The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1891-01-08
THE nLIzARD. d

irbe blizzard which swept over Western
Kansas during the winter of 1885 4 vas pro
lductive Of many thrilling episodes The
story of Niles Nelson was related TO the
author of this poem in the spring. succeed-
ing the winter of the great storm, while
he was on a visit from his home in Denver
to his cattle ranch near Purdyville, Hodge
man county, Kansas, the scene of the in
cidenf. How true is the proverb which as
serts that fact is stranger than fiction.
1t was New Years Eve, and the wind blew
keen
Across the prairies that lie between
Fort Dodge, ON the Arkensaw, under the
hill,
And the struggling hamlet of Purdyville,
Where dwelt Niles Nelson who rode that day,
From his home to the northW ard, far away,
Over the bunch grass, bare and brown,
Into the busting frontier town.
The hight was dark, not star on high,
And blizzard brewing I'M there in the sky,
Niles Nelson stepped out INFO the street;
The wind was driving binding sheet
Of powdery snow riglt into his face;
But Niles was happy; he left the place
With glow in his heart, for little Moll,
His baby daughter, would get her DOLL
Niles Nelson trolling New Years song,
And facing the northward sturdily rode.
While past him the Storm Fiends courses
strobe.
The snow grows deeper, the night more
wild,
When he hears the wall of 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 it. within his strong
Rough hands; he presses it to his breast,
A place of shelter, place of rest.
cold"
And he wrapped the child in many fold
" MS ti oaA'' 'oAf'o' anu NC nueseu "
To his big, broad breast, but the ,blizzards
Still strove TO wither its tender life.
He mounted his pony, and then the strife
With the wolfish wind and binding snow.
And 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 nv soul to keep.
If should die before 1 wake,
l pray the Lord my soul to take"
Niles Nelson, paused, at the sounds dis
mayed,
And then-and then Niles Nelson prayed:
Lord save" was all he could think of then,
Lord save" he muttered, Lord save,
Amen" II
Then starting to northward, and into the
night,
II see il, he shouted, "thank God,
Twas e, beam from lamp on the window
Of his own sod cabin. With right good
His pony quickened its tagging pace,
nd soon in that dear, familiar place,
His cozy cabin, Niles Nelson stands:
He kisses his wife, and he holds her hands.
where's Mollie2' he cries, "where's little
Mollr
I've brought her wonderful New Years
doll"
And he points to the bed, where the blanket
In queer little bundle, "That's my sur
prise.
Why don't you answer, you're deadly pale
You tremble and shiver; you sob and wall
Answer; where's MollieT' "Oh, Miles,
she said,
my God, how can II Oil Niles, she's
dead"
"Dead?" eyes, Niles, she's lost in the
snow;
Today was pleasant, and Molie would go
On the prairie to play, and she didn't come
back,
When the night shut down all stormy and
black.
| 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 open for Mollie, our Mollie, no
more" |
Niles Nelson stood like statue of stone;
Then he raised his hand and said with q |
gr0an, n gn ttr
rs there God that will kill child
And bring its father across the wild
Of winiry 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 rose lips call,
"Oh, papa, you're home. now want my |
doll."
Stanley Wood, in the Great Divide.