The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1881-07-09

back to their imprisoned mother and
little Francois; Johann, with manly in
dependence, promising to work for
Hans the next summer to pay for the
help now rendered. The old hunter
readily consented to give them all they
could carry.
The next day was quite mild, and he
advised them to wait over, as nights
freezing would make a sufficient crust
to bear their weight, and they could re-
turn with much less fatigue. They fol-
lowed his advice, but Johann was so
anxious about his mother. he insisted
upon starting very early the second
morning.
They fastened their bag of provisions
on long pole; and Johann placed one
end on his shoulder, while friedrich
followed, holding the other; and, with
their Alpine stocks in their hands, they
started rapidly forward. thankful to find
that the snow yielded but little to the
pressure of their broad hoops.
Hans Cratic mounted his roof again
and watched the little figures. till, just
before turning the point of project
ing cliff, the boys seeing him. gave a
loud parting shout. Alas! the vibration
in the air caused by that merry. thought
less cheer set great avalanche in mo-
ton down the steep precipice over their
heads. At first there was low rum
bling sound, instantly increasing in vol
ume and intensity, and, looking up,
they saw the great white cloud rushing
upon Them.
There was no escape, and, dropping
their burden, they clasped their arms
about each other, and sank down buried
beneath forty feet of the cold white
mass.
The old man heard the laundering
sound, and saw the poor boys drop upon
their knees, but could do nothing to
help them, for he knew too well what
swift and sure destruction lay in the
path of the terrible avalanche.
Well aware that they would be dead
ere he could rescue them from that
depth of snow, if they had not been in
stantly killed. he exerted all his efforts
to save those still left in the cottage far
up the desolate valley. After a long
and perilous walk he succeeded in find
ing the spot, but sad sight there
greeted him.
Little Francois was asleep on the
rough bed, upon which his mother had
piled all the clothing to keep him warm.
She was sitting BY the cold hearth as
lifeless as the white embers lying upon
it; yet ahappy smile still rested on her
face, for upon her lap lay the old Bible,
and her finger yet pointed to the verse,
- Blessed are they that do his COM
mandments. that they may have right
to the tree of life, and may enter in
through the gates into the CITY,"
When TOR her the portals had opened
Hans could not tell, but he thought they
would scarcely have closed ere she was
joined by the ransomed spirits of her
boys.
1t was bitter awakening for little
Francois, but the kind hunter took him
to his own home and adopted him as
his son.
1t was not until late in the spring that
the deep snow-drift made by the great
avalanche melted away, and the bodies
of the two brothers were found with
their arms still locked about each other.
A rough wooden cross now marks tho
spot, with their names and the date OF
their death rudely carved upon it; that
cross being only one of many that
passed one lovely summer day on my
way over the Tete-Noir to Chamouni.
each marking some sad record of mans
vain struggle with the long, bitter winter
in those wild mountain passes.-M n.
Roe, in ChristiGss Union.