The Osceola times., 1880-05-22
THE CROWS NEST.

"What" said Mrs. Bray, half smiling
"three miles across The mountain side, il
all this deep snow?"
"Tye often carried iather's dinner tc
him when he was in the maple sugal
camp" said Johnny, "and that's half {
mile further than DR.. Denton's. It'i
something of a walk, TO be sure"
81 should think So" said Mrs. Bray.
"But think | could 60 quicker than
any one else" said Johnny, as he looked
pitiully at the little babe in the cradle
whose dimpled face was all flushed with
fever. 81 love Willie, you know, and
And here great lump seemed to rise
up in his throat and check hls words.
Johnny and Willie were motherless
children. Their father earned his live
lihood by cutting pines in the forests
hauling timber, and doing odd jobs gen
orally whenever he could get a chance
Their mother had died a few months be.
fore and kind neighbor had offered 9
home to the children, for the sake of the
little errands and chores that Johnny
could do.
Mrs. Bray was very kind to them, and
took the best possible care Of the baby;
but there was manv a night when
Johnny lay awake, softly crying to him
self, with his arms around Willie's neck
and thinking of the dear. dear mother
he had ,st. And it was his greatest am.
bition to obtain good situation in the
neighborhood, where he could earn a
little money and help support Willie.
For | know that my father is very
poor,' said Johnny, "and, If | could only
assist him, know that mother would be
pleased up in heaven"
"Well," said Mrs Bray, after a little
hesitation, 81 think you had better 90" )"
So Johnny put on his cap and tied his
faded worslca comforter about his neck.
An overcoat was an unknown luxury to
him, but his coat was warm and snug,
and he set off on brisk walk, that was
almost a run, in the frozen March sun
shine, over the mountain side, that was
white and glittering with snow.
For all the dazzling sunshine, a tre-
mendous gale OF wind was blowing-such
gale as might make mariners tremble,
on the decks of great ships, standing far
out to sea--a gale that shook the tops OF
trees, and made them groan and creak a.
IL giants in pain were hidden within
their huge, mossy trunks.
And how Johnny found his way
through those trackless woods, where
there was no path, kept here and there
the paw marks OF stealing fox, or Wild
cat. or the yelvety tracks of rabbits, no
body could guess.
lie kept his eye steadily on the sun,
and every now and then paused TO look
for rude signs cut in the bark OF the
birch trees. which served as a sort OF
guide post to him.
After long walk, crossing two or
three frozen streams, and getting over a
huge, roxy chasm by means of fallen
tree trunk-whiCh croaned dismally as
Johnny picked his way across 1t. as If IL
had half mind to snapitself in two and
let him down among the snowy rocks
below-he reached the doctors house, on
the other side, and left his message.
"The doctor isn't in," said Miss
Phoebe, the doctors sister, "but I'll tell
him the very minute he gets back. He
can drive around by the road in his new
cutter, and perhaps he'll be there before
you are"
Il nope So" said Johnny, wistlully,
because our baby Is very sick"
You'd better stop and lave bit OF
dinner" said Miss Phoebe. Its most
ready"
"Oh, thank youl" said Johnny; "but l
couldn't stay. | must get back to Willie.
can keep him quiet better than any
one else when he IS ailing and tretiul."
So Miss PhnNe gave him Il drink OF
milk and piece Of hot gingerbread, and
he started back home again.
1t was getting on toward sunset now,
and Johnny was anxious to get home.
IL think perhaps it would be shorter
cut" he thought, "if could get down to
the railroad ira k and walk on that as
far as the Great Gray Rock, and then
cross the ice pond to the old road"
He scrambled down the sleep and
frozen side of the bleak mountain, and
soon came TO the single railroad track,
upon which passenger train ran at 5
in the morning going south. and in the
afternoon gong north. There was a
freight train at noon also, but this had
passed by long since
1T must be near 8 now," thought he.
II shall hear the noise of the train as 1t
comes; and, besides, they always blow a
whistle at the Great Gray Rock"
He walked along, swiftly and steadily,
his hands deep down in his pockets, and
his nose purple with cold. suddenly he
stopped.
'.t's very strange that ! don't see the
crows nest" he said, aloud as If he were
talking to the yellow sunset in the west.
1he crows nest was a long-deserted
nest of sticks and straw and reeds, in the
decayed boughs of lightning blasted
pine tree, which, from IFS peculiar posi-
ton, could be seen from some distance
away by any one approaching from the
northern side Of the mountain. And
then Johnny came around the curve OF
the woods, and saw, to his amazement,
that the old pine, dccayed at the heart.
and tossed about by the tempcstuous
March gale, had split halt way down,
and fallen-a huge, splintered mass
across the iron rails of the track.
And this was the reason that Johnny
had failed to see the familiar landmark
of the crows nest
"What shall ! do?' cried Johnny,
aloud. "The train comes rushing
around the bend at 5, and all the pas
sengers will be killed. Oh, if | had but
q red lantern TO signal Danger aheadn"
He stopped a minute, trembling.like q
leaf, to think what he had better do
and then. starting TO run at full speeoi
he rushed headlorg down the track,
waving his scarlet comforter his
mead.
At the top Of the snowy hill by the
Great Rock, he knew that he could be
seen tor long distance; and, by dint Of