Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1877-08-15
Faithful Unto Death.


Faithful Unto Death.
The fire burns cheerily on the hearth, the
great logs crackle and flare up the wide
chimney, up which i; is my wont TO say
you could drive coach and-four. draw
my chair nearer to it with SILVER "Whal
a night" say.
rs it still snowing?' asks my wife, who
sits opposite to me, her books and work on
the table beside her.
Fast. You can scarcely see n yard be-
fore YOU"
"Heaven help any poor creature on the
moor tonightN' says she.
"Who would venture out? 1t began
showing before dark, and all the people
about know the danger of being benighted
on the moor in Il snoW-storm."
"Yes. But have known people frozen
to death hercabouts before now"
My wife is Scotch, and this pleasant
house in the highlands is hers. We arc
trying winter in it for the first time, and
| find it excessively cold and somewhat
dull. Mentally l decide that in future
we will only grace it with our presence
during the shooting season. Presently
90 to the window and look out; it has
ceased showing, and through Il rift in the
clouds see star.
:" 1t is beginning TO clear" l tell my
wife, and also inform her that it is past
IL. AS she lights her candle ut Il side
table l hear II whining and scratching at
the front door,
"There is Laddie loose again" says she
"Would you let him in, dear?"
did not like facing the cold wind, but
could not refuse to let in the poor animal
Strangely enough, when Iopencd the door
and called him he wouldn't come. He
runs up to the door and looks into my face
with dumb entreaty; then he runs back :
few steps, looking around to see if wa,
following; and finally he takes my coat in
his mouth and tries to draw me out,
"l4addie won't come in | call out to
my wife. ION the contrary, he seems tr
want me TO 90 out and have IL gnlne Of
SNOWFALL with him"
She throws IL shawl round her and
comes to the door. The collie was hers
before we were married, and she is almos
us fond of him, tell herr as she is of Jack
our eldest boy.
"Laddie, Ladder she calls; come il
sir" He comes obediently at her call
but refuses to enter the house, and pursue
the same dumb pantomine he has alread.
tried on me.
81 shall shut him out Jessie" l say, 81
night in the snow won't hurt him." and
prepare to close the door.
You will do nothing of the kind?' sh
replies with an anxious look; - but 20
will rouse the servants Mt once and FOLLOW
him. Some one is lost in the snow, an
Laddie knows it."
laugh. "Really, Jessie, you are ab:urc
Laddie is a sagatious animal, no doub
but cannot believe he is as clever as that
How can he possibly know whether an
one is lost in the snow or not?
because he has found them and com
back to us for help. Look at him now"
cannot but own that the dog seems RES
less and uneasy, and is evidently endeaN
oring to coax us to follow him: he looks 4
us with pathetic entreaty in his eloquer
eyes. Why won't you beleje meP h
seems to ask.
"Colue," she continues, "you know 20
could not rest while there was Il possibillit
of fellow creature wanting your assis
ance. And am certain Llddie is not d,
ceiving us"
What is poor hen-pecked man TO do?
grumble and resist and yield; as | haV
often grumbled and resisted and yielde
before, and us doubtless shall do again.
"Laddie once found II man in the snoN
before, but he was dead!' Jessie says, n
she hurries off TO fill flask with brand,
and get ready some blankets for us to tai
with us. In the meantime rouse the Sc
wants. They are all English, with the e>
cepton of Donald, the gardner, AID | ga
see they are scoilingly skeptical Of Lrddie
sagacity, and inwardly disguised at havin
to turn out of their warm beds and face Il
bitter winters night.
"Dinna trouble yourselves hear O
Donald say. "Ihe mistress is right enough
Auld Laddie is cleyercr than mony
Christian, and will find something in IL
shaw this night"
I" Don't sit up, Jessie" say as we star
"we may be out half the night on th
wild goose chase"
Follow Laddic closely" is the only ~
swer she makes
The dog springs forward with joyol
bark, constantly looking back to see if v
are following. As we pass through the II
enue gates and emerge on 10 the moor, ii
moon struggles for IL moment through IL
driving clouds, and lights up with sick
CLEAN the snow-clad country before Il
" It's like hunting for IL needle in II bund
of hay, sir" says John, the coachma
confdentially, " 10 think as we should fiji
anybody on such night as this! Why
some places the snow is more than co
pie O. feet thick, and it goes again reast
to think that dumb animal would hay
the sense TO come home and fetch help
''Bide wee, bide wee" SAYS old Do
aid 81 dinna ken what your Engli,
dogs con do; but Il collie, though it hasl
been pie asing to providence to give Il
creatur the gift O speech, can do MOI
mair things than them that wad deride it
Il amt deridin' of 'em, says job
, " only say as how if they are so We
clever Ire never seen it.
"Ye wull, though, We wull," says o
: Donald, us he hurries forward after Laddi
who has now settled down into u swingil
trot, and is taking his way straight aero
the loneiest part of the bleak moor. II
cold wind almost cuts US in two, III
whirls the snow into our faces, near
binding us. My finger tips are becomil
numbed, icicles hang from my moustac
and beard, and my feet are soaking W.
even through my shooting boots and sto
: leather leggings.
/ The moon has gone in again, and Il
light from the lantern we carry is bare
: sufficient to show us the inequalities in t
f height of the snow by which we are CUES
9 ing at our path. | begin TO wish | h
e staid at home. "L'hOmnae propose, mats
= femme dispose" sigh to myself, and b
e gin to consider whether may venture
t give up the search (Which | have undo
: taken purely to satisfy my wife, for Il
+ like John, and won't believe in Laddi,
when suddenly hear q shout in front
V me, and see Donald, who has all the til
: been keeping close to Laddie, drop on
knees and begin digging wildly in