The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1885-03-31

lis true. II the passengers get out OF
the coach and try TO find him, or to
come to town tonight, they will get lost,
and will freeze to death. Somebody
that knows the mountains must 60 10
them. There's no one else knows them
as well as do"
/ Almost in whisper he added: "If
Father vas in such danger, mother we'd
want somebody to 60 TO him"
81 will 60 with you, BASIL" said 1.
"Oh, no, sir !! / want you to stay With
mother"
Mrs. Stout had great confidence in
her sons ability to take care Of himself
in the mountains, and the allusion to her
husband had touched her heart.
"If you must GO, Basil, the sooner
you got of the better"
"Put two loaves Of bread and stone
.sottle full Of hot milk into nv knapsack,
mother. I'll put on my overcoat and
get my snow shoes"
All was ready Basil cast his eyes
about the warm aud brigh,ly-lishted
room, then looked at his mother. II
was hard to go.
"Ob, Basil2 Must you go2"
"Good-night. motherw
| This was all be said, but the fervor
and strength OF affection thrown into the
words will never forget. He kissed
her, clung to her moment, as if he
could not 60, kissed her again, and was
gone.
| / followed him into the road. The
storm was at it's height. The tempestu'
ous air was filed with binding snow
The atmosphere was intensely cold.
| "Mv boy" I said, ''you had better mol
60. You may lose vour life."
"Mr. Nicholas, l must 60. / SEN
word to the agent by the driver that
would There is no one else that can
Then, almost under his breath "Thers
was One laid down His life for US ALL
Will you please see that mother hiss
whatever she needs, sir, until l ge
back 2"
i Ipressed him to my heart and gave
the desired assurance, clasped his hand
for an ins' ant, and longed to de,ain him
Imprisively he embraced me, and in.
stantly departed toward the mountains
The next morning the storm had
abated. With difficulty | plowed my
wav through the deep snow to town
Going to the coach Office, ! learned from
the agent that strong force OF "hands'
had been sent TO cut a road through th.
drifts to the lost coach
"The coach car not arrive" be said
IT'LL some time this evening"
| When school was dismissed I went
again to Mrs. Stout's.
NO." she answered to nv inquiry,
"Bssil has not come back. / think be
will be on the coach"
| returned to town to wait for its ar.
rival. 1t got to the Office at nine O'Clock
that night.
The passengers spoke with admiration
Of brave boy who hailed the coach al
about two clock in the morning. The
'.messenger" bad got out to talk with
him. The storm was at its worst. The
boy told the messenger he had seen the
driver, and had been sent by him to warn
the passengers TO remain in the coach
until the agent should send party to
rescue them. II they should disregard
this counsel they would almost surely
perish. He then gave the messenger g
bottle of milk and some bread for all
who were storm stayed.
The messenger urged him to seek re-
fuge in the coach.
"Is there sick man on board :" be
asked.
On being told there was not be said
that he must retrrn to his horne; that
bis mother would hardly rest until be
was safe under her roof again; and with.
out delay he departed homeward.
Among the passengers relieved by
Basil was bis own father.
| Mr.. Stout's arrival at home unatten
ded by his son filed his wife's heart with
dismsy. She told the story of Basil,
departure. and OF once it became known
10 Mr.. Stout that the brave boy wa:
spending his second night in the SHOWS
of the mountains.
The anxiety and distress Of both pa
rents were extreme.
! The father at once proceeded to or
game party to search for the missing
boy. Hardy frontiersmen secured tn,
l"range" day and night, but no trace o
the lost could be found Many months
passed. but Basil did not return.
| One fine day in June l took some o
my larger pupils and explored the pass
where the coach had been delayed il
January. The probable path of the bo,
had been examined many times in vain
1t occurred to me that one so venture
some, 40 familiar with The whole region
1 might have attempted to traverse tb'
mountains by Straight course betweer
the coach and his home. To do this b,
would ascend to the top of ridge tha
was several hundred feet above the de
preston in which the coach stood.
Trying to follow a straight line in tn,
direction of Mr. Stou,'s house. we cross
ed the ridge, and, descending toward tb'
village, came, q few rods beyond th'
ridge, TO a vast snow-drift Skirtins
J this, we walked on elastic turf that wa'
every where starred with minute Alpin,
flowers, ultra-marine aud pink On thi
gemmed bed Of moss, at the lower edg,
of the drift, we found my noble BASIL
Nesrly his whole body was still conceal
! ed by the shroud of snow that covered
him that winter night. We removed IT.
white folds from the perfectly preserves
face and form, and carried the boy t
his parents.
When, two days later, we reverently
bore him from the church to the grave
all the Inhabitants OF the village, follow
|, ing the bier, honored themselves in do
ing honor to the memory o! my heroi
school-boy.-Christidn Union.
OIL from Natures Wells.
The skin on the head is kept soft an,