Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-12-11

nave ulSdppedTtu, anu tile Dl9 HclllOCk
trunks stripped of their bark, lie rotting In
labyrinths on the long slopes, covered with
a dense new growth.
At that time, however, half of the course
of the Hudson was Il wilderness. Here
and there mt long intervals were small
towns and villages, and farms and manors
were seen where the banks were less high
and shaggy. No railroad trains rushed
along the shores; no steam-whistles broke
the silence; no great thrce-story steam
boats Numbered by, thronged with people.
The river was II quiet place in these days.
Light, graceful sIoops, and slow moving
barges aud arks were all the craft we saw
on its waters, excepting the little steam
boats, not much larger than one of oUr
small tugs, that came up sometimes, and
were looked upon with IA touch OF wonder.
As for the great ice.houSes, the factories,
the fine country seats and pretty villas
that now crowd the shores of the broad
river, they had not been dreamed of. The
scream of the eagle and the blue jay alone
broke the silence.
Our boss was a first rate fellow, and one
Christmas day he lst us have IA holiday
and Il big sleigh ride All the girls of the
country round were invited the snow lay
just deep enough, and the sleghng was
capital.
But | was sulky and would not 20, be-
cause I'd been " cut out, as we called it,
with the girl | wanted to take. | was
very fond of stillhunting, and in my veX-
alton went off to hunt for deer. Beyond
the Kauterskill Glove, l didn't know the
country very well, but an old man told me
they often crossed the pass above Planter
kill, and | went to look for them there.
hunted all day, and found no deer
they had grown shy and scarce, and had
gone away, over the mountains toward
Hunter. had long chase over their
tracks, up the Glove to Haynes Falls, and
away over the top to Plauterkill Glove,
and then along the pass by the shoulder of
Indian Pass by the shoulder of Indian
Head, to the side of Overlook Mountain.
1t was coming on toward night, with wild
sunset blazing, and gusts of wind spring
ing up, and | began to think Of getting
back or, ut least, of finding some place to
sleep; for in my eagerness for deer, had
gone too far to return to Catskill village
that night. thought l might get rs far
as Plauterkill or Haynes Falls, where
there were n few houses.
was turning to 90 up the pass again,
when, Just on the edge of the hemlock
forest, under ledge of rocks on the noun
tain side, saw small quarry, where IA
few paving stones had been taken out, and
close by smoke curling into the air.
looked sharp, and, sure enough, there was
little hut tucked under the ledge just
shed, so rough that it looked like part of
the rock, with a stone wall, and Il few
slabs and boughs to roof it over.
The sun was setting angrily down the
valley, behind the distant Shandaken
range, and pouring on the near mountains
great dashes of orange light; and the pur-
pie chasms between, and the black pines
and hemlocks that stood out against the
heights where the snow was sky-blue and
gold, all had strange and stormy look.
was lust thinking how handsome those
mountains were, and yet what dangerous
faces they had. as if they meant to have II
wild night of it among themselves. Over
look had his white cap on, and the others
were gathering mist around their tops.
The day had been still, but now Il strong
wind blew from the hills, and drovethe loose
snow in fine powder before it. | was Just
noticing all this, you know, and saying to
myself that there was not II moment to
spare, and | must hurry, or the storm
would be upon me, when | heard II little
voice near me, calling out:
Mister! have you seen NY father, any
whcres?H
started with surprise to see in that
lonely wintery place the figure and face
of pretty little bov, about ten years OLD,
suddenly Standing out against the sunset
skv.
Your father? No, my boy" said i.
" Rut what are YOU doing here. miles
away from any house all alone at TIM -,
time of day?"
WHY, YOU see, sir" said the boy, as
cheerful as a chipmunk " my father told
me to STAY till he came back. He went
down this morning to Woodstock to get
news of nv mother, who is very sick. If
she s no better, he'll come up tonight and
take me home tomorrow, but, if she is
better, he'll want me to stay here with
him. and help to get out some more
Stone"
{" Rnt NV bow" | said, "thcre's Il
heavy snow storm coming Look down
there toward Shandaken. Look ut the
nueer colors in that skv. Ifyou stay here
Ia. picht YOU will be covered in with drifts
until next summer and never come out
alive. Have YOU cot food?'
Enough for tonight said the brave
little fellow.
And are YOU not afraid Of" stop
ned short. | was going to say bears, for
had seen plenty of their tracks that day.
Afraid No. Fathers sure to come
He told me TO stay. and I'm going to do
Iit.n
went into the little cabin and found n
tinv stove. Il few armfuls of chips, pitch
or Of water, a bit of bread and cheese, and
a p,ir of tatlered blankets; that was all.
NV heart sank. Fuel, to be sure. was
nlenty. but how was that heroic little fell
low to bring enough to keep himself from