The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1877-07-24

WClC DObll III IAOaNCh NY lHlSe llllcl-
What hev you been thinking of all this
while, eh p''
Il didn't know they had only a
weeks PROVISIONS" said Louisa, show
ing ghastly face "and had to look
after you and the fever"
"Well, don't wait another minute
round me just harness up old Roam and
Quickstep, and take some coffee, cloth
ing, provisions and things-and don't
let 'em short. Come, start yourself, and
don't be standing still like ghost and
folks a-dying for lack of you"
"And you ?"
"I'll take care of myself, and SOIL
grandma. Roam and Quickstep can do
the distance by nightfall Take my gun
to keep off the wolves, and little Tim,
and lantern"
But how shall I find the way ?"
Louisa was already inside her pelisse
and mufflers.
BLESS you, baby couldn't miss it;
the trees are blazed with star every
half mile, on the left hand side. There,
take Tim and be off. "
And as there was not an able-bodied
man short of Shopton at that season
who wasn't off logging, and as grand
ma and Susette could take care of her
patient, and Ben was starving without
her, what could she do but goY''
And how were they faring in the camp,
sixty miles away in the heart of the
wood, which were almost like prime
val forest ?" After Mr.. Bruce's de-
parture they had gone about their work
with will; while Uncle Simon was
busy on the hovel for the cattle, Ben
had walked miles and miles through the
sweet-scented wood, spotting the tim
ber; and suns had risen and set, when
one morning, before the week was out,
Uncle Simon was surprised to see the
bottom of the meal-chest.
" Tough luck ~ said he, briefly; "but
there's swamp pork to exc it out" And
he plunged his hand confidently into
the pickle and had something of chase
alter two or three Insignificant pieces
The two men looked at each other in dis
may for an instant.
I" But he'll be back day after to-mor-
row." said Ben.
But what if he Shouldn't" asked
the older man, not so sanguine.
"What can keep him ? AT any rate,
we've got legs of our own"
precious stiff ones mine are 1t
would be nice excursion, sixty miles
afoot. Why we should freeze to DEATH"
"Well, let's wait; no use running
from your shadow"
And so they waited.
He'll be sure to come tomorrow"
was the assurance with which they COM
forted each other; and when tomorrow
passed without bringing him, "We'll
wait another day perhaps the oxen
were disabled on the road" For
storm had set in, cold clustering, not
much snow just enough to make the
world lovely. The wind sang among
the pines like the voice of an angry
water-course,an and splintered great boughs
in the forest, and up-rooted blasted trees,
and seemed like an invisible presence
haunting the recesses of the wood-some
impersonation of Thor, whose touch
was blow; and all the while the snow
built up its Aladdin palaces, crystal by
crystal wreathed about the living
green, tapestried every boulder, hid the
dead leaves and hollows under the screen,
for it was by no means deep; the wealth
er was too bitter cold for more than a
light fall, just enough to drape nature
gracefully in its folds, and give prom
ise of more to come.
Before the sky had cleared the last
mouthful of food had vanished, and, ex-
cept for partridge that Ben had made
shift to kill with club-for there were
no firearms yet in camp-and rabbit,
taken in rude trap of their own con-
structing, they had not eaten anything
for two days. But they were robust
men, who would have tough fight
with starvation before succumbing; and
then there was no lack of water.
In the meanwhile they were almost as
much concerned for Mr.. Bruce as them
selves. He might have lost his way,
they feared, or been overtaken by the
storm or the wolves; he might come
into camp at any moment too far re-
duced to help himself, and need their
weak assistance. Since their stomachs
were idle, their brains became cores
pondingly active with fearful imagina-