The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-04-12
breaking Up of the Ice.

Among the lnDaDltant5 OF one Oh the ilttie
fishing villages on the south shore OF the St.
Lawrence River was a thrifty French Can
adam named Pierre Laval. HIS family col-
sisted of his rosy checked, goodnatured
wife, Louise the eldest child, from her wo-
manly ways nicknamed 1.-The little mother"
Jean. strong lad of thirteen, and the baby.
whose bright black eyes add white skin made
one think of two blackb srries in bowl of
milk.
On the afternoon of a certain cloudy day
the door of the Laval cottage opened every
few moments and Louise peered anxiously
down the road. At last she spied the stout
figure of Jean coming up the street, and
drawing her little red shawl over her hsad
she ran 10 meet him.
"Hurrah, Loul" be cried gayly; the boat
is almost done, and the boys are going to let
me have the naming of it. think shall
call it The Louise"
But the girl did not seem TO hear.
"Oh, hurry, Jeanw she gasped, pressing
| her hand together nervously; 1.-The bsby,",
| Then Jean. the first time, noticed how pale
| and anxious his face was.
We'll. what OF the baby" he asked
"sck OH, SO sick he never was like this
| before"
And you wanted me to go some
rand? am sorry now that | staid all night.
but mother said might if the boys wanted
me F"
Your staying was all right, jean only
1
came this morning that big gang OF meH
| was wanted at the big lumber yard, aud
| father and the neighbors went away early
and will not be back before the end OF the
| week"
But where's mother Bsrbst? Can't she
cure the babyPn
Louise shook her head sadly. Fer once,
Jean, her medicine don't seem to do any
good but she says she has been with the
| great doctor over the river two or three
| times when he has bad threats even verse
than the baby's, and that he used new
| kind of medicine little viii powder
and it always helped the people right of He
| gave her the name of the powder but /
cou dn't find it 1T the little shop In the viii
lsge. and mother didn't dare to trust ma to
60 across the river with Jet. Hs hasn't been
out OF the stable for four or five days, ana
he is as wild rs q wolf"
4 1t was toward the close of the long aud
bitter Canadian winter. Already, in some
localities, little shallow pools OF water stand.
ing here and there on the frozen surface OF
the st. Lawrence river showed that the sun
was gettiDg back some OF its summer heat
and power; and the inhabitants along the
shore prophesled the speedy breaking up oil
the Ice. But as yet not crack had dishg'
ured the glittering mass, which Tor two
months had stretched out as level as floor,
msking firm, safe bridge between the lit
tie village on the south shore and the lsrgs
town of v.
As Jean and Louise entered the cottage
their mother met them with sober lace
How still and lonesome it seemed without
the bright baby, who always laughed and
put out his little hands the moment the big
brother came in sight Jean felt conscience
smitten when he remembered how ottea he
lad said Bother take the baby whef
his mother had left the little fellow in hi
charge for o few moments
Take courage, mother" ne said, b-avely
| l. -. l. d.,r fr
@ MON ent."
In q few moments Jean and LOUISE were
snugly tucked ins;de the little sic ige unde
the warm wolf.skiEs, and the black pony
with his head down, going a. his best pace
t | brought them in a short Jime to the river
E | edge. The ice was soon crossed, aud after
short drive up the main street OF the larg
I | town. Jean pulled up in front of the doc
tors Office. Finding him out he scrawled
message on the slate. and, stopping at til
drug store, he bought two bottles OF tn
white powder. which he carefully placed II
his inside coat pocket. and then they starte
for home.
= As the black pony stepped out upon th
e ice. some rnen mo.ioned Jean back; ant
d finding him determined to go on, two G
the bride. You're young, my master, bu
you're old enough to know better than t
venture across the face OF such sky as tina
!, And haven't You heard the news from up IL
q river? The ice has already weakened /
spots"
but tell you must cross, and you hay
= no right to keep me here losing time" r
70 turned Jean, flushing sngrily, while Loui
Turned her face imploringly toward the me-
Re I'VE must try to cross she said. wit
trembling lips. MY little brother is sick
ct perhaps dying; We have been for the do
tor and are taking back the medicin
Father is away and mother is waiting Il
US"
The men looked irresolute "Bstter
&c lose one child than three" said the mr.
spe al er, still keeping hold of the bride.
N Let the youngsters CO. neighbor Tyrrel
exclaimed the new conner. 1t Is Pierre l.
m walls pony, the best traveller about "
= Perhaps he can get them ACROSS before Il
storm bursts Think of your own wife Il
-. alone with q dying baby and waiting I
- medicine. Spare not the whip, my boy, al
may the good God put such speed in 20
ny's legs ss never was there beforel"
Jet, glad to be released. darted forward {
bis way. The same oppressive stiffness CO
80 hn n m N, tad hIQ n