Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1888-03-22

ble-down, long-deserted hut. known
popularity as sthe she'd" As they en-
tered the doorway they could see moth
ing, but in moment a familiar voice
fell on their ears.
Jack, Dolly! You poor children!
o. Jack. rub her hands! Don't let
her lie down. We'll walk her between
u.s.
Miss Wilkes seized one of Dolly's
arms and Jack the other. and for some
minutes they fairly dragged her up and
down the dark little place till she said,
family:
I'm not so sleepy now" and seemed
able 10 stand alone.
Have you been here long?" Jack
asked.
about an hour. The two children
were with me. you know. and re-
membered this place. thinking it would
be better to pass the night here. if
necessary. than to risk going on in the
storm There's some straw there in
the corner and they arc lying on it,
asleep and warm. But Dolly is SILVER
ing So am /. If we might only have
| fret
She had taken off her own warm
shawl. in which she had wrapped the
two children, and looked nearly frozen
| herself.
Here's some matches" said Jack,
| producing them, land there's the
straw. But that wouldn't last long"
Suddenly his face frightened. There's
all that wood the men left. It's only
few steps away" and the boy darted
off.
He returned with his arms full, and
began to stamp down little place in
the snow, in front of the opening
which served for a doorway. 1t was
sheltered from the wind, and seemed
the only place where fire could be
made.
Now, Miss Wilkes, this wood is
pretty snowy. I left my sled a little
way off Tell make splendid kim
dling"-his voice faltered little here,
but he went on quickly-"and I'll be
back with it in just minute"
Poor Jack! 1t was long minute
for him and for the others waiting in
the little log building. H, went, as
he thought. directly to the place
where he had let 60 of the rope, but
no sled was to be seen. He tried GO
ing little to the right, then back to
the left, still with no success. Around
him everywhere lay the billowy snow,
the air was full of the whirling flakes,
and the wind shrek ed about him. He
grew bewildered. Already his tracks
were nearly covered. Suddenly his
foot struck something hard Stoop-
ing, he found it to be the sled, and
dragging it from under the snow
which had buried it. he turned, some
what encouraged. to retrace his steps.
He labored on, bending his head before
the swift, fierce wind, which he must
face to reach the hut. But. as before.
the wind seemed to shift, all his
tracks had disappeared; and poor
Jack, cold, exhausted, utterly be-
wildered. lost all heart. The
short winter day was drawing to a
close. He looked anxiously in every
direction. coping to see light some-
where, but in vain. 1t would have
been impossible to see one more than
few feet away in that binding gale.
The fine snow blew in his eyes, his
nose. his mouth. until. choked and
blinded, he dropped down on the sled,
and feeling of almost irresistible
drowsiness came over him. He kne W
that to yield to it meant death, So
with violent effort, he stumbled up
and on again. The sled-rope he threw
over his shoulders, and beat his hands
together, trying to restore some
warmth to them. His tace seemed to
have lost all feeling; it was frozen.
He realized that the remedy for that
lay all around him, and taking off his
mittens. he grasped handful of snow,
and rubbed his face vigorously.
Sharp. singing pains followed. but he
kept up the rubbing till feeling OF
warmth came.
PRO bly, I've gone beyond the
shed," thought the discouraged boy.
''but if 1 turn back 1 may be going
the wrong way. Have got to die?
I'm so young, and oh! 1 do want to
live. Mother IL feel awful. and Jim.
Who IL draw d oily to school. I wonder?
l don't want to die. Miss Wilk es'l II
be glad. l guess. for l know I'm a
bother. but oh! l 1UiU behave if l come
out Of this. l s'pose God could help
me, but there's so many others for
him to look after. pro bly, He wouldn't
mind little Teller like me. Anyhow,
people always pray when they're dy-
ing, so I'll try it, he finished. charac-
teristically.
He pushed his sled down hard till it
lay steadily on the snow, then, kneel-
ing on it, he prayed that his life might
be spared. 'Tm so yo,ng." he said.
''only thirteen, and Pm so strong,
want 10 live. If 1 must die. please
take me to Heaven. But let me live!
o God, won't you let me?"
Somehow, he did not feel so for
saken after that He drew his wide
worsted scarf up over his head. cover
ing every thing but his eyes. This
afforded him some relief, and he
plunged on, often falling, but as often
struggling to his feet, and pressing
forward again. Oh. if he might but
lie down in the snow! he was so tired
and sleepy.
1t was quite dark now. They must
be eating supper at home. They must
be worrying about him. too. And
what were Dolly and Miss Wilkes do.
, ing. and the two little children? Per-