West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1886-01-08

in their beds fast asleep, and knew
nothing about il.
The night passed away and morning
came, but no light broke through the
windows OF tho cabin. Mrs Harness
woke at the usual time, but finding II
still dark and perfectly quiet outside.
she concluded that the storm was over
and with n sigh OF relief turned over 10
sleep again. About eight o'clock
however, she could sleep no more. and
became widc-awake enough 10 think
the darkness strange. At that momcn
the clock struck, and the truth flashed
over her.
Being buried under snow is no nm
common thing on the wide p%rairir..
and since they had wood and corn-meal
IN plenty, she would not have been
much alarmed if her husband had been
home. But snow deep enough 10 bury
them must up all landmarks. and
She knew her husband would moi rest
I'LL he had found them. 70 get lost ON
the tracklcSS prairie wa, fcarfullv easy.
ana To suilcr and die almost i'm 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 anNieties before. she spoke to the
children.
Willie She said at last, ..arc YOU
Yes, mamma said Willie. 'I've
Dech awake ever so long; isn't il most
mOrning?n
Willie" said the mother. quietly.
we mustn't be frightened, but ! think
! m airaid-wc are showed in
Willie bounded TO his feet and ran TO
the door.
Don't open it," said mamma. ha>li-
~ Ithe snow may fall in. Light a
candle and look out the windows"
IN "a moment the tlickcring RAYS of
ne candle fell upon the Windows.
Willie drew back The curtain. Snow
was tightly banked up against it to the
top.
why, mammal he exclaimed, $50
We are! and how can papa find Us?
and what shall we do?"
wv must do the best we can" said
mamma, I'm a voice which she tried To
make steady, land trust that it isn't
very deep, and that Tim and papa will
find Us and dig Us out"
by this time the little girls were
awake n inclined to be very much
frightened, but mamma was calm now,
and Willie was brave and hopeful.
They all dressed, and Willie started
the lire. The smoke refused To- rise.
nut pulled out into the room, and Mrs.
Barnes knew that if the chimney were
closed they would probably suffocatc,
II they did not starVe or freeze.
The smoke i'll u few moments chokcd
them, and seeing that something must
| Inc dana Lhn t,r,t tl,. ,.. III N
wrapped i'm blankets, into the shed ont
side the back door. closed the door TO
keep out the smoke, and then went
with Willie to the low attic where n
door opened on TO the roof.
I'VE must try she said. to Get If
open without letting i'm too much snow.
and see if we can manage to clear the
chimney"
81 can reach the chimney from the
scuttle with q shovel" said Willie. II
often have with a stick"
After much labor, and several AVA
lanches of snow; the scuttle was OPEN
eel far enough for Willie 10 stand ON
the top round of the short ladder. and
beat a hole through 20 the light. which
was only a foot above. He then shov-
eied of the top of the chimney. which
was ornamented with a biz round cush-
ION OF snow, and then by beating and
shoycling he was able to clear the door.
which he opened wide, and Mrs.
Barnes came upon the ladder to look
out. Dreary indeed was the scene,
Nothing but snow, as far as the eve
could reach, and flakes stu falling.
though lightly. The storm was evil
IDENTIFY almost over, but the sky was
gray and overcast.
They closed the door. went down
and soon had a fire, hoping that the
smoke would guide somebody to them.
Breakfast vas taken by candlc-lieht.
dlnncr-in timc-in the same way. and
supper passed with no sound from the
outside world.
Many times Willie and mamma went
TO the scuttle door to see if any II was
In sight. but not a shadow broke the
broad eNpanse of white over which To-
ward night the sun shOnc. OF course
there were no signs of the roads. for
through 50 deep snow none could bee
broken, and until the sun and frost
mould form q rus on top there wa,
little hope Of their being reached.
The second morning broke. and
W lille hurried up to his post Of lookout
the hrst thing. No person was I'm sight.
but he found q light crust on the snow.
and the first thing he noticed wa, "a few
halt-starved birds trying 10 pick up
something 10 eat. They looked weak
and almost exhausted, and % thought
truck Willie.
II was hard to keep up zinc courap.
OF the little household. Nora had Dn.r-
lumcnted that tonight was Chri,tu4s
Eve, and no Christmas dinner ,o boz
bad. Tot had grown very fearful about
her "wai-in-. and Mr.. Barnes. THOUGH
she irod To keep mp heart. had become
very pale and silent.
Willie. though be- feel, urlgundcd
iaith in papa. and C-pcc.allg iu Tim.
found II hard 90 suppress bis own CONE
plaini- when he remembered that
christmas would probably Ir passed i'm
the same dismal way. with fears for
papa added TO their own misery.
The wood. too. was getting low. and
mamma dared not Jet theirc zoo out. as
That $50. Che only sim of ,lcir exist
once io anybody: and though .lu did
not speak Oh it Willie knew. too. CHAT
they bad not many candles. and iu two
days at iartbest they lOuld Jo lef iu
the dark
Ilo thought that truck him pleased
Willie great and h r. uru i
would sheer HU fho REST. Ia mad. iis
plans. aud went To- work 20 carry .Iam
1u. without jung anything about f.