The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-02-25

Kent. delicate boy, was younger even
than Mary Wood. This smallest and
weakest of the flock Miss Rast made
her especial care, and, taking him by
the hand, she made the rest grasp each
other firmly, bidding them keep to-
gether. and close to her. Then, at last,
she opened the door that had stood,
frail barrier, between them and the
storm. The first gust took them off
their feet; but the little teacher sum-
moned strength and courage, and, with
a silent prayer for help, gathered them
up, hushed their outcries, and, putting
the smaller children between the larger,
and making them take hold of her
cloak, her dress, her hands-somehow
they must keep ogether-started them
again on their well-nigh impossible
journey.
1t was like trying to walk through
deep-drifted snow. SO thick was the air,
while the the wind ragged and howled,
twisting and flinging them from side to
side.
"Keep-to@ether-children" painted
the little teacher, as she huddled them
up for few moments to take breath.
There was no crying now; only u
weak, quavering wall from Robbie.
that caused the teacher to catch him
up in her arms, and clasp him close,
with a sinking heart, lest he should be
smothered by the binding snow, fine
as flour but sharp as needle points.
And so, painting and struggling, now
stopping to count if all were there, and
now pushing on again, they fought
their fearful way, step by step.
"Keep-to9 ether-childrenn' was all
the breathless teacher tried to say; and
still the storm increased in fury; every
moment the sky grew blacker and
thicker, and night was fast settling
down on the poor, struggling band.
Their puny strength was all but ex-
hausted. Every creyice of their cloth
ing was filled with snow, their eyelids
were covered with frost, tears were
frozen on cold little cheeks, tiny hands
grew too stiff to hold on to each other;
and still the teacher counted her flock,
and hoped and prayed that somehow
she might yet save them all.
But in such tempest human strength
and ingenuity are of small avail; and
when, at last. gasping, numb and near
never be resurrected. That was u {
than twenty-five years ago. VIII
is that party to-day-lost in the
tory of the acknowledging psos
Nay but in the full vigor of life nd.
power, holding the reins of theher
tional government. If slavery her
treason and rebellion will not knee
party. what have you, gentlenuld
that is more effectual? Applarer'
t in
Du' you say 'ne hepuolican pp.ble
is doomed. also. The grand old p
must 60. 1t has done glorious thiltb
its record is without faint of treas the
it saved the country it broke forem.
the bonds of the slave; 1t restope.
the Union; it brought back peed
and prosperity to our distracted re-
ton it is the party of Lincoln a.
Summer ana Grant and Garfiee
Applause. Do you think that
wickedness could not kill the Den
cratic. virtue will make the eReIp.nhtr
protecting their faces from the storm
as best she could. in order that they
might rest, and recover their spent
breath; she gently rubbed and talked
to Robbie, until he revived little;
then getting them all in front of her,
the smallest in the center, she made
them start again.
But the stupetied children now began
to whimper, begging to lie down; and
she had almost to force them on, step
by step, pushing one, pulling another,
gathering them up when they fell. and
keeping them all the time in bunch,
lest others should drop out, as Mary
and Willie had done.
So she fought and struggled till the
hands with which she tried to grasp
the children were too deadened to feel
any thing, and bitter despair filled her
heart
Then, all at once, some one, cropping
through the snow and battling with
the wind, brushed against them, and
she heard shout, as if it were muffled
and far away. In another moment,
Robbie was in his fathers arms, while
the little teacher, completely overcome,
sobbcd aloud for relief and joy.
Mr. Kent. had taken with him his
gr0wn-up son and hired man, and, to
prevent separation, had adopted a de-
vice of mountain climbers and fastened
them all together by n long line passed
round the body of each.
Miss Rast, in eager haste, reported
the loss of Mary and Willie, and begged
the men to endeavor to find them; but
Mr.. Kent pronounced the attempt ont
of the question, especially as the re-
manning children were fast freezing to
death. They must not sacrifice seven
lives in fruitless effort to save two.
The three rescuers now surrounded
the worn-out group, and the rope
proved to be of the greatest service,
keenino them as in n small men Even