Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-08-10

ten grumbed and resisted and yielded be-
fore, and as doubtless shall do again.
"Laddie once found man 10 the snow
before, but he was dead ~ Jessie says, as
she burries off to fill flask with brandy,
and get ready some blankets for us to take
with us. In the meantime rouse the SER
wants. They are all English, with the ex-
cepton of Donald, the gardener, and can
sec they are scoflingly skeptical Of Laddie's
sagaclty, and inwardly disgusted at having
TO turn out of their warm beds and face the
bitter winters night.
"Dinna trouble yoursels," hear old Do
nald say. "Tbe mistress is right enough.
Aud Laddie is cleverer than mony Chris
tian, and will find something in the snaw
this night"
-"Don't sit up, JESSIE" l say as we start
tive may be out half the night on this wild
goose chase"
"Follow Laddie closely" is the only an-
swer she makes.
The dog springs forward with joyous
bark, constantly looking back to see II we
are following. AS we pass through the av-
enue gates and emerge Oh to the moor, the
moon struggles for a moment through the
driving clouds, and lights up with sickly
gleam the snow clad country before us.
ats like bunting for a needle in bundle
of hay, Sir" says John, the coachman,
confidentially, ito think as we should find
anybody on such night rs this! Why, in
some places the snow is more than a couple
o feet thick, and it goes again reason TO
4, i,a9 nj ttptt11 hayn iha
sense to come home and fetch help"
"Bide a wee, bde a vice." says old Do
nald. 81 dinna ken what your English
dugs can do (; but collie, though it hasna
been pleasing TO Providence TO give the
creatur the gifl O. speech, can do mony
mair things than them that wad deride it,"
81 ain't deridin' of EN- says John.
''I only say as how If they are 50 very clev-
or Tue never seen it,"
aye wull, though, ye wull," says old
Donald, as he hurries forward amer Laddie,
who has now settled down into a swinging
trot, and is taking his way straight across
the loneli part of the bleak moor. The
cold wind almost cuts us in two, and whirls
the snow into our faces, nearly binding US.
My finger tips are becoming numbed, ici-
cles hang from my moustache and beard,
aud my feet are soaking wet, even through
my shooting boots and stout leather leg
gings.
The moon has gone in again, and The
light from the lantern we carry is barely
sufficient 10 show us the inequalities in the
height Of the snow, by which we are guess
ing at our path. begin TO wish l had
staid at home. "L'homme propose, mdis la
femme dispose" sigh TO myself; and be-
gin to consider whether i may venture TO
give up the search (Which l have under
taken purely TO satisfy my wife, for am
like John, ard won't believe in Laddie,)
when suddenly hear a shout in front of
me, and see Donald, who has all the lime
been keeping close TO Laddie, drop on his
knees and begin digging wildly in the
snow with his hands. We all rush forward.
Laddie has stopped at what appears to be
the foot of tree, and after scratching and
whining for a moment, sits down and
watches, leaving the rest 10 us. What is it
that appears when we have shoveled away
the snow? A dark object. Is it a bundle
OF rags? Is il-Or alas ! was il Il human be-
q
wrap il in one of the warm blankets with
which my wife's iorethought has provided
us. Bring the lantern," say hus kily;
| and John holds il over the PROSTATE form
Of, not as we might have expected, some
stalwart shepherd Of the hills, but over
that of poor shriveled, wtinkled, ragged
woman. try 10 pour little brandy down
the poor old throat, but the teeth are 81
firmly clenched that cannot
"Best get her home as quickly as may
be, Sir; the mistress will know better
what TO do for her nor we do, if so be the
poor creature is not past help" says John,
turning instinctively, as we all do in sick
ness or trouble, TO women's aid.
So we improvise a sort of hammock OF
the blankets, and gently and tenderly the
men prepare 10 carry their poor helpless
burden over the snow.
~ am afraid your mistress will be in
bed" I say, as we begin to retrace our
steps.
"Never fear, Sir" says Donald with a tri-
umpbant glance at John; "the mistress
will be up and waiting for us. She kens
Laddie didna bring us out in the snaw fol-
naething.'
"Pll never say nought about believing a
dawg again." says John, gracefully striking
his colors. "You were right and / was
wrong, and that's all about it 4; but to think
there should be such sense in a animal
passes meH'
As we reach the avenue gate ] dispatch
one OF The men for the doctor, who fortu-
nately lives within stones throw Of u.s.
and hurry on myself TO prepare my wife
for what is coming. She runs outinto the
hall 10 meet me. "WellH" she asks eager.
ly.
ave have found a poor old woman,"
say "but do not know whether she Is
alive or dead"
My wife throws her arms round me and
gives me great hug.
"You will find dry things and jug o
hot toddy in your dressing room, dear,
she says and this Is all the revenge she
takes on me for my skepticlsm. The pool
old woman is carried up stairs and placed
in a warm bath under my wife's direction
and before the doctor arrives she has showI
some faint symptoms of lifei so my wifi
sends me word. DIR. Bruce shakes hi'
head when he sees her. "Poor old soul,
he says; show came she out on the mool
on such fearful nightH 1 doubt she ha'
received a shock, which at her age she viii
not easily get over"
1hey manage, however, to force few
spoonfuls of hot brandy and water dowr
her throat, and presently faint celor flick
ers on her cheek, and the poor old eyelid'
begin to tremble. My wife raises her heaC
and makes her swallow the cordial which