The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1885-03-31
him anything that ought to satisfy you

him anything that ought to satisfy you,
bin or myself"
"Bssil Is a good bov," said she.
"Why does he not learn bis lessons r;
asked.
81 cannot tell ?"
"Is he dullf"
Not at helping bic mother. There
never was handler boy, nor better.
Ever since his father went away Basil
has been like man about the house"
81 thought Mr.. Stout was dead"
mo. He is in Montana. He went
there when things began to get dull here.
The mines we're worked here, you know,
before the Bustlebury district was dis
covered"
"The Chrysalis district is prosperous
now" said.
"Yes. But there was time when no
one could make anything here, and ny
husband was afraid OF sinking all he had
laid by, 90 be went to Montana"
"How is he pleased with the mines
there 2"
"At first he wrote that they were good
and that he was making money fast, but
sfterward be met with misfortunes and
lost nearly everything. Then he pros.
pered again and wrote that he would
come home in the fall, but be was taken
sick in August aud we've been very snx-
ious about him for four or FIVE months
Basil's like . homesick girl, for there
never WAS boy fonder Of father than
Basil is Of his. He's the only child, and
Mr. Stout always treated him like com
panion, and the boy was like the fathers
shadow wherever be went. And NOT he q
60 troubled about bis father that he's
not himself. He wanted to art right of
to Montana to take care oil him, but my
husband gave him strict orders, what.
ever happened, to stay With his mother,
and he sent word that good friends In
Montana would take care of him. Bu,
the troubles on the boys mind day and
night. II would kill him, believe, il
his father should dies"
"Basll. my boy" said I holding on,
my hand to him, "foreive your teacher
for being so unkind this afternoon"
His eyes filed with tears.as he took
nv hand he could not speak
Your words hurt him, sir, for be has
taken very great liking to you"
Mrs Stout told me of the trials she
and her son had endured in the absence
OF her husband.
"After Mr.. Stout had suffered those
losses, more than yesr ago" said she,
"there was time when he couldn't send
Us any money for three months. Basil
just turned hunter and fisher, and what
be shot In the mountains and caught in
the brook fed Us, and brought in monev
enough to keep US from want"
l began to think of returningto my
lodgings. 1t would be late by The time
! could reach them.
Mrs. Stout Was silent again. The still
ness within allo aed US TO notice the fury
of the tempest. ...-.~p-,
81 must go" said rising. z
"You musn't think of going back to
town tonight, SIR"
"No," said Basil: 81 will kindle Gre
In the other room, Mr. Nicholas. and 10
The morning it'll be easier to end your
way"
As be said this there came loud rap
at the door.
"Some one is lost in the storm" said
Bssil
He opened the door. A man entered
clothed in iur and covered with snow.
We saw he was the driver OF ore of the
coaches that ran between Denver and
Chrysalis.
''The coach must be lest" said Mrs.
Stout.
The driver slowly opened dis eyes.
."Where am n" be asked.
"Among friends" answered. "Rest
yourself; sou are exhausted"
"Thers's no time for me to rest," he
said rising to his feet. "How far am
from Chrysalis ?"
1.-TWO miles above the village, on the
B sg. Bubble Brook"
II must rustic round an git into
town."
"Wbere's your cSsch ?"
"On top o. the range, showed in"
Tue "pass" was high one The sum-
nit was seven miles from Cary.alis, fully
FIVE miles from Mrs S;out's the coach
road Law for more than a mile on the top
of one OF the lower mountains OF the
range. From the peaks on both sides
the snow drifted into the road.
"Why didn't you go back to the sta
tion at the other sideP That would
have been nearer than to come TO Chrys.
alis."
THE drifts on that side the summit is
wuss nor on this side. l could jlss git
through when / come up beat abou,
too long on top O. the divide, tryin' to
git through 10 this direction, en- the
snow blew down the little boilers an
closed in behind us. An elefunt couldn'.
git through thar now"
"How many passengers are In the
coach ~
"There's three men an a wummen
besides the messenger"
"Is the coach in the drift2"
mo. The coach is all right, but Tn
terribly Altered the passengers ull ei,
tired a.waitin' fur me, an ul trv to fine
their own w.y, an ef they do tint they'll
die, sure Bv,jlngo! / must be gttin'
along! The agents got to send them
passengers sumthin' to eat, an to give
'em orders to stay wnar they is now till
to-morrer. dunno who he'll send. !
coulden 6ne roy way back thar to save
nv soul know every inch O. the road
but the roads kivvered deep. A feller'd
hev 10 know the mountains to fine that
ach tonight
III will go with you," said / to the
man. as be was about to depart.
Basil had listened inten,ly to all tha,
had been said. Now he spoke in an un.
derione TO bis mother
"Mr. Nicholas" said she, "Basil vii
put the man on the road to town. He
wants you to stay here tonight"
/ looked at the hoy inquiringlv. Hi