The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1883-08-23


{ II, AMI i, was very slow travelling
through the narrow, rough road. We
had not got more than three miles from
the settlement when it began to sprin-
kle snow, and in an hour more the
flakes were coming down thick and
fast. A cutting wind swept through
the woods, driving the snow into our
faces, and it looked doubtful to me
whether we should ever get to the next
settlement in such storm.
Il wanted to turn back, but Matildy
would not consent to this. So had
nothing to do but to whip up old Bob
and get on as fast rs we could.
"But the storm grew worse and worse.
The wind kept rising, and the air was
so thick with the driving snow that
could scarcely see a rod beyond the
horse's head. Noon came, and we were
not over ten or twelve miles from the
settlement. The snow was now so deep
that the horse could make but little
headway through it and against the
heavy wind.
eve had food with us, but we could
not stop for luncheon with the storm
piling the big drifts all about us. Part
of the time / walked behind the sled to
Tighten the load, and when it got so
deep that Bob the horse couldn't pull
through, | tramped a path; and so,
tramping and wallowing, we managed
to get on few miles further.
"But toward night the horse showed
signs of giving out, and we had not gone
over two-thirds of the way. can as
sure you, it made me feel about sick to
think of being ont in that storm all
night. Not that.I feared so much for
myself, for, as | said, | was tough as a
buffalo, and could have found some
snug corner to stow myself away in,
and in the big moose-skin coat could
have been quite comfortable; but there
was Matildy, and the baby, poor tling,
was beginning to cry. | feared they
both would perish before morning.
"By jerking and encouraging, Bob
was made to start again. But his
strength and courage did not last, and
after another half-mile of plunging and
tramping he lurched over The thills into
the snow and gave out entirely. All
my urging couldn't get him on his legs
again.
"What to do then / didn't know.
Matildy was actually weeping from
anxiety and the cold, and the baby
cried now harder than ever. For few
minutes | could not see anything but
death before them.
Suddenly got an idea, and untack-
ling Bob from the sled, tied his legs
together with the straps of the harness,
SO that he could neither get up nor
thrash about. Then, drawing the sled
alongside of him, canted it up side
ways, setting the stakes to keep it from
turning over fully, and thus made a
sort of shelter to break off the wind.
''Going into the edge of the woods,
cut lot of fir-boughs with my big knife
and made sort of bed for Matildy and
the child, snug up against Bob's back,
covering them over with the quilts and
skins, tucked in warm about them; and
then | covered all with anther thick
coat of boughs.
"Then | went on toward the settle.
ment, fifteen miles distant, for help.
1t soon became dark, and / never can
tell you half what l suffered stumbling
along through the drifts, half blinded
by the wiring snow and nearly breath
less; sometimes laying down andfeeling
that never could go another rod; but
the thought of Matildy and the baby
in the snow drove me on-and I've no
doubt saved my life.
"When within two miles of the set
tlement the road came out near the
river, and for the rest of the way it was
mostly cleared land. But it troubled
me to keep the road. was afraid 1
should wander off and never find the
settlement.
''But there was a Hand leading me
through that night and storm that1 had
never known beforehand il led me safe;
for, after wandering around till was
so exhausted that | was about to lay
down in despair, caught the glimmer
of light ahead.
"Ah,never was half-drowned sailor
more thankful for the sight of life
boat than 1 was for that little spark of
light | crawled toward it, shouting
with all my strength. ~
''It came from a little log-hut on the
outskirts of the settlement, where log
gers wife was nursing sick child.
Hearing my cries she reused her hus-
band, who came out to my assist
ance.
''As soon as il began to grow light
the man got one of his neighbors for
was too badly frozen to- 60 back With
him-and taking horse and sled,
started after Matildy and the baby"
"And did they find them aliveP'"
asked listener, furtiyely brushing
away the tears.
.'Yes, ma'am, they did. The snow
had drifted over them, and so kept out
a good deal Of the cold, though Matildy
was considerablHfrost7b The baby
was asleep, as comfortable as though It
had been at home. But old Bob was
deads The journey and the cold had
been too much for him.
/ nThat spring the people at the set
Elements contributed money and bought
my father another horse, SO we want
much the worse of, I" concluded the old
man, seeming to be quite unconscious
of his own heroism. = Youths Com