Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1880-11-25

when Bessie wanted to take "Cleal the
Track" to bed with her.
.Nhy don't you say something, ma
mat" said Bessie. "Why don't you say
you never in all your lite saw such q
good little girl as was when pounded
my finger, you know-or something"
For once however, Bessle's ally failed
her.
"But I tell you what, puss,' said papa.
''You shall tie CLEAR the Track to the
bedpost, and I'm sure he'll not get away
before morning.
OF course with both papa and mamma
against her, Bessie had to give up; al
though she told Joe afterward that she
could just as we'll have slept between the
runners as not.
As bed time drew near Joe and Bes-
sic never felt less sleepy in their lives.
Joe had been caught with his skates
buckled on, walking over the dining
room floor, 'just to try his ankles" he
said (although I don't see why he
should have been 80 happy, when the
snow that was coming would surely
spoil his fun and Bessie sat on Clear
the Track all the evening telling her
la rgest doll the greatest stories of what
was going to happen on the morrow. 1t
was nine o'clock. Joe was sound asleep
with his skates under the pillow; and
Bessie with "Clear the Track" tied tight
to the trundle-bed, still clasplng IN her
plump little hand the iron neck of one
of the swans, was dreaming of coast so
long that it looked at that time as if 1t
would last until morning.
At ten o'clock there was wind and
cold enough, but still no snow; and the
little village went to bed-the children
to dream of skates and sleds, and the
older ones to wonder where the money
was coming from to buy them.
But the next mornlngl There was no
doubt about it then, for the snow was
whirling past the windows at tremen-
dous rate.
"What do you think about school, to-
day, motherl" asked papa.
clock hands were slowly moving around
toward starting time.
mo school to-day, think" said
mamma, looking out at the drifting snow
and the leaden sky overhead.
90! mamma" and Bessie sat down
on "Clear the Track" and came very
neai crying.
81 was going to drag Bessie all the
way to school, and all the way home
. again." said Joe with very deep groan
/ sand now you've spoilt it all.'' And he
put his head against tho mantel-piece
and wouldn't be comforted.
ut doesn't seem to me-" said papa,
; ''as if we would have heavy storm at this
time-only the 9th of November. Don't
you think, too, mamma, that the clouds
look light over there9"
!, Bessie was on the window-seat in q
moment.
"Pooh!" she said, with very wise
1 look. "There's blue sky enough to make
a Dutchman's jacket"
3 sWhere9" asked mamma.
9 Bessie looked again.
' 'Well9, I don't see it now; but i'll
there, really and truly"
Twill you promise to come home a
I noon if the snow keeps on9"
;. go! yes" they promised over and owe
|, again, and Joe, Bessie and "Clear tn
r Track were soon ready to start.
"Keep in the road! Don't 60 acros
the felds!' called mamma out of tn
!; window.
Two kisses were thrown back with tn
: answer: GAIL right. Good bye"
- The school house was a long distance
! away; for, as the village wasn't ricl
: enough to have school sill to itself, tn
next village had joined with them in sup
porting one, which was built half way
and the children had nearly mile t.
! walk.
60! why did let those children go9
said mamma to herself, the minute the,
were out of the yard. The little bright
\ ness all disappeared from the sky, ant
the wind whistled around the house, rat
thing the blinds and whlrling the snoy
!. this way and that into every crevice an
~ corner it could find.
a "Why did do it," she repeated
hundred times that morning, as the hour
went on and the storm went sweeping by
q At eleven o'clock she could stand 1t n
,e longer. Calling Jane, the maid, she toll
e her to 60 at once to the store and tell he
master to send for Bessie and Joe with
& out delay.
&c It took poor Jane five minutes just
90 from the side door to the gate, an
u half an hour to reach the store. Th
drifts across the road ran from fence t
b, fence, and even the teams were struggl1n
he an inch at time.
d. "Say I will 60 at once,'" said pap'
he A neighbor was passing in sleigh, an
Dr. they agreed to push on together.
it How it did snow! As on the hills, s
t, in the valley. The roads were almos
" impossible. The horse plunged an
reared as the huge snow drifts arose be
" fore him and the binding storm dashe
ss into his face.
IN "They couldn't have gone further tina
ID the hallway house." said the neighbo
il, trying to keep papa's courage up. Til
he halfway house was where the little oil
bit woman lived all alone, and sold apple
and candy to the children as they passe
L. on their way to school.
The horse struggled on.
"Bless ye, Sill, the children is gone baC
.s- two hours ago, each wild a stick O. cand
80 smilin' and happy, shure, they didn
go on at alll'' said the little old woman
It was then past two o'clock, and tv
to hours more it took them to travel tn
to short distance back again. And whe
they reached home the horse was perfec
BY ly helpless.
"Well, mamma" cried papa, Cheerful
ny ly, making believe he wasn't nearly vii
hit with anxiety. "Are the children up stat
ed or playing in the barn9"
White and trembling, mamma answer
"Whatl Haven't you brought them
to and then mamma gives up, while jan
ou and papa lift her upon the lounge, r.
ing to bring back the light into her ey'
1t once more.
ee
tv PART HIN THE VALLEY.
By five o'clock brave, strong men we
or out with heavy OK teams. But the W
men shook their heads. Eight hours o
se, in the storm, and nothing but wee bits
as children toO And thew take their ov