San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1878-03-02
force Of the wind. There was also


stone fireplace at one end, and il fire
could only be secured the night might
be passed very safely. But without a
fire it was perilous situation.
Feeling in the darkness, among his
baggage, he found one single match.
But what could he light with itp Every
thing was buried in snow and the wind
was blowing wildly all the time, First
he went into the timber and gathered a
quantity of wood-limbs and dry sticks.
Then he went again and felt around
with his feet under the snow till he
found q pile Of leaves. Burrowing
' to- the bottom OF the drift, he
I took out an arniful that were dry.
! Putting theseIinto the fireplace and pill
b ing the dry Sticks and the large'wood
above them, ne. was now readyfor his
light. Now CAME the crisis An de-
pended ON that bne match .1b That was
all,that stood between him and death.
! If thatifallea, the chance of his eSer see-
/ ing home again WAS very smalloHThe
4 wind was blowing gale, and the snow
J drifting through every crevice rin such a
akiway as to give but 81 small sShspee to a
poor little, match. ~ But in was all he
! had, and when every thing was ready he
4 prepared to make the venture. Taking
his blanket, Ae threw it, over his Shout
ders and let it fall SO as to form Q shell
ter; then taking out his only match, he
waited for lull in the tempest. The
winds seemed to know that their hour
had come, and they never screamed so
loudly or blew SO wildly. AS the man
r knelt by the fireplace, it seemed as
\ if the powers OF the sky were let loose
and were bent on blowing outhis only
match sd But there came moments
hush at last, and he struck the light.
4 A gust of wind came near max
ing anss Ia endia of go its but
he wrapped the folds Of his blanket
around so as to save it. 1t burned blue
a moment, then clear white, and then
in another moment the leaves We're, blaz-
ing in the fireplace and the crisis was
passed, When the man arose, be found
himself trembling from head to foot, the
perspiration was standing on his brow,
and he was so weak he could scarcely.
stand.
His horse was in the cabin with him,
and enjoyed the warmth as, Wen as, him
self. He had no corn for him, and on
" d few crackers for his own supper.
Saving |some of these for morning, he
divided the rest between himself and the
horse, giving the horse by far the larger
share. For some time they stood side
by side, eating crackers and seeming to
be the best of friends. After supper the
gentleman gathered, wood for the night
and prepared to make, himself as COM
Portable as possible. It grew less cold
as the night wore on, and after, q, time
he ventured to sleep. When he awoke
it was daylight. The fire had burned
down; but it was still warm and was
easily replenished The snow had drift
ed till it nearly covered the cabin, and
it was this that had made it so COM
Portable the latter part of the night
The storm outsidewas as wild and flu
rious as ever, with no sign of abate-
ment.s 1t would be pleasantest to re-
main there till the wind, at least, sub
sided. But this might not be for "a
hours, and, with nothing for his horse
to eat, he did not dare to risk the delay.
At breakfast he divided his crackers
again with his horse, giving him the
most of them, as he had the most OF the
work to do. After their scanty break
fast they pushed out from their COM
Portable quarters into thestorn., twas
colder and fiercer than ever. The snow
ing had ceased; but the. air was full of
flying snow and great drifts beset the
way. By daylight, he recognized the
place, and so found his direction. The
horse seemed to understand the neces-
stiles of the hour, and rushed forward
will all his might, plunging through
snowdrifts and pulling through the high
grass and weeds and making fair head
way. In about two hours they came in
sight of home, and short time after the
gentleman, nearly frozen, was by his
own fireside, and the horse. was eating
oats in his, own stable. The former
never forgot that night in the storm,
and he never struck light without
thinking how much might depend on a
"single match. "-New York L'aoiepend-