Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1888-04-20

northern hOme-The ice stretcheth in all
directiOns-The polar bear hOWleth from
its den
"FOur score of moons ago I stood, and
pondered long and well; in these dire
wastes of ice,' said, no living man
should dwell. The frozen fields stretch
north and south, and east and west
stretch they; the polar bear bowls from
his lair, and mankind is his prey. The
blast is bleak, the ice is thick, and
winter never ends; and thus I said {:
I'll journey south, away from northern
friends. ,"
The aged man shivereth with cold. though
sitting by a fire-He hitcheth his dogs to
a sledge-The citizen becOmeth impatient.
Though bright the fire by which he
sat, he seemed with cold to quake; the
snow was on his long gray beard, and
still the old man spake: "I took nv
dogs and to a sledge, I hitched them
side by side; the black one with curly
tail, the white one, purple-eyed; the
spotted dog was in the lead, noble dog
was he" Now rot thy dogs, thou
ancient one! What are thy dogs to
me?" The spotted dog was in the
lead, noble dog was he, and thus I
drove across the ice, toward the south
ern sea. The sledge was staunch, and
rightly made, the runners skillful
wrought" "A murrain on thy scurvy
talel It ne'er will end, I wOt.
He jOurneyeth southwark many moons,
though no moon be visible The impa-
thence of the citizen increaseth- evil
pilgrimage it was for the Ancient Esuui-
mau-He killeth the last dOg.-He hath
to walk
"Full many moons I journeyed south,
nor did see the moon, for darkness
lay upon the ice"-" Odds death, thou
rambling loon, why tell this cursed an
ecdOte, of sledges, dogs and snOw?"
Then slowly spake that aged man, that
Ancient Esquimau: For darkness lay
upon the ice, and cold the north wind
came; it seemed to dart into my heart,
it chilled my weary frame. White fell
the frost from frOwning skies, the frost
fell white, 1 say; the dogs grew weak,
the black one frOze, the white one passed
away. That was an evil pilgrimage, a
journey dire to me; two dogs were
dead, and 1 still far, far from the south
ern sea; with my" 80 curse thy
beasts, thou knave-thy mind is in a
fog"-"with my stuffed club" the old
man said, 4 killed the other dog. And
colder grew the wailing blast, as fur
Their south came; my dogs were dead
Il had to walk, though old, and weak
and lame.
The Ancient Esquimau continued his dole
ful tale.-He UraVelleth three score leagues
The citizen cOmmandeth him to let up
He buildeth himself raft-He saileth
southwark, and the tempest increaseth-
Foul fell the frost, as on Z strobe,
by hope of sunshine drawn; eternal
darkness spread around, and never
knew dawn. Three score of leagues
on wastes of ice, three score of leagues
in snow; three score of leagues"
In senseless talk, thou crazy Esqui-
mau; cease now that jargOn wild of
thine, if thou estop it can" but still in
low and husky voice, went on that
ancient man: Three score of leagues
IN starless night, went-GOd pity me
And then at last L weary, reached the
margin of the sea. Its waste of waters
stretched away, unmarked by any craft /;
and there with axe and crOsscut saw
built me mp a raft. 1 built a raft of
scattered wood, and southwark 1 did
sail; the snow came kissing overhead,
and louder grew the gale. The sea
gulls screamed, the heavens seemed,
their fury to OutpOur, and still as south
ward on L sped, increased the tempest's
roar. Six hundred leagues on rolling
waves, 1 on my raft did speed; six
hundred leagues without a roof my
food the salt sea weed"
VI
The aged man is filed with Iongings.
gale grOweth hercer.-He thinketh of self
desruction.-He mOurneth for his dogs
afasHT rsnHn u rHgaeHn in
New York.
q lOnged to reach the southern cline,
where skies are shining blue; I longed
to be where lovely lands are cheered by
nightly dew. But fiercer grew the
tempest still, and higher swept the
wave; full oft twas in my mind to
drown, and seek a watery grave. Full
oft 1 lOnged to tread again my frozen
northern plain, with my two dogs that
frOze to death, the dog that had slain. F"
"Beshrew thy dogs and cease thy tale,
and leave my humble hearth: there are
no staler anecdotes in all the lands Of
earth. & lOnged to hear the polar
bear, howl from his snowy den, IlOnged
to see the forms once more, and hear
the voice of men. Six hundred leagues
IN bitter blasts, that pricked like sharp
ened fork; six hundred leagues, and
then one day, landed IN New York.
VI
The Ancient Esquimau tells OF the storms
in the Arctic regiOns.-He is caught IN the
New York bliEZard-He viii return to his
hOme-The citizen, being aWestruck be
the dread narrative, taketh stimulant-
Conclusion.
Then paused a time this weary man,
then paused lie In his tale; he silent sat
and seemed to think of waves and ice
and gale. The citizen impatient strobe
across his cottage floor; anon he