The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1878-02-21
VOLUME XI.


wouldn't wait too long. They'll bc
breaking ont the roads IN day or So, "
replied the judge.
But more than a day nr So went 10y
before the Mataska people cared 10 at
tempt a good deal in the way of road
making, and in the meantime the Eric
sons had not been ready for this -
With endless supplies Of timber-land
close hy-that is, within mile or So,
and generally Rue winter weather TO
haul in what he might want old Jan
could never see the policy OF making up
much oi a wooi-pile.
Besides, ii huge provision for warmth,
such as his neighbors made, offended
JAMS keen sense OF economy. They
would surely waste what they had So
much Of.
When, however, the old man saw the
storm beginning. the even unusually
bare condition Of his pile OF chips
struck him with sudden disInay, and
he AZ once started for the forest with n
yoke o. oxen.
1t Was rash thing 10 10, for a man of
his age: but he had counted on his
thorough Scandinavian tOughness 10
carry him through. And So Il did. for
az Supper-tme he fought his way 10 the
house again, through the heaping drifts
and the blinding rush of the storm; but
he came alone, for his team and their
ioad were hopelessly stalled and showed
under.
There was fuel enough on hand for
. IA
cheered Norma with the promise Of what
he would 10 ON the morrow. And Norma
tried 70 be cheerful, but the bowling,
dismal tempest without was only too
we'll in keeping with tho dismal state of
her own internal feelings and thoughts.
The night went by and the morning
came. and the storm stll ragged, but old
Jan Ericsson did not go ont 10 cut wood.
He dld not even leave his bed, for ex-
posure and cold and over-exertion had
done their work on his rheumatic old
limbs, and imprisoned him only too etlec-
tually.
Poor Norna's heart sank within her,
for she knew that such attacks were apt
to be tediously long. and even food
might fail her, as well as the means of
cooking it,
She was brave girl, and she male out
10 gn to the barn and the stables that
day, so that the stock did not suffer; but
the few ce-rails aud odd pieces Of
timber she was able 10 bring in enabled
her to make but a poor defense against
the fast increasing cold.
Moreover, old Jan was chilly, and
fretted and complained of the absence Of
the grand old fires he had been used to
in his youth, among the distant hills Of
Norway.
That was terrible day for Norma, and
when another morning dawned, she
looked out upon the white and more
than Arctic desolatiou around the house,
with feeling near akin to despair.
Still, with true courage, the Beauty OF
Mataska faced her troubles, waded
through the drifts, fed carefully her one
feeble fire, attended to the querulous
demands Of unreasonable old Jan, and
wondered, now and then, If the people
at the village would ever dream of send
ing out TO look after them.
Then there followed another long,
dark. miserable night, and Norma could
not get a wink of sleep TIL toward morn
ing, for thinking of what might come.
She did not even rise at once when
the tariy light began to come through
the thickly frosted panes of her window.
Why should she. when she had nothing
TO make fire with?
Would it not be better to burn the
furniture than TO freeze? She could
make a cup of coffee, at least, with the
kitchen chairs.
Just then she heard slight sound in
the adjoining room. and wondered if her
father could be stirring.
II was an effort even TO rise and dress
in that stinging cold; but Norma was
brave, and in few minutes more she
was ready TO face the labOrs and perils
of the day
Her heart was heavy enough when she
laid her hand on the kitchen-door; but
when she opened it she fairly started
hack in astonishment, for blast of
warm air, balmy with the breath of
blazing pine, smate her IN the face.
Not the cheerless, chill, deathly desc
lation she had expected was the ample
kitchen, but the high-piled hearth
blazed and cracked with a most un-
wonted prodigality OF pine, oak and
hickory, while heaped on either side of
IL were ample supplies for at least that
days consumption, whatever might be
the condition OF the thermometer.
Norma did not believe in miracles, but
she thought of her bedridden father,
about to be frozen 10 death but for that
pile Of wood, and she just sat down by
the window for good, wholesome cry
before she set herself TO work at getting
breakfast ready.
The tea-kettle had evidently filled
itself, and started for boil on its own
account, and Norna's curiosity took her
at once 10 the door, to see what solution
of the puzzle might be found outside
Not a sign Of human life was there, but
somebody had been at work with a
shovel, for there was very decent path
way cut as far as the barn.
Tracks, of course, here and there. but
big boots are too nearly alike TO tell tales
to the eyes Of any one less acute Of Wis
ion than an Indian trailer.
Still, Norma wondered aud wondered
how all that wood could ever have got
there.
Getting into the house was easy
enough IN region where wooden latchcs
take the place OF combination locks, but,
whoever the unknown benefactor had
been, he must have possessed wonderful
faculties for silence. $3.50.
There was magic in it, and Norma
called to mind the old Morse tales she
had heard Of good-natured demons Of the
forest but, then, all that belonged 10
Norway, and not 10 Minnesota.
Later in the day, as Norma paced here
and there among the drifts, she got one
hint, at least, for those broad though
deep dents In the surface of the snow
drifts could only have been made by
snow-shoes.
When she finally found her way 10 the
stables, Norma saw that her work there
had all been done for her, and good
deal more, and that even an old wood
sleigh had been ding out OF the snow, as
il in anticipation Of future use.
Inside the house the "food question "
was fast becoming an important one, 80
closely had the narrow and stinting
policy of old Jan permitted the current
supply TO run down but, for all that,
Norma Ericsson sang all day the quaint
and musical rhymes Of her northern an
cestry, which her mother had taught her
years before.
Bitter, bitter cold it was without, but
the bountiful provision of the unknown
friend left little to ask for within, and
the very dancing blaze itself seemed 10
laugh in mockery of Norna's curiosity.
The long night came again, OF course,
and Norma triad hard not 10 90 TO sleep,