Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-05-27

you re lucky. now Jones down here
Won don't know him. you're a new man
he's cattle man, keeps 80 or 200 head
all the time he lost l3s head the first
night Of the storm, went into the river.
Cattle will do that. keep going and going
TO get out Of the storm, and when they
come to the river the hind ones keep push
ing till they're all in. It's hard on Jones.
lie wasn't ready for winter, none Of us
was''
Some one came rushing in to say the
lines were working again up to the second
town west and they had only half a cord
Of wood in town. Only two fires they
said, one in hardware store, the other in
saloon. and people who could not crowd
around them had gone to bed TO keep
warm.
IF it only holds like this said the gro
Ger, and the wind don't blow, they can get
wood to them in day or two. the worst
road is below here and they've got that
most clear. but il if blows again God help
them. they're all goners. every live one
Of them" The early winter twilight had
begun to darken the bright. clear day
when Cyrus started for home. The wind
began TO blow. too, and the snow to
whirl in a threatening way. lie settled
his bag Of provisions on his back and
tried to hurry on toward home. He had
come by the sun in the morning, but now
that was gone. the road drilted so full of
snow one could not tell where it had been,
and far and wide only the trackless
prairie, looking so much alike, no matter
which way he look ed. as do different parts
of the ocean. and as the wind rose the
snow flew and whirled about so that he
e. 81. q n,
he pressed on trying to keep his way.
The snow cut against his face and blinded
his eyes and filled his footprints soon
as made. He had walked until he was
very tired and thought he must be nearly
home when he saw a light. That must be
home and he hurried on. lie was almost
up to it, or he could not have seen it. 1t
was in small house which he knew at
once was not his house. 1t seemed
strange to him. lie opened the door and
went in. 1t was the grocery he had left,
he could not tell how long before.
Given it up. have YOU 9'' said the man.
II think that's the hest thing you can do.
shows your heads level. Didn't look
much like il when YOU started to wade six
miles after sundown.''
Cyrus looked at him confusedly IL
had got home
warm them.
Look here. sir said the man, coming
up to him and beginning to lit the BAG
from his shoulders. .You stay right here.
it amt no kind of weather tor a man to he
starting out over these Internal perraries
you wait and have some supper and go 10
had n,I ssart 4 I,.-t,t
it'll be bad enough then Sally" he called
opening door at the back of the little
store. ''cant You get bite for this man
He's got lost and must stay all night
Sally showed her rosy face at the door
and avowed her willingness TO have the
bite ready in a jiffy. but Cyrus protested.
lie could not stay all night and leave his
old mother out alone in that lonesome
place to worry. He finally consented to
eat some supper and started once more rs
soon as possible. The snow whred into
the door behind him rs he went out
That's the end of him. according to
my way of thinking" said the man. look
ing after Cyrus but not seeing him. The
grocer went back and shut the door
"This'll block the trains again. we're
all done for. believe" said he. bitterly.
Nfuf tii anu WI dSiiit. ne
snow beat in his face and blinded him but
he did not stop and once more. when he
felt he could travel no longer. he saw the
welcome light. Again he opened the door,
and again he was ut the little grocery
IL thought was nj home this time. said
he slowly. and more confused than before
AS he stepped in through the door. The
man was just putting out his lights to go
to bed.
Look here. sir" said he. 'it'll save
considerable trouble burying you if YOU
30 out again. but on the whole wouldn't
do it if Was you Go to bed here and
I'll call you and have you off by day
light"
Nothing else could be done Cyrus saw
he could not possibly reach home that
night and accepted the mans offer.
Now" said the man as he prepared
To start in the morning. you've a tall
walk before you. but it amt blowing hard
~ so furious and the sun shines n little.---
that'll help you about your course. You
amt SO bad off in your mind. most likely.
rs Teller on them snowed-in cars. He
was going to be married week ago to-
day. His girls been here stewing about
il all the week she and Sally's great
iieuuS, iHtN w couheu up tHlnSs tuCtt
times and he's started three times and
had to go back. till now he can't get back.
the roads so full behind them. Her
brother is going down TODAY to carry
them the victuals in hands sleds. They II
be glad enough to see them il they get
there. but doubt their getting there
Cyrus fastened on full of anxiety con-
corning his mother. and not without
cause.
She had dreaded to have him start and
had begun to watch for his return long
before it was possible for him to have
travelled the distance As night came on
with its flying snow. her anxiety increased
till she could bear il no longer. She
went to the door and looked out but of
course could see nothing except the blind
ing snow. She put shawl over her head
and went out. The wind nearly took her
off her feet. She called Cyrus-.'Si -
Cyrus" but there was no answer She
would try to 60 and see Mary aud Susan,
she would not stay there alone all night.
She pushed ON, but the wind beat her
about, and the snow blinded her. She
went aimlessly around and around for
while, then she grew tired and sank down
in the drifts. A feeling of dreamy sleepi-