out. She was attired in a robe
de nuit-pardon us, but it was so hand
somely embroidered that it were shame
not to give it a passing mention-and
her face was pallid with fright.
Bob beheld her, and broke forth anew.
"P-p-poor Jacks Dead" he chat
tered, while his teeth ratified TATTOO. and
his limbs shook like aspen leaves.
so, my darling Jack my dear, dar-
ling Jack is he dead9" she walled,
wringing her hands and gazing inquir--
ingly into Bob's face.
"He's dead, indeed" responded Bob,
whose fright had given way to astonish-
ment "and he's stiff as poker"
"Then bring light" she shouted to
the maids, as she rushed away to poor
Jacks room.
They came with the lamp, marching
along in single file, with Bob in the rear
of the column, the girls silently sobbing,
and the addressed boarders, who were
now aroused, shivering in the cold morn
ing air. They found the widow weeping
over the recumbent form on the bed, and
lamenting most wofully for her dear,
departed Jack.
Bob listened to her terms of endear-
ment, and witnessed her manifestations
of grief with much amazement, and his
mind was quite busy with unpleasant
thoughts, when there occurred o stir
among the bedclothes, and the dead
mans body erected itself into a sitting
| posture.
To say that there was CONSERVATION in
the room at that moment would hardly
express the state of affairs. Everybody
ran away, only the widow remaining,
and it is safe to assert that Bob was the
first man out of the door.
The widow, however, held her ground
bravely, and when Jack beheld her there
in her white night-dress, with her beau
tiful eyes swimming in tears, his aston
ishment may be imagined.
dear Jack. she signed, 81 thought
you was dead"
Mrs. Lamar" he said, dolefully, 81
did not suppose you'd care a CONT
mental"
so, Jack" she answered, while her
face cleared up with a smile, how can
you talk so and what makes your nose
so pale?"
He placed his hand upon that mem
Der, and the same ashy paleness over
spread his whole face, as he exclaimed /:
"Hope 1 may die if it isn't froze.
There's no more feeling in it than there
is in frosted potato"
"Egad, broke in Bob, who had ven
tured back to the door again. Cd was
half right after all. If his nose is gone
there is not much left"
"You mean, spiteful thing" snapped
the widow, stamping her foot on the
floor, 81 know what's the matter with
you. Get out of here in minute!"
Pique was what was the matter with
him, and he did get out of there with
out further notice.
Upon examination it was discovered
that Jack Frost had really bitten Jack
Rogers nose, which was altogether too
prominent and too tender for the ex-
posure it had been subjected to during
the previous bitter night and when the
room was warmed up, and the nose be-
gan to thaw out, q howl of anguish
arose from poor Jack which was pitiful
to hear, and which once more brought
tears to the eyes of the sympathetic
widow. The practical little lady bus
tied about, however, and soon prepared
an unguent, composed of equal parts of
resin and beeswax, melted together
and which valuable recipe we publish
gratuitously-which she applied with
her own fair hands to the frozen organ.
All, who would not have endured the
frost bites of forty winter nights, and
who would not have frozen his nose, and
his ears and all his toes, to be attended
by nurse 80 charming2
Jack, albeit his pain was 80 intense,
was not the man upon whom so tender
care could be bestowed without appre-
citation, and SO, while soft, white hand
applied a bandage to his face, and a
tapering little arm rested upon his
shoulder, he breathed gentle sigh, and
signing said {:
"Alas, that my nose might be forever
froze, or that your form might always
thus hover around mel"
"And why should it not, dear Jacks"
she replied, with reference to the how
ering form, and not to the frozen nose. |
cit should, sweet Lamar, if you
would but say the word" said Jack
again, with his mournful sigh.
81 would say any word to please my
noble Jack" she answered, Nesting her