Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1888-06-15

was no lack of hands, as the men were
willing and anxious to work. The party
that started out in search of farm house
was not so successful. After three hours
| tramping through the cold and snow,
they were forced 20 return, unsuccessful,
! TO the train, cold, weary and hungrier
than ever, though there was not a man
among them who would acknowledge
| that he was the least bit hungry. 1T
was for the sake of the ladies, you know"
And so the night closed in around them,
the wind bowling, the drifts getting
deeper every moment.
Among the lady passengers on the
train was a bright, brisk little school
marin who was on her way to her school.
She was just as sweet and pleasant as
though there was no such thing as snow
and cold and discomfort in the world
She went around among the other ladies
cheering them up, telling them that the
storm was not half as bad as it might be,
and that help was sure to come soon.
She cheered them up immensely. There
was young man who seemed to be
travelling with her as her ascOrt. He did
not take the same view of affairs that
she did; he just growled and growled,
first at the trainmen, ''they were lazy
set;' then at the railroad company, they
did not care a rap for the comfort OF
the passengers :" then at the beastly
storm. When the men went out to cut
wood he did not 90, che was not a
wood choppers" and when the little
woman asked him if he was going with
the men In search of some food he de-
cIlned with thanks in no very gentle
him fool. Some of the male mem
of "a l. Of NJ "a
their fists as they heard his harsh answer
to her, and saw the panied expression
on her sweet face, but they said nothing,
only muttering of something that
sounded like "pitch him in snow
drift" at which his lordshp glared
around, but no one finched.
There was another young man in the
party who attracted attention, but
not in the same way as the escort of
the schoolmarm. When anyone sug-
gested anything that promised relief, he |
was volunteer to try it; he cut wood |
for a while and then came back and !
took snow in the water cooler to |
the engine and melted it for drinking
water for those in the car, and did a
dozen other little things to smooth over
he discOmforts of the time. One thing
vas noticeable, he studiously avoided
he little schoolmarm and her
'scOrt. When the escort noticed him
working away his blonde moustache was
cen to curl, which proved that the lip
hat bore it was sneering. The little
choolmarm looked rather strange at
lines at the active young man, and
Vhen they Glanced to come near each
Their, which was seldom, she avoided
is glance
The hours of the night wore slowly
way, the men worked in relays at chop ,
ing wood; a party with one ak in the {
yoods chopping, another party with the l
Their AK was in the baggage car cutting /
ne wood into proper length to 90 into '
he stoves.
The active young man had helped pull v
p the car seats and arrange them into v
ouchcs for the ladies, as being more V
and easy than the seats l.
roper, and he kept bringing in large t
'mfuls of wood to put in the stove, v
he escort was walking up and down v
Ike bear in a cage, growing and in a
-erybody's way; he walked from one "
VI to another and kept the doors on the II
wing, letting in lots OF cold air and Il
ting everybody know that he was h
lagry. Somebody suggested to MIN II
at there was plenty of snow, and to W
lip himself. He tried to annihilate il
e offender with glance.
The escort went into the baggage car ii
watch them chop wood; a box stood &C
his way and in passing he CHANGED to a
ike his foot against it; this provoked h.
~ and he gave 1t a hard kick for spite. It
lie kick crushed IN the side of the box tr
d out rolled cracker! This discovery SO
Is hailed with delight. w
Here's a CO." exclaimed the escort, dl
don't care who they belong to, Pm la
ing to help myself Come, gentlemen, Ri
lp yourselves and take some in g the
lies" cl
There was no hesitation under the tn
they considered them 70
yes justified, and the crackers quickly pa
lished out of the box. The baggage tn
ster smiled a quiet smile when he -
ked on the box and saw the name of
person to whom it was being shipped
c escort, after his supper of crack ers,
TX the warmest and best seat by the
We, and went to sleep. m;
The gray dawn began to appear an
ough the still driving snow, and those at
o had been sleeping began to rouse no
m their titful slumbers. All looked inc
n and haggard. Several of the ladies ha
been utterly Frustrated from the we
d, hunger and worry. Something of
st be done. 1t was suggested to make pr
ther attempt to find house, but the tw
vest looked out at the binding, biting In
m, and shrunk back The active lng
ng man looked out at the storm and de- Tor
cd q fnx mo tho,,