The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1888-03-01

cloak, her dress, her hands--somehov
they must keep together-started then
again on their well-nigh impossibl,
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 tC
side.
"Keep-together- painted
the little teacher. as she huddled them
up for few moments to take breath.
There was no crying now; only g
weak, quavering wall from Robbie,
that caused the teacher to catch him
up i'll 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-toge ther-childrenr 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 crevice 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
ly frozen, she sank down once more
and drew the children about her, she
discovered, to her horror, that Willie
and Mary Wood were missing.
How wildly she called their names,
and how vainly! while only the wind,
like a hooking fiend, answered her
cries. She dared not leave the other
children even for an instant Once
away from them, she knew she could
never find them again; and moreover,
little Robbie now lay, dead weight in
her arms. that seemed no longer able
to carry him.
Almost overwhelmed she sat, the
children around and upon her, and the
snow surging and drifting over them.
Yet she would not give up all hope.
She remembered that they had crossed
the small brook. They must, therefore,
be more than halfway home; and.
furthermore, they were still near the
board-fence which skirted the road. So
that every step taken was certainly in
the right direction.
She crowded the children together.
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 a little;
then getting them all in front of her,
the smallest in the center, she made
them start again.
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 a 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
the snow and battling with
the wind, brushed against them. and
she heard a shout, as if it were muf1led
and far away. In another moment,
Robbie was in his fathers arms, while
the little teacher, completely overcome,
sobbed aloud for relief and Joy.
Mr.. Kent had taken with him his
grown-up son and hired man, and. to
prevent separation, had adopted de-
vice of mountain climbers and fastened
them all together by 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-
children were fast freezing to
death. They must not sacrifice seven
lives in fruitless effort to save two.
The three rescuers now surrounded
the WORKOUT group, and the rope
proved to be of the greatest service.
keeping them as in a small pen. Even
the teacher was glad to cling to it for
The men hurried the children
onward, carrying them at times. and
then driving them like bewildered
sheep; till, finally the friendly door
way was reached. where Il mothers
longing heart and eager arms gathered
them in with thankfulness too deep for
words.
Fingers. faces and feet were found to
be badly frozen; but willing hands |
worked rapidly, stripping and rubbing,
thawing the frosted parts with snow
and cold water. and soon the weary
little sufferers fell into heavy sleep.
Miss Rasts own hands were injured |
so badly that it was weeks before she |
could use them; but her thoughts were |
ali of the two lost children. All that |
night, exhausted as she was, she |
scarcely slept. o, if she had but |