Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1877-12-28
CHRISTMAS EVE.
A Sketch From Life.

farer whom / met upon the lonely pam
into which had struck on quitting the
hard, firm road. The wind had risen
as the sun went down behind the rocky
Tors TO the westward, and the piercing
gale that now blew brought with il such
snow, ~ only, think, does fall on Dart
moor in midwintcr. Chilled, III spite OF
the warm shawl | wore, by the biting
blasts, and dazzlcd by the thick flakes
that whirled and glttercd rs they swept
by, / pressed on, quickcning my space
homcwards.
] had fingered too long in the village
street, whittier had gone to make some
few final purchases needed for our mer-
~ Christmas dinner, and now the moor
land storm had set in with all It's fury,
and the homcward walk To the farm
would be difficult, and might even be
dangerous.
One hesitabing look | threw back ut
the lights ofthc village fur behind, and
then, remembering that ] should be
anxiously expected vt home, pushed
resoutcly on across the snowy moor,
the darkness appearing to thicken ut
every instant. Faster and faster fell the
snow, clnging to my wet hair, dancing
before my bcwildcrcd eyes, and almost
oblitcrnting the cart-ruts which alone
Indicated the rough road that had to
traverse.
Often had listened by the lireside to
stories of belatcd travellers lost upon
the moor Should once stray from
the track, | might wander over the
boumdlcss waste until my strength failed
me, ~ theirs had done, and, US they had
done, lie down exhausted to die. NJ it
was, by the time | had walked two
miles through the storm, ! began to
grow feeble, my steps were slow, and
the light basket ] carried on my arm
seemed to have grown strangely heavy.
Builctcd 10y the raging wind, ] tottcrcd
YEARLY on through the snow-heaps.
The farm, To the best Of my belief,
was but about half mile Off but be
gan to doubt, bcnumbcd is was by the
intensity Of the cold, and spent with the
toll Of struggling with the tempest,
whether ! should ever reach it. felt
u heavy drowsincss Cypress me, and
longed to lie down and rest for but II
few minutes, before rcsuming the battle
with the wild weather But rest in
such case means sleep, and sleep,
death. Something Of the instinct which
makes hunted animal strain every
nerve to die ut home urged me ON, and
| continued 10 press forward. As ! did
so, u cry reached my ears thu cry Of Il
child III distress II was repeated, and
! turned towards the quarter from
whence came the sound, and then
hcsilntcd. Well knew thnt if cS-
pended the lust drcgs of my strength i'll
plodding through the drifts, the chnhcc
of my reaching tho farm was small ia
deed. And then il mightnui bc child
that had uttered the cry, bat merely
tho blcating OF II stray sheep, l'ru-
dcnce warned me TO hurry on home
wards.
No, no, no | dared not henrkcn to
the whispers Of sclIiShncSs, dared not
Salvo my conscience with the plausible
idea that the cry which had heard
was not u human one. | could not shut
my car to the plnintve appeal TINT
Ind reached me, and, praying to God
thnt | might find mercy for the sake Of
the dear ones ut home, turned towards
the tiny supplinnt. Yes, sure enough,
there were the prints of little feet, al
ready half blottcd out in the SNOW; and
following ON the track, ! eamc at lust
to Il high bunk, and II deep, llcccy drift
where in the white hollow crouchcd
some score Of sheep huddled together
and amongst thcm, apparently asleep
or dead, II little chill |. her pale face pill
lowed ON oneof her woolly companions.
And then know hcr-ny own, my
only one, my little thrce-ypar-old dnr-
ling, our Rosie, that thought 50 snfo
and warm III home; and staggered
forward, and knclt and took her to my
hosom, and clufcd her cold hands, and
wrapped my shawl around her, and
thcn.--and then AL grew dark
How long the lcthurgy brought NY
extreme culd may have. III my ease,
endured, | never know But rcmcm-
Der that heard II rough, kind voice
call ont, Keep CarStonc hack Don't
lot him look they're both dead, poor
things !"
And then tho swoon came Oh again,
and the blank, black darkness swallow
ed up NIL.
But when came back to life it
seemed like forltastc Of hcNcn,so gay
and cheerful was the look Of the warm
COSBY homeplacr, with is glowing tire
Of crimson peat and blazing wood and
wherever my wondering eyes turned,
was some kind ncighhorly face with
which was we'll acquainted ! lay on
\ bed that had hocn drawn close "a the
haac, wrapped IL cloaks and blankets,
while near me kuct i strong man,
Frank Cs.rstonc dcar good Frank
my own brave, kind young husband to
whom had been married hat four short