Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1886-12-23

through a coffee mill-a blessing j
WASH t one Of your pretty heads-th,
aXletree broken, and-the devil t.
pay everywhere / And Mr.. Gross
waved his arms wildly, as if word,
failed him wherewith to express The
utter ruin and smash that had taker
place.
Here was a situation Nine CLOCK
Of a winters night, a wild mountain
road, fierce storm raging, and ten
people, up to their knees In snow
blown about by the driving wind, and
stiffening already with the cold.
Is there a blacksmith's shop at the
foot Of the mountain asked Mr..
Winston. There used to be-
Yes said Leslie, but there's no
use trying to mend anything tonight.
'Ofcourse not, exclaimed Mr.. Gross.
But jim Bailey has a snug house down
there that will shelter us all, and my
advice is that you all travel down
there as soon as you can. 1t amt
more than fifty yards. We couldn't
have broke down in a better place.
What's that about the trunks, Miss
Alice Bless the women you cant
scare nor freeze the love of their
clothes out of EN-. The trunks won't
get hurt. / looked at EN-. They're
covered up tight in the boot-not 3
snowflake can get to EN- Now, I'll
80 ahead with these critters, and break
the way, and you all follow after me.
1t was a wild journey. The girls
could not Keep their feet in the wind,
which came tearing down the noun
tain, bringing miniature avalanches
with it, and Margie, who as usual found
herselfthe special care Of Mr.. Winston,
could only cling to his arm, and suf-
fer herself to be almost carried through
the drifts. When they reached the
blacksmith's cabin, all was dark and
still, and Mr.. Cross's shouts and knocks
were for long time unanswered.
Drat the man is he dead or drunk,
wonder2' growled Mr.. Cross, pausing
to listen for an answer.
4 heard something then,' cried
Margie, who had pressed close to the
door. Something like little child
crying Listenp
Tt was the wind, l reckon. Well,
I'll try again, and he shouted, aloud /:
Jim, Jim Bailey, it's me, Dan Cross,
and load Of passengers out here
freezing to death Open your door,
man
This time, after pause, little faint
voice called, timidly, from within :
rs that you, Mr.. Cross?'
Yes, it's me, little July. Let me
in quick.
The door opened slowly, and little
girl appeared with frightened face,
holding back with one hand two
smaller children, who chung to her
SKIRTS.
Halo, July where's father p
asked Mr.. Gross, at the sight of whom
all the children smiled, and the door
opened wide instantly.
Fathers gone to grandpa's. He
went last night, and he hasn't come
back, and there's nobody here but me
and the children. So | was afraid to
open the door at first, said July, cling
ing to Mr.. Cross's hand, and looking
shyly at the strangers who entered.
But in few moments she forgot her
shyness, and was busy throwing pine
Knots on the bed of Goals that glowed
in the great fireplace and setting
chairs for the ladies with instructive
grace and courtesy. Up sprang a
glorious blaze, lighting every corner
OF the large Kitchen with its crimson
glow, and warming thoroughly the
chilled travellers who crowded round
it.
Now, July, said Mr.. Cross, who
seemed perfectly at home, you see this
basket Well, there's plenty of supper
in here-cold chicken and so on-for
these people, but we d like some coffee
amazin', Helloh What's this Here 8
nice mess. This here bottle of shrub
has gone and smashed and soaked all
the bread Now what's to be done p
Make more bread, said Leslie,
recklessly. i suppose July can give
us some -four or meal to make it Of.
We will pay you well, little one, for
the trouble We give you
July laughed as she opened the
door of a shed room, and with some
pride showed well.stocked store
room. But she said she never made
any bread out of -four. Father al.
ways made the bread.
Now, ladies, which of you will make
the bread for SUPPER asked Leslie
gayly, and the girls looked at one an
other in silence.
! never made any bread in my life,
said Alice, slowly.
And Inever saw any made, ex.
claimed Emmis, while Addy folded
her hands, and looked upwards with q
comical face of despair,
In this emergency Margie came for.
ward, modestly yet confidently. i
have made biscuit. | think can do
it again, she said, and she proceeded
at once to fasten up her sleeves, put
on an apron July brought her, and
to wash her hands in business like
way.
Mr. Cross watched her handle the
tray and quart cup, and sift the -four,
and then saying, with a quiet nod,
You'll do, he left the house, beckon.
ing several of the young men to follow.
The party remaining in the house
were soon very busy getting supper,