Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1891-01-01
THE BLIZZARD.

THE blizzard which swept over Western Kans;
during the winter of 1867. was productive of man
thrilling episodes. The story of Niles Nelson wa
related to the author of this poem in the sprinj
succeeding the winter Of the great storm, willie i
was on visit from his home in Denver TO his cattl
ranch near Purdyville, Hodgeman county, Kansas
the scene OF the incident. How true is the proven
which asserts that fact is stranger than fictionl
1t was New Years Eve, and the wind blew kee
Across the prairies that lie between
Fort Dodge, on the ArkanSaw, under the hill,
And the struggling hamlet of Purdyville,
Where dwelt Niles Nelson, who rode that day,
From his home to the nOrthward, far away,
Over the bunch grass, bare and brown,
INTO the bustling frontier town.
The night was dark; not star on high,
And blizzard brewing up there in the sky.
Niles Nelson stepped out into the street;
The wind was driving binding sheet
OF powdered snow right into his face;
But Niles was happy; he left the place
With glow in his heart, for little Mol,
His baby daughter, would get her doll,
Mes Se Nelson g trSng e New @ears song
And facing the nOrthwind sturdy rode,
While past the Storm Fiends coursers strobe.
The snow grows deeper, the night more wild,
When he hears the wall of a little child.
Lost on the prairie and doomed to die
II heaven prove deaf to Its feeble cry.
He leaps from his pony, he searches long;
He feels it; he has 1t, within his strong,
Rough hands; he presses it to his breast,
A place OF shelter, place OF rest.
'D0 MT cry, little honey, you ii catch more cold
And he wrapped the child in many a fold
OF his blanket coarse and he Rugged it tight
To his big broad breast, but the billiards. blight
Still strove to wither its tender life.
He mounted his pony, and then the strife
With the wOlish wind and the binding snow,
And the biting cold, that plainsmen know,
When the Storm Fiend flies, began once more,
And under his breath Niles Nelson swore.
Then silence fell, in the tumult wild,
And he heard the voice of the little child:
''Now lay me down to sleep;
pray the Lord my soul to keep.
If should die before / wake,
pray the Lord my soul to take"
Niles Nelson paused, at the sound dismayed,
And then-and then Niles Nelson prayed:
Lord, save was all he could think of then,
Lord, save" he muttered, Lord, save. Amen" "
Then staring to northward and into the night
~ see it," he shouted, ''thank God, light ~
It was beam from lamp on the window sill
OF his own sod cabin; With right good will
His pony quickened its tagging pace,
And soon In that dear, familiar place,
His coZy cabin, Niles Nelson stands;
He kisses his wife. and he holds her hands.
where $ Mollie," he cries; where S little Poll?
1 We brought her wonderful New Years dOll;"
And he points to the bed, where the blanket lies,
In queer little bundle, THAT g my surprise.
You tremble and shiver; You sob and wall
Answer; where s Mollie?s "Oh, Niles. She said.
my Godl how can I-Ohl Niles, she S dead"
'Dead?" "Yes, Miles, she s lost in the snow.
To-day was pleasant, and Mollie iCOild go
On the prairie to play and she did MT come back,
When the night shut down all stormy and black.
l set the lamp on the window sill
Rushed into the storm, and sought her until
The blizzard drifted me back to the door
That shall opOn for Mollie, our MOllie, no more.'
Niles Nelson stood like statue of stone;
Then he raised his hand and said with groan;
is there a God that will kill a child,
And bring its father across the wild
OF wintry plains to save from death
The child of another?' He drew his breath
With savage hiss, as he snatched away
The blanket in which the baby lay.
The blue eyes open; the lose lips call.
oh, papa, you r home; now want my doll"
Stanley Wood, in The Great Dipide.