Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1881-06-22

hollered till we were hoarsc, and we
, crawled on our hands aud knees in
caves, with our guns between our teeth,
thinking they might be bears dens,
but we didn't find II trace of little Su-
san.
"Our hearts sank at the thought OF
her. We could not go back SO, and
we kept on. At last our torches went
out, and we could do nothing more, for
We had got among the rocks, by the
the ice-cavern, and step might send
/ us to our deaths. The wind rose, too,
all of sudden, and cut against us
sharp like n knife. We huddled closer
together, and sat bcnumned and dis
couraged, waiting for the morning,
Some of us thought it would never
come. | know prayed for mother
and the girls, for, when it blew colder,
and | began to be drowsy, | was afraid
| should never sec them again. tried
to keep awake, but could not. guess
that was the case with the rest, for no.
body stirred, and the wind went down,
and grew deathly still. | tried to speak,
but could not, my tongue Glove to the
roof Of my mouth. | tried to move,
but was as n log. Then at last |
didn't care to try any longer, and the
silence was deader than ever,
by and by heard music-taint,
far of, a. il were. 1t seemed very
pleasant lying there listening to 1t. |
thought it might be angels singing
But all ut once the sweet, solemn chant
rose into wild Methodist hymn.
even Box knew it. lie sprang
away with quick short bark, and We,
standing up, all our drowsiness gone
like magic, gave II shout that rang
through the wilderness and awo5e Il
thousand echoes. We were sure now
that the child was found, for it was her
favorite song we had just heard--onc
that she had sung to us hundreds OF
times before.
"'Susan Gordon Susan Gordon :.
We cried, where are you|
"Then we held our breath TO lister
for an answer, and it came so clear anc
steady that we caught every syllable.
"Hcrc--in an ice cave? have
fallen through | can't get up.
I'VE each shook each others hands
and Rugged each other about the neck
us great men; but we couldn't help 1t
and we shouted again:
care YOU hurt? Can you stay Their
Il little longer, till daybreak "
"'All right was the answer, IL
steady as before. i can wait.
Then we watched eagerly for th'
dawn, keeping still again but this TIM
because we were so thankful-oh, s.
thankful, 1t was not very long, al
though it seemed so to us, before tn
air grew gray. But every little Will
we would call back, and Box, who ha'
gone straight to the cave where che was
through the darkness, would bark, an'
so we cheered ourselves little. Blu
when at last it was light enough for Il
to venture; when at last we crept int
the ice cave where Susan was; whel
we saw the great layers of ice piled al
around us-it never melts in thos
caves, YOU know-when we felt I'll
, dreadful chill, and thought of tn
brave heart that delicate child ha
kept up all through the long night, an
how her song had saved us from wha
might have been our last sleep, we fel
J like going down on our knees bclor
, her. for our guardian angel.
, "Wal"-here Uncle Ben always Dire
a long breath, and long Whit Of h
e pipe together--"wc got her out at las
bv lettin' down ropes, and then We n
most quarreled as to who should carr
s her home. Joe Biddles took her--hc
= the blacksmith down i'll the village, an
Q stands six feet high, with shoulders
c match, besides belonging to the sta
militia, and, says he;
: "I'm the biggest, and III have he
Let's see the man 90 ahead of me :
so We took up our march back, al
y Susan, even then, wouldn't rest easy
Joe's coat but would perk her head L
\ to guide us an easier way home. Al
: then OIL the way she pitied us, for b
>, ing out all night, just as if she hadr
the worst of it herself
. GLOW good YOU all arc TO do
q. much for me- And then she "a.
: Poor Uncle Ben! What if you h;
= never seen auntie again !? that II
= !, woman) and to Joe, How tired "
!" look | am sorry YOU have to car
:, me!
u IL really believe she would ha
:, crawled on her hands and knees if We
" have let her. Her feet she could II
= usc-thcy were frozen.
II "'Weren't you afraid YOU would &
q there we asked her. How could Y
adj sing and keep up such a brave heart
ut az didn't think of myself ut a
ut said she. 4 was thinking how b
mother was feeling, and so ! pray
SC hard and sang loud, and pretty seol
us was sure YOU would come for me, Il
es surer and surer, and then heard y
lot CALL
as ut seems that she must be made
ct something different from other fol
ep We looked at her and at each 9th
an and we blubbered like boobies. /
-es when she was put into her mothC
ms arms, when the excitement was oy
We she gave way and went into a d'
faint-a syncope, the doctor called i