The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1880-11-25

mother. Why will you not let me go to
the village and get work. Hector shall
stay with you, and every night I will
come back.'
s'No; Harry; no. You wouldn't come
back over the hills at night, and couldn't
have you away. There must surely be
game in the forest, my boy: and in the
meantime we will bridge over this un-
profitable season with supplies from the
village below. Why, all the associations
of these earrings have been fearful. I
cried before I got them, and cried after
ward to think how foolish I had been.''
They sat and talked far into tine night.
With bedtime came the bringing in of
wood for the mornings fire, and the
rather unnecessary precautien OF lock-
ing the rough-hewn doors.
'What's the matter, Hcctor2 Want to
have a little racing before tuning in for
the night2"
The dog was standing with his fore.
paws upon the latch, snuf1ing at the
crack. Harry opened the door. Whew!
They had been so busy talking that they
hadn't noticed the rising wind nor sus-
pected the snow that now whirled into
the room. ..-
"Mother," said Harry, with his arm on
her shoulder" smother, the snow has
come"
"Yes.'' "
"That was all they said. 1t was not a
question of snow balling and coasting
with them. It meant a bitter struggle
against poverty, this coming Of the snow
before its time. But whatever the others
thought of it, Hector was as jolly as
school boy. A whistle brought him back
to the house. His shaggy coat was COW
cred.
"Perhaps, Harry, it's only another
furry
"Flurries don't take three days to gath
er, dear mother, and when they do come
the snow isn't like this''
He rubbed his hand across Hectors
back, and the fine, dry snow foated out
as light as wool. Next morning the
snow was still raging. All day long it
showed, beating up against the low doors
and windows. Now the fence is up to
its neck in the drifts, and now there is
no trace of the rails. Hour after hour
the biting wind whistled around the cot
tage. Inch by inch the snow crept up
its sides--h1gh above the record Of any
former yesr-and the long afternoon
wore on.
smother, I'm going to the valley
Mot tonight. Harry, not tonight.
Wait! See, we have plenty"
It was loving mothers plenty. Per-
hap enough for one, and that one was not
herself.
For the first time since early morning
they opened the door. A solid bank Of
snow fell half across the floor; and out
side as the storm lulled, could be seen
over the tree tops the broken, trackless
waste, stretched far down to the valley
below.
'See, my boy. 1t would be impossi-
ble."
"With starvation behind men have
risked more" ->-..r
"a man never risked more than you
would do, were you to risk your life on
the hills tonight"
He knew her meaning. He knew his
life to her meant every thing In this wide
world. he closed the door. There by
the fire lay Hector, sleeping with one eye,
and the other watching his master.
"Mother, have 1t!' suddenly cried
Harry, as his eye fell upon the dog.
"You have two lives at your disposal,
you see-mine and Hector's. Let your
majesty decide! Come here, sir, and
stand up for review
Harry was jubilant. While he would
have to follow the beaten path, the dog
could take advantage of every wind swept
lodge and foot-hold. He could carry
message to the villagers below; and with
Harry's game pouch about his neck could
bring food enough to last for days
plenty, at least, for the present need.
''Could you make him undrstand?'
"Make him understands" repeated
Harry. "Do you hear her, old fellow
She wants to know. But look here
Drawing the table to the window, he
put a chair upon it, and at the command
the dog sprang up.
"Hector, the village IS down there.
No, you can't see it now, because the
snow is blowing again; SO you needn't
try. But the village Is there. Isn't told
boy?"
Hector sneezed.
call rightl Now you're to go-wait
minute to go down there, and come
back again. You understands Come
back again.
Harry went to the cupboard. and, TAX
ing bit of bread, he held it before the
dogs nose.
This is what you 70 to bring home, you
see, in this !"
He took the bread, put 1t in the pouch,
took it out again, placed it back in the
cupboard, and the lesson was learned.
Around the dogs neck they strapped the
pouch, and in it they sent the message for
assistance. An anonymous message it
was, for q little money would pay for it,
and little money was just what they
had.
Truly. it was sad parting. They
watched the dog founder the drifts, across
the clearing; saw HIM get foothold on
the ledge by the great pine tree, aud
spring out Of sight. As the night fell,
they saw the clouds drift away as the
moon come up, and the hills were bright
with the light.
"'Give US this day our daily bread,
Do you never doubt, little neither