Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1876-01-04

nolne TIL aller ODTlstmas, ana serve you
right! Come, Ebeu, can't you say some
thing TO make her stay ?"
1--WE said my say"
81 believe she only wants TO be
coaxed, after all" persisted my aunt.
Il dare say it's way women have,
but never humor them in it"
81 wouldn't have staid after that if it
had rained blue devils all the way 10
Faring. Oh, l ICaS headstrong piece
was set upon showing Eben that there
were attractions in Wateredge.
1t was showing lazily the morning we
started.
"Take plenty of wraps. children, i'm
plored Aunt Lakeland. II know 20 Il
will get blocked up by a storm"
Nonsense" said l." This is only q
spit, and it's as mild as new cider"
And, true enough, il was only spit
ii ceased showing altogether before we
had gotten five miles from Lakeland. and
when we were fifteen miles on cur
journey old Lightning lost shoe. We
had expected 10 reach Faring by in the
afternoon at latest, and at noon we
stopped at a way-side farmhouse and got
dinner. and Eben tried TO hire another
horse. for The road was rough, and
presen tly Tightening would be lame
bat the farmer had driven a span into
Faring that morning, and wouldn't
return till the next day. So we logged
on again. Eben however. knew of a
place of the high-road where he thought
he'd be able 10 get our horse shod, but
By the time it was done it seemed almost
dusk. and when | got into the sleigh
again, the cold cut me like knife. You
know bow short the December afternoons
are, and it must have been growing
colder every minute, only we hadn't
thought about it. People in the back
woods get used TO it. only this was
something | hadn't bargained for; and
Just as was wishing myself back in
Aunt Lackland's snuggery, Eben reined
up, and said he must have taken the
wrong turn. 1t was pitch dark by this
time we couldn't have seen our horse IL
he hadn't been black, or if the ground
hadn't been white with snow. and the
cold pinched mo at every pore.
"Oh dear" cried, "how much trou'
bic I've given you. .Eben" And what do
you think he answered.
Nothing is trouble that do for you,
Lettie."
1t was as good as hot soap stone, il
you'll pardon the comparison; it stirred
the blood to my fingers ends. till | was
all of a glow. Well, we got back upon
the highway, as we thought, but ii
proved a mistake, and we turned to the
LETT, but Faring seemed to be playing
hide. and seek with US.
This beats everything said Eben.
II thought knew every inch OF the
road, and every road in the country"
"Eyery,bing-looks $50 differently
by daylight,"I gasped, my teeth chatter
ing in my head.
you are freezing to death, Lefty,
said he. What blockhead | ann
and just then shaft broke, and there
we were! Lost on dreary country road .
at O'Clock, OF bitter, starless night.
AS luck would have it, we had come to
griei only few yards from log hut,
which stood out dark y against the snow.
The inmates must have gone 10 bed, y
said Eben, "but we will arouse them !"
and he knocked upon the rude door,
which swung open st his touch. We
had happened on \ road made tor their
own convenience by the lumbermen, and
the hut was the remnants of last years
camp. deserted, and comiortless as 8
last years nest.
at is q shelter. at least" said Eben.
IL will build fire, Lefty, and stop your
chaltering;" and he built fire, heaven
only knows how. with nothing but the
matches he carried in his pocket to
light his steps; and he sat me down
before the grateful blaze swathed in
buffalo robes; and q half. burned pine
knot, which he found in the hut, served
him for lantern, while he blanketed
and led poor old Lightning TO the hovel
where The lumbermen had housed their
cattle, and left an armful of straw, and
he made the bolt fast with piece OF
wood.
Lefty" ssid he, "I'm afraid We shall
have to stay here till daylight. think
we have taken q back country road
which has led rs away from Faring
and the shaft is in splinters, and there's
not an inch of rope or anything about
the premises. and was too big fool to
bring anything of the kind. don 7
know where 1 am any more than if I'd
been born blind. don't know how
became so bewildered. We might ride
a pilion. perhaps. but you'd freeze to
death; here 1 can keep you from per.
ishipg. at least"
"Oh, let's stay here; it is quite
comfortable in comparison" | said, "and
I'm afraid to 60 out again into the great
dark ni.ht.-What precious thing day.
light is! Aren't you coming near the fire?