Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-01-24
How the blizzard Came.

Ut. iHutIlN i'll luliDIlhi ltllfI.l
The winter had been mild. The new
year found the ice-houses empty. The
streams as yet felt no frost. Farmers
in the lowlands feared no hOg-killing
weather" would come. On the sunny
side Of hills and houses the air was as
mellow and mild as May. The dropping
of nuts among the leaves limited that
the squirrel was yet out of winter
quarters. The big butt cuts at the
wood-pile had not been needed for back
logs. The iron runners on the sleighs
had not been polished on an icy track.
Skates lay rusting in closets. The
schOol-boy despaired Of even one snow
battle. The beaux, with sweethearts
and jingling bells, were scenes of the
past.
Whatever may be the philosophy Of
cold waves" it is curious cOlnci-
dent that notice for a certain lecture
is the precursor Of a change in the
weather. The parsonage in Liberty
was longing for promised gifts Of square
ribs from bucolic Pensioners. How
to bring about a season for the slaughter
of fat swine was the problem. The
shrewd Watts, Of Bedford, named
day for lecture at Walnut Grove. He
reckoned it would bring forth the
treasures OF hail. if not Of coin.
The announcement started an arctic and
aerial tide from Manitoba and Hudson
Bav. The afternoon Of Friday the
Sth saw the flakes, the fOrerunners OF
a furious storm. The " clOud-compell-
ing" manuscript was stored in a
valise on the Allegheny sleeper. All
night long the ice musketry ratified
against the windows, eager and count
less as the arrows shifting the shields of
the Greeks at ThermoplyT. Bufords-
vile is at the eastern base Of the Blue
Ridge. The village was frozen up.
The earth was deep in snow. The
mountains wore mantles white as wool.
A hungry wind sprung upon you from
the freely heights, nipping, with tooth
Of frost, finger, ear, and face.
Walnut Grove was miles away.
The vehicle tugged slowly across the
billy country. The mercury fell every
hour. Clouds of fine snow whirlcd in
the air and dashed in the eyes of the
traveller. Streamswere mute. Cattle
shivered on the lee-side of barns. Birds
muflled under caves. Above the top
of the buggy, on the right, the pinnacles
of otter, with their forest trembling in
the gale, seemed to shiver along their
timbered sides. Near by, on the left,
the storm howled in the cliffs and crags
Of the Blue Ridge and the scattered
trees tossed in the freezing air, like
sentinels on frozen beats, shifting them
selves with hand and arm to drive the
chill out Of the blood.
The choked ruts made the wheels
turn heavily and miles measure double.
Feet ached. The breath fringed the
beard with filigree of frost. No foot
print was on the road. The rabbit
dreaded the devouring wind more than
gnawing of hunger. There was seldom
seen in the hamlets a single person
abroad. The chimneys sent up thick
columns of smoke.
The Methodist steward drew rein at
a gate, and we limped with numbed
ankles to the house. A blazing hearth
awaited us. The blizzard grew iiercer.
The hickory logs, heaped on stout and
irons, shot hot defiance into the teeth
Of the tornado. The lecture had done
its work. Every ice-house could be
filled with great cubes, and the parSon-
age with choice pieces of chine.