Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-02-01
Jacks Lesson.

lAlLlL IL.
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jacks Lesson.
Here is a true story. Jack II. told it to
me ofhs own boyhood. He was born and
reared 10 the north of Ireland. The win
ters there are not usually very severe, he
says, but occasionally they havcsome very
deep SHOWS.
Father came through the shed where |
was fixing some straps TO my new shoes
one day, and said, "Jack, do you get the
sheep together, before night, in the lower
fold. 1t looks as if this storm might last all
night; and if it should, it may be more
easily dc ne to-day than to morrow"
looked through the open door at the
snow, which was falling gently and stead
lily. 1t did not seem to me likely to be
much of a storm. But | had been taught
unquestioning obedience, and only replied,
Z" Yes sir; will," and went on with my
work. Before it was finished Tom Higgins
came, and he had new plan for making
rabbit trap, and we spent half the after
noon trying to carry it into execution. and
the short winter day passed and the sheep
were not folded. In short it quite slipped
my memory, only to be recalled by my
fathers question as he drew the family
Bible toward him for evening worship,
Jack, have you folded those sheep?"
The blood leaped to my forehead as l
was forced to reply, mo, sir. got to
playing with Tom, and forgot it,"
The silence that followed my reply was
dreadful to me. If my father had up.
braided me with violent anger, think
could borne it better.
81 am very sorry, sir" | managed to
stammer out at last.
II fear you will have very good reason
to be so,' said my father. "If those
sheep are lost tonight, want you to re-
member there will be no more play for
you till they are found. People who will
not take trouble, will be overtakcn by
trouble"
Nothing more was said. The reading
and tho psalms and the prayer over, |
slipped quietly away to bed. taking peep,
as went. through the shed door to see
how the storm was progressing. | saw
it had increased and the wind was rising.
Nothing had power to keep me long
awake in those days, however, SO slept
soundly. In the morning | found the
storm was still raging. The snow lay
deep on the ground, and the wind was
drifting it into hollows and packing it
away into solid masses. Father came in
from taking survey of the weather,
bringing rod full fifteen feet long.
The snow is Deep said he, II am
troubled about those sheep; they always
seek shelter in the hollows and along the
hedges, just where the drifts will be deep
est. How VIC shall find them | do not
know, l hope you are ready for weeks
hard work. my son."
"1es, sir; am sorry, and will do my
best" replied.
Your best would have gone much farther
yesterday than it will to-day. But we will
not spend our strength in groaning over
bad job. After breakfast we will 60 out
and try what we can do.
I'm this storm, ,fatherpn saidmy mother.
deprecatingly. at is the worst storm of
year. The snow blows so you can scarce
find your way"
"There are two hundred of these sheep"
said my father, Il can't afford to lose
| them"
Breakfast over, we bound on our snow
shoes, and with the long pole and a snow
shovel went out to seek for the lost sheep.
1t cleared Il little before noon, though the
wind still sent the snow whirling about
our faces; so it was not easy or agreeable
working. Father found one here and
another there, and | was set to dig them
out. Fifteen sheep were found and brought
home that day as u result
The next day the neighbors came and
helped, for the weather had moderated,
and there was always danger that sud
, den thaw would follow such deep SHOWS
and the sheep wonld drown before they
could bc rescued. One 10y one. in twos
| and threes. the poor creatures were found
and taken from the snow. But ut the end
Of week OF search and hard digging
there were still scventylve missing.
How long will any live under the
snow, lather?" | asked, when second
week of work had only reduced the mum.
Der of missing sheep OF forty.
II have heard of their living three
weeks" said my father "Wo will keep
on as long as we can find any aliven
The snow hal settled into compact
masses near thirty feet deep in some of
the valleys, but still we found now and
then sheep. by the hole which the warm
breath of the creature made in the snow
as it rose searched diligently for these
holes. Little cared that had not
moments play in all the days since the
storm. was anxious that all the sheep
should be found alive. | think tho first
real prayers l ever offered were sent up
then that the thaw might keep away tin
all the sheep were found.
1t did keep away wonderfully. Al the
end of three weeks all but twcnty-four
were rescued. Still we searched and now
and then we found Il poor creature, fam.
shed and emaciated, but alive, which was
| carried to the farmhouse and consigned to
my mother and the girls, who ohafed, and
| fed and tended it till it was won back to
degree of strength, while we spared no
time from the search.
Its no use to hunt longer; the rest
are all dead" said my father, one night,
when we were coming homo dispirited
and weary, having found five of the poor
things lying together drowned in one of
the hollows. You have worked well.
think must release you now"
But would not be released. The word
had been " No play till every sheep is
found" and, alive or dead. they should all
be found. | toied alone tho next dav,
but found three, and ono was alive. The
thaw carried away the snow so fast that l
had less area TO search over now.
But it was poor encouragement to work
for all found were dead. A dozen times
was tempted to yield to my mothers
persuasions not TO throw away any more
labor. But my father said not word, and
| kept on.
THE sheep are all found now. father
took off the pelt of the last of the dead
to-day" l said one evening when he came
in late from work