The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1885-12-25


down upon them In earnest The bleak
wind howled around the corners. the
white flakes By millions and millions
came with o and hurled themselves
upon that house. In fact. that poor
little cabin alone on the wild prairie
seemed 70 be the object Of their sport.
They sifted through the cracks IN the
walls. around the windows and under
the door, and made pretty little drifts
on the floor. They piled up against il
outside. covered the steps and then the
door. and then the windows, and then
the roof, and Al last buried II com plctc-
| ~ out q sight under the soft white
mass
And all the time the mother and her
three children laid snugly covered up
in their beds fast asleep. and knew
nothing about il.
The night passed away and morning
came. but no light broke through the
, windows q the cabin. Mrs. Barnes
woke at the usual time, but finding il
still dark and perfectly quiet outside,
| she concluded that the storm was over.
and with sigh Of relief turned over to
sleep again About eight o'clock.
however, she could sleep no more. and
became widc-awake enough to think
the darkness strange Al that moment
the clock struck, and the truth flashed
| over her.
Being buried under snow is no un-
| common thing on the wide prairies.
and since they had wood and corn meal
in plenty. she would not have been
/ much alarmed IL her husband had been
home. But snow deep enough TO bury
them must cover up an landmarks. and
she knew her husband would not rest
till he had found them. To get lost on
the trackless prairie was fcanully easy.
| and to suffer and die almost in sight Of
home was no unusual thing. and WAS
! her one dread in living there.
A few moments she lay quiet in bed,
to calm herself and get control Of her
own anxicties before she spoke 20 the
| children.
Willie" she said q last, are you
| awakc?"
Yes. mamma" said Willie. i've
been awake ever 80 long; isn't Il most
morning.
willie" said the mother. quietly.
1--WE mustn't be frightened. but ] think
I'm afraid-we are showed in
Willie bounded to his feet and ran TO
the door.
Don't open IL" said mamma. hasti-
". 1.-THE snow may fall in. Light q
candle and look out the Windows
In moment the hickering rays Of
the candle fell upon the windows
Willie drew back the curtain. Snow
was tightly banked up against il 70 the
top.
why. mammal" he exclaimed. SO
we are. and how can papa find US ?
and what shall we dor
We must do the best we can. " said
mamma. in q voice which she tried to
make steady. land trust that il ism
very deep. and that Tim and papa will
find Us and dig Us out. /"
BY this time the little girls were
awake and inclined to BE- very much
frightened. but mamma was calm now.
and Willie was brave and hopeful.
They all dressed. and Willie started
the fire. The smoke refused To rise.
but pulled out into the room, and Mrs.
Barnes knew that il the chimney were
closed they would probably suifocate.
IL they did not starye or freeze.
The smoke in few moments choked
them. and seeing that something must
be done. she put the two girls. well
wrapped in blankets. into the shed out
side the back door. closed the door to
keep ont the smoke. and then went
/ with Willie 70 the low attic here .
door opened on 70 the roof
We must try." she said. TO CIT il
open without letting in too much snow,
and see il We can manage 70 clear the
chimney"
II can reach he chimney from the
scuttle with shovel" said Willie, II
often have with stick. !"
After much labor. and several ava.
lanchcs Of SHOW: the scnttle was open
cd far cnoughofor Willie 10 stand on
the top round Of the short ladder. and
beat q hole through to the light. which
was only foot above. He then show
clcd OF the top Of the chimney. which
was ornamcntcd with big round cusli
ion Of snow. and then by beating ant
shoveling he was able 70 clear the door
which he opened wide. and Mrs
Barnes came upon the ladder 70 loob
out. Dreary indeed was the scene
Nothing but snow. as far a. the eys
could reach. and flakes still falling
though lightly. The storm was evi
IDENTIFY almost over. but the sky wa
gray and overcast.
II They closed the door. went dowr
and soon had fire. hoping that thu
smoke would guide somebody to them
i Breakfast was taken BY candle-lght
dinncr-in timc-in the same way, ana
supper passed with no sound from the
outside world.
Many times Willie and mamma wen
10 the scuttle door TO see IL any one WA.
IN sight. but not > shadow broke the
broad cxpansc Of white over which to
ward night the sun shone. OF courss
there were no signs d the roads. fol
through 90 deep snow none could b
broken. and until the sun and frost
should form crust on top there wa
little hope Of their being reached
The second morning broke, and
Willie hurried up % his post Of lookout
the first thing No person was in sight
but he found light crust on the snow,
and the first thing he noticed was . few
half-starved birds trying to pick M
| som thing IN oaf Thav lookcH weak