The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1880-03-27
THE BLIZZARD.

it meant, nor did l know whether it had
the dignity of a place in Webster's una.
bridged, nor did I care, as never supposed
should use it.
1t was not till I went to the great North
west, and found myself denizen of its me
tropolis, st. Paul, that discovered that il
had, in Minnesota, at least, significant
| meaning.
Not long after my arrival asked q friend
the purport of the word as they used it; he
looked at me as though was quizzing him,
and said, "Do I understand you to say you
don't know what we mean by blizzard ?"
"HonOr bright" said I, az don't know"
"Well, you Eastern people are very igno-
rant" said he.
| pleaded guilty to ignorance, and was
told to wait till next winter and would
find all about it,
~ may die or get well before them"
persisted.
people don't die here, and the climate
will do you so much good you'll stay"
gave him up.
To another friend I said "What's bliz-
zard ?"
He, too, seemed surprised at the question,
and after "a little hesitation said dts a
kind of storm we have here; it comes like a
well, like regular blizzard"
This was something, but not very def
mite, and when pressed for more extend
ed description was. told to wait till l saw
one, and then would be thoroughly salts
fed.
Some weeks after this, as l was going
| through a cemetery l saw tombstone in
memory of an entire family, and this was
the laconic epitaph.; Caught in great
blizzard in 1873" l was getting on here
were the tangible results of blizzard if
nothing more, and began TO have some re-
spect for the word.
My friend number one was right, for
did not die, and the climate did me good
and found out to my entire satisfaction
what a blizzard was.
hope l may do better for my readers in
describing it than my friends did by me.
In the early part of the winter | found
myself in the northwestern part of Mime
sofa. drove one day fifteen miles from
the railway to a small town to see an old
friend. Ny visit was over, was about to
returnj in fact had my overcoat on, and
had ordered the team, when a neghbor came
IN. He said stranger you had better
not start there's going to be blizzard, or
Pm no judge"
"That's exactly what I want" exclaimed
!; "I'n find out what it is, if I'm caught in
one"
nAnd to your sorrow" said my friend.
"Pull of your coat. If Mr.. P. Gays there
is going to be a blizzard you can't leave my
house until it is over; he knows all about
it and the weather; he is our weather bu-
reau in this section, and he can tell you all
about billiards, for he has liYed in Mime
sofa for thirty years"
The result was, l was not persuaded but
ordered to stay till the weather prophet and
the weather were more favorable.
Then demanded to be at once enlight-
ened on the whole subject
"Well," said neighbor P, Everybody be-
gins with "well" when they speak on this
subjoci) "if was to tell you of some sights
l have seen you would not believe me-"
"Give me your first experience" said I,
to get at something defnitej and this time
was successful. won't try 10 give it in
neghbor P.'s language exactly, as it would
take too long.
81 was living in one Of the southern coun-
ties. Twas soon after l had moved from
Ohio. The day was warm and pleasant
aud ia drove to town in q two horse cutter.
| started back about one The winter road
across the lake was about twelve miles, al
though 1t was shorter by land. l took the
lake roadSas twas the best going. The lake
was irregular like, and the road ran down
an arm three miles, and turned of to the
ives, round a point. After turning that
point il was seven miles 10 the house.
81 had just turned the point the wind
was from the south aud warm. looked
west and saw cloud coming down the lake.
Had known then what know now I'd
drove back round the point and went to the
woods, but l kept on. The cloud came
down to the very ice, and when it struck US
il fairly raised the cutter Off the iee the
horses stopped and held their heads down,
as though they couldn't Lelpi it, The snow
was binding and sharp as needles. The
wind drove It through to the skin, as tho
you had no cloths on, and it was hundred
times colder than ice.
"As soon ss I could get my breath I yell
I'd Al the horses and beat them with INV