The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1880-12-09

and not seem foolishly weak, so she had told the
boys to go to their usual beds.
After an hour or more of waiting and listening
Bertha took her heavy waterproof and wrapped
it around her, put on her Arctic shoes, and went
out to the rescue of the lamb. She could endure
its cries no longer. There was muddy stream to
cross at the foot of the slope below the house, but
she waded through, only getting over her shoes
once in its icy sludge and climbed the hill to the
lambs shed through the drifts with brave and
kindly purpose. The lamb saw her coming, and
was Of course afraid of his best friend He ran
away as fast as he could, but the snow was deep
for his tiny legs, and she soon caught him in
drift He was carried to the shed, and, after man.
fold trouble in undoing the fastenings of the gate
while the lamb cried and struggled to get away,
Bertha put him down in warm corner beside his
little mates went out and fastened the gate care
fully, and started to return to the house. AS she
turned around corner of the barn man stood
suddenly before her. By this time she was shiv-
ering with cold and her feet seemed almost frozen.
She did not scream; she only jumped aside and
then, thinking it might be VIII Sanders, one of
the shepherds, she said in a trembling voice;
as it you, WHIP
"No, it is Charlie but what in the name of
wonder are you here for, Mrs Russell?"
''On sara BeFlna, nave you lOunu Earle
Tell me quick, is he coming?"
"No; have not found him. hardly expected
to when I went, for the snow was blowing so
could see but short distance, but am sure he is
all right, and has driven the sheep under some
shelter-yOu know we have several places to
which we can drive them in case we out in a
Storm 1t would be better than trying to get
home in the night. But why are you here? Pray,
tell me-"
"a poor little lamb was outside the gate, crying
crying, so long, and could not bear to hear him.
But what has become of my Earle? am sure he
would try to come home, for my sake" said
Bertha.
"For your sake, it would be better for him not
to-" said Cleaveland. "But you are shivering like
an aspen leaf. You will get your death Of cold, l
fear. Let me assist you through the snow" and
Cleaveland gave her his arm down the hill.
As they neared the creek, Bertha told him how
she had wet her feet in going over.
"Let me carry you across" said he, and he did
so.
Just as he was putting her down on the other
bank voice from the wool-house door broke the
silence with
'What's up? Who's there?"
1t was Will Sanders, the elder of the two sheep
boys, who had heard the voices as the two passed
the WOOl-nOuSe, ana came out 10 see Wnat was the
matter.
at is Cleaveland and Mrs Russell. She came
out to put up little stray lamb that was crying
outside. I have just got home," said Charlie.
'Did you find Russell?" said Sanders.
''No, not a track OF him, but he's all right. He
will come in tomorrow"
"Of course ~ said Sanders. 81 thought il was
no for you to go for him. But why in mercy
didn't Mrs. Russell wake US, and have us get the
lamb?n
"She did not wish to startle you by halloaing to
you," said Cleaveand; $50 she said when asked
her, but poor thing, she is nearly frozen"
! So saying, he followed Bertha to the door
"D-n a woman, anyhow" muttered Sanders
| maybe twas lamb, and maybe 'twasn't
Looks mighty suspicious" and he slammed the
wool-house door and went to bed again.
When Bertha got to the fire and took off her
shoes, her feet ached so that she could not help
crying
Cleaveland came in, and seeing her suffering,
rushed out and filled wash-bowl with snow and
brought it to her. and told her she must rub her
feet with it, rs that would ease them.
"Oh, If Earle would only come ~ sobbed she
but daylight dawned and he not yet come.
ITO be continued.l