The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1888-05-05

little more than twelve. while Robbie
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
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 together-started them
again on their well-nigh impossible
journey. 49,
1t was like trying to walk through
deep-drifted snow. so thick was the air,
while the the wind ragged and howled.
twisting and fiinging them from side to
side.
Observation-Disclosures painted
the little teacher. as she hnddled them
up for few moments to take breath.
There was no crying now; only
weak, quavcring wall from Robbie.
that caused the teacher to catch him
up in her arms, and clasp him close,
with n sinking heart, lest he should be
smothered by the binding snow, fine
as -four but sharp as noodle 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.
Experimentation 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 filed 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 hooking tiend. 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 tie
snow surging and drifting ever 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
tosRobbie, until he revived q little;
then getting them all in front of her.
the smallest in the center, she made
them start again.
But the stupefied 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 ont 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 filed her
heart ~ <
Then. all at once. some one. CROPPING
through the snow and battling with
the wind. brushed against them. and
she heard a shout. as if it we're mufiied
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
grown-up son and hired man, and. to
prevent separation. had adopted a de-
Woo of mountain elm hare and faotnuad