The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1885-12-25
will ride for it while it continues. At

possible. Even they, like their driv-
ers, seemed now inspired with hope,
as if feeling that shelter was at hand.
Meantime there had been much anX-
iety at the dugout; several parties
had arrived, and all felt great alarm
for the absent. Mrs. Metcalf looked
again and again out into the storm.
She knew the meaning OF q Western
blizzard-a meaning terrible beyond
description to one who had friends
abroad in it.
The men and boys we're no less help
less than the w~Omen-fOr what could
they have done even by venturlng out?
What but to lose themselves IN the
darkness and uprOar.
At length q thought suddenly &C.
Cured to George like an inspiration.
He had been in and out like a wild
blizzard itself, at OnomOment In tears
and the next frightening with hope,
but now all at once uttering a wild
whoop, he rushed headlong towards
the shop.
A moment more, and there s
over the storm SO prodigious a clangor
that all started in surprise. 1t seemed
as if all the bells OF st. Giles and st.
Paul had broken forth at Once-only,
perhaps a little out of tune! But at
all events it was q Ginning that could
have been heard for miles.
Every one followed the sound.
There was George, like II of Poe's
"People, all, the people,
Those that live up in the steeple,"
armed with a hammer, and banging
away alternately at no less that six
"bells," composed Of as many heavy
wagon tires, suspended to a frame in
such an artistic as to get the
greatest possible noise. And sure
enough, a most satisfactory one was
the consequence! 1t was a chime as
primitive as could be conceived, and
far from musical; but its effect was
tremendous.
The mysterious preparations were
explained. The wagon tires were to
do duty for the season-to welcome
not only Christmas but the New
Year
"Ring out the Old, ring in the New
| and at O. less anxious moment their
performance would have seemed
laughable indeed.
He declared he would keep it up till
the folks arrived.
Soon a shout was heard but this
was only from q neighbor and his wife,
who had been lost in the storm on
their way to the Christmas reception.
This success encouraged the boy,
and he piled the iron tongue OF his
chime with redoubled energy.
"Oh, George!" cried his mother, "f
they will only heart" But her white
face showed how little hope she had.
Hello! Hello!" came from without.
"Hello! Hello!" close to the door OF
the house.
"Theyhave come! They have come!"
exclaimed the excited lad. ooh,
mother, mother! that is fathers
voice!"
81 hope So, oh, I hope sol" cried
Mrs. Metcalf, springing to the door,
though George was there as soon as
herself.
"Father, father!" he shouted, sis it
your"
eyes, my boy; yes" was the reply.
"Hurry and help to get the people
out, and the horses under cover"
How the brave boy fewto the work.
His ownhands could do the work OF a
dozen benumbed ones; but the men
from the house assisted him.
In q few minutes the lately-imperill-
ed travellers were clustered around O.
rousing Christmas fire, while the noble
horses were having their Christmas in
q warm stable.
George was the hero of the occasion,
and when the story of his rude chimes
had been told, all united in %pronounc.
ing the deliverance as wonderful as it's
manner was odd and whimsical. His
mother Rugged and kissed him in the
excess of her emotion, and there were
tears in the eyes of all the others.
The bright youth had tried to cor.
troll himself, yet he, too, was visibly
affected.
Meantime, his grandparents we're
fast recovering from their terrible ex-
posture; and the room, hung with
creeping jenny and the boughs of juni-
per, and thronged with thankful faces,
presented a truly Christmas aspect.
The minister gave thanks for the
mercy of their preservation. the 9TH
ers bowling reverently with overfowing
hearts. And then q hymn was sung,a
beautiful Christmas carol. 1t was q
touching scene.
"All praised with uncontrolled delight,
And general Joy, the happy night,
That to the cottage as the crown,
Brought tidings OF savation down."
The following day, when Christmas
had indeed come, Archie had the salts
faction of seeing his parents fully re-
covered and full of O. quiet Joy at the
scene Of love and comfort about them.
But they were no happier than
George, who once or twice that day
rang out his Christmas Chimes for the
benefit OF all his listeners.