St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1888-03-31

y
than Mary Wood. This smallest and
weakest of the flock Miss Ra-' male
her especial care. and. taking him by
the hand. she made the rest grasp each
other firmly. bidding them keep to
ycthcr, and close to her. Then. 1T last.
she opened the door ,bat had stood.
frail barrier. between them and the
storm. The first gust took them on
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 toyether-started them
again on their well-nigh impossible
journey.
Ii was like trying to walk through
deep-drifted snow. SO thick was the air.
while the the wind ragged and howlcd.
twisting and flinging them from side to
side.
Observation-Disclosures painted
the little teacher. rs she huddled them
up for few moments TO take breath.
There was no crying now; only
weak. quavering wall from Robbie.
that caused the teacher to catch him
up in ker arms. and clasp him close.
with sinking heart, lest he should be
smothered by the binding snow, fine
as -four but sharp rs needle points.
And so. painting and struggling. now
stopping to count if al were there. and
now pushing on again. they fought
their fearful way, step by step.
Observation-Disclosures was all
the breaihlcss 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
i'm. was filled with snow. their eyelids
were covered with frost. tears were
frozen on coid little checks. 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.
Blu. in such = tempest human strength
and ingenuity are of small avail; and
when. at last, gasping. numb and near.
" 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 mocking tiend. answered hel
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, thu
children around and upon her. and thu
snow suryin. and driftin. ever them
Yet she would not give up all hope
She remembered that they had crossed
the small brook. They must. therefore
b. more than halfway home: and
furthermore, they were still near TIN
boarl-fencc which skirted the road. -
that every ste? taken WAS certainly il
the right direction.
She crowded the children together
protecting their faces from the storm
rs best she could. in order that the.
might rest. and recover their spen
breath: she gently rubbed and talke'
to Robbie. until he revived a little
then getting them all in front OF her
the smallest in the center. she mad
them start again.
But the stupcfied children now begal
to whimper. begging to lie down; an'
she had almost to force them on. ste
by step. pushing one. pulling another
gathering them mp when they fell. an'
keeping them all the time in bunch
lest Others should drop out IS Mar.
and Willie had done.
So she fought and struggled till tn
hands with which she tried to gras
the children were too deadened to fee
any thing. and bitter despair filled he
heart.
Then, all at once, some one. gropin
through the snow and battling wit
the wind. brushed against them. an
she heard shout, rs il it were muff1e
and far away. In another moment
Robbie was in his fathers arms. Will
the little teacher. completely overcome
sobbcd aloud for relief and joy.
Mr.. Kent had taken with him hi
grown-up son and hired man. and.
prevent separation. had adopted . d.
vice Of mountain climbers and fastene
J them all together by long line passe'
round the body OF each.
J Miss Rast. in eager haste. reportc
the loss Of Mary and Willie. and begge
the men to endeavor to find them; b,
Mr.. Kent pronounced the attempt on
Of the question. especially as the n
manning children were fast freezing
death. They must not sacrifice seve
! lives in 4 fruitless effort to save two.
: The three rescuers now surrounde
the worn-out group. and the roE
I proved to be OF the greatest servic
, keeping them as in . small pen. Eve
! the teacher was glad to cling to it Il
. support The men hurried the childre
: onward. carrying them At times. an
then driving them like bewilders
, sheep; till. finally the friendly doc
; way was reached. where mother
: longing heart and eager arms gathere
. them ia with thankfulness too deep Il
+ words
q Fingers. faces and feet were found
{ be badly frozen; but willing ham