The National tribune., 1883-03-15

points in them, and his feet fairly ached as he
trudged along.
1t was midnight darkness in the deep woods,
but in little opening, where there were low
juniper bushes, the yellow sunset light was still
lingering. Some glossy sprays of wintergrgen
were pricling through the snow crust, and
thinking that their bitter-sweet leaves might
appease the gnawing at his stomach, Tom ate
some, and finding that they did so in a great
degree, he was looking about him for more,
when he Cspied some strange black object which
had lOd ged between two boug ghs OF juniper bush.
He reached down and picked up the plump
est leather pocket-b0ok which he had ever seen
in his life! 1t had evidently been there for
days, for it was frozen stif, and had some time
been soaked with lain or dew. Tom opened it
with eager fingers. 1t was crammed with bank
notes, and one large shining gold piece was
tucked carefully in the midst of the paper.
But it was growing so dark that he did not
stop to count the money, for if night should
Overtake him while still in the woods he would
never be able to find his way out OF them.
The growth was becoming less and less dense.
| There were little openings everywhere and
finally, when the stars were gathering in the
pale twilight sky, he emerged into an open
space where there was an old ruined mill, its
broken roof white with snow, its caves fantas-
tically fringCd with iCicleS. Beyond this ne
found a narrow bit of road with faint sled and
foot tracks, and not far along on the road the
most blessed sight that ever dawned upon his
visiOn-a thick column Of smoke arising from
q cottage chimney.
Tom felt more exhausted than ever at this
point, but making brave struggle, he pressed
on with what little strength he could summon
to his aid. An old man, with q great pile of
juniper tw!gs, pine b0ughs, and other grcenGry
on his back, came from the woods, and down a
path to the road, ana with his white beard
| blowing in the wind, looked like the genius of
| Christmas. He was gazing intently under
every bush and twig as he came along, push
ing the branches of tiny eyergreens back with
his feet.
"Have you lost anything?" inquired Tom,
at the same time keeping the pocket-bOok pru-
IDENTIFY concealed under his jacket.
a should think so. Three weeks ago to-day
l lost poclet-boOB with a thousand dollars in
| it sOmewhar about these pesky woods, or on the
road leadn' to it, n I'm lOokin' fur it yit. |
didn't dare TO leave it in the house while was
out gittin' my medicine stuff fur fear o thieves,
m l KEEP putin Off carryin' of it to the bank
till twas clean gone. Say, sonny, you hain't
seen anythin' of it, hev ye? Twas black
leather pocket book, fastened with q rusty steel
clasp, m tied up with twine string too.
| There was a twenty-dollar gold piece in it
'mOng the rest. But Lor' sailes alive, boy be
ye sick or froze ter death? Yer face is as white
as snow all on a suddint"
Tom produced the pocket-book, but TO sooner
had he placed it in the old mans hand than he
fell, a white heap, on the ground at his feet.
When he recovered his senses once more he
found himself lying on a lounge in rough,
dingy apartment, lighted by single candle,
and with great boiler steaming and bubbling
| over a roaring fire. The atmosphere was filled
with the spicy odOr of pine and other woodland
| groWths, and great black cat was eying him
intently from her post beside the stove.
"Where am II" he inquired, lifting his head,
and looking about IN alnaZement.
"Oh, you're all right, n in my house, sonny.
You're with friend. Don't you remember
you found my pocket-b0ok, N met you down
in the road by the woods? / guess you got
pritty well used up with the cold or suthin,
| n tainted away" said the old man, appearing
at his side with tumbler in his hand. Here,
now, you take a good dose of my Healer It's
the best medicine in the market, N if you
drink it down now while it's hot it will keep
you frum gittin' cold, n git your stomach in
order TO take some food. l reckon you feel
kinder hungry"
Tom hardly knew whether he was hungry or
not. He felt rather comfortable than other
wise, only that his toes and fingers, his nose
and cheeks, were commencing to smart and
burn like fire. He swallowed the medicine as
directed, though with rather wry face, and
then the old man brought him bowl of thin
but savory broth, which he ate with quite
relish.
"Now I'd 60 right ter sleep, m git kinder
rested, n then we will talk about matters n
things a leetle when you wake up agin."
but the folks at home will be so worried
about me. Grandpa N grandma will be scared
almost to death. N then they'll blame Israel
coz got lost Is this Mugginsville, or where
is it?"
"Lor', no, tits a leetle corner O. Tatnick. Do
you live over ter Mugginsville? l thought
never seen you in these parts afOre."
NO" said Tom, Il live over at Sprigtown,
81
winter at his farm. He's Mr.. Samuel Swift.
Do you know him?"
"Bless you, SprigtOwns as much as ten miles
off round by the road. Yes, know Squire
Swift by sight, m it's likely he knows me.
They call me ole Hermit Sawyer. L s'pose
you've heard tell of me. The boys all round
the diggins thinks its fine fun to make game
of me, N yell out after me, Hello! ole medi-
cine-biler.' Now, sonny, l want ter know why
you were so anxious TO get rid of that pocket
book n all thar was into it. Every dollars
there, COZ | counted it. Didn't you hev no use
fur it2 Your grandpa's lost most all his prop
erty, know"
"What!" said Tom Indignantly; "would
you keep anything that didn't belong to you,
if you wanted ir ever so much? Of course l
knew it was yours when you described it to me
so well, and of course | gave it TO you. What
else could l do2 But l really must go home,
no matter how far it is. They'll be out search
ing Tor ME, you KNOW.
"Why, boy, it's the coldest night that ever
was-cold ernuff ter krinkle the hair ov an
Injun. 'Twould be your death to go out now;
but I'll harness up my ole nag, N eff kent git
q neighbor that hev in my mind ter drive
over ter Sprigtown, I'll go myself. Pm old n
tough as sole-leather"
The neighbor drove over, and Tom and the
old man had a very jolly and confidential time
together that night, while Healer" bubbled
over the fire and scented the room, and the
black cat purred and the candle fiared and
sputtered.
In the morning Israel came over in pung,
with plenty Of warm fur wraps, to take Tom
home. The old hermit was very unwilling to
let him go; but Tom promised to make him q
weeks visit soon if his grandfather would con-
sent, and that softened the parting consider
ably.
When Tom got ints the pung the old man,
who had followed him Out-of-doors, slipped
something into his hand, which upon investi-
CATION proved to be two fifty-dOllar bank-notes.
"You see, I'm pritty well Off, sonny; l sell
the Healer to the druggists everywhere.
There's great rage fur it, n it brings me in
money. Let the lame brother hev the lessons,
N p'r'aps therell be little spendin' bit fur
you too. l never did take ter boys, but guess
l know when l sec one ov the right sort, ef
he q miserable ole hermit. D-HaTDer'S YOUNG