The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-01-10

10 Stt away, duu eo p0ihaps oo va WI WV
to my poor old relative. My happiness.
however, was not of very long duration.
About an hour after our departure from
the village, the thought struck me how
daring and venturesome it was to travel
alone with my little ones through vast
desert of snow, cut off from aid
and far away from any human
habitation. Then for the first
time I began to remember all the
dreadful accidents that had befallen
lonely travellers in our neighborhood and
almost made up my mind to turn back
again. This fear grew upon me, and it
increased more than ever when | per-
ceived that the track in the snow had
become so narrow that all chance of
turning back in safety was cut off On
was obliged to 60, whether I would or
not. My terror still kept increasing; but
I dared not let the children know that
apprehended any danger. / listened
anxiously and magnifed the slightest
sound I heard. The track got narrower
and narrower, and at last, as we were
passing little belt Of fir trees, heard
distinctly behind me an awful sound.
knew well what it was. In an instant
turned round and saw that
we were being pursued by a.
flock of hungry wolves. Now that
the danger was SO imminent, my courage |
seemed to get stronger. ! madly lashed
the horse, and he setoff at a wild, excited
gallop. 1t was too late. Two of the
largest wolves, with red, glaring eyes and
hideous open jaws, were already at the
horses hanks, and raced with him along
the snow-covered tract. On the horses
life depended my life and that of my
children. If he died, we were all lost.
Cost what it might, the horses life must
be saved. thought. A horrible thought
flashed across me, and instead of repell.
ing it accepted it as an inspiration from
heaven. In cold blood made up mind,
and in cold blood l calculated the awful
consequences of my plan. At this very
instant my second boy, child about
three years old, clung to me and cried
piteously. The boys sobs seemed
to excite the demoniac animals
more than ever, and they gained on
the galloping horse. Without knowing
what l was doing, and with almost an in
voluntary movement, seized the shrek
ing child by the hair and dropped him
behind the sledge. l saw him sink into
the soft snow; there was one wild cry,
and then the wolves stopped short where
the boy had fallen. All this passed in
less than an instant. For minute l
thought we were saved; but it was not SO.
The little ones cries had hardly died
away in the distance when two more
wolves appeared at the side of the sledge.
The awful sacrifice had made had been
useless, and we were in as much danger
as ever. The same fendish thought took
possession Of me, and again my mind
was made up. I looked first to the little
darling nesting closely to my breast,
and then 1 turned to my eldest boy,
who was pale with fear and clutched
nervously to the folds of my dress.
go, mother he whispered, 4 will be
good I won't cry really, l won't cry
once! Oh, mother, don't throw me into
the snowp There was heavy mist be-
fore my eyes, and I hardly recollected
what I did. Will God have mercy on
me? If you had only known what l suf-
fered then! My little daughter nestled
closer than ever to my breast. She must
be saved, I thought. Must I say what
happened? You can guess. My eldest
boy died as his brother has died before
him.
"Must you hear the rest? I was
almost mad now; the roaring of the
wolves, the horse, the last cries Of my
children, the awful thought of seeing
my baby torn from my arms, the dread
of death-all mingled into a terrible
nightmare. / could not move hand OF
foot; my eyes were fixed, and still
clasped my babe to my bosom. / dared
not look behind me; but at last hear(
a terrible yell in my ear, and for a sec
ond 1 felt something on my shoulder
1 Why did I not faint? Mechanically
turned my head. / saw wolf with
open jaws, clinging by his claws to thu
back of the sledge. He made hal
spring at me, missed his hold, and fel
back into the snow. Three times hi
made fresh spring, three times he missed
his hold. The fourth time, he 60
his claws on the sledge again, and there
for few seconds he hung. There wa
only one chance, to dash him hack be
fore he could get firm hold. His claw
stuck deep into my fingers, as by mail
force I tried to wrench them from thu
sledge. 1t was desperate struggle, ant
1 had almost succeeded, when my bab.
4 fell from my armsl From that momen
to the time when I first heard humal
! voices, can remember nothing. Tn
reins had long fallen from my hands;
: knew the horse was still galloping on
but can recollect no moro. / have nj
), conception where we have been or how
got here" r.. .s ~
The young woman again covered he
face with her hands, and burst into pas
sionate food Of tears. There was an aw
. full silence in the room, broken ever
. now and then by the. hysterical sobs Q
many Of the women and girls who stoo
! o,,J Tho poan tranhlad ton an