Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1891-07-17

caught fire and blazed merrily upward
l was saved.
But mol The leaves were soon oon-
sumed and once more the fame died
out, for still the damp limbs did not
take fire. was doomed.
But had gained breath and strength
during my brief rest and dashing the
scalding tears Of despair from my eyes
/ rushed Off through the drifts in an
other desperate effort for life.
On, on, on, for miles it seemed TO
me- wallowed and plunged through
that interminable, snow-heaped forest;
but it was only to como around again
to the scene of my fruitless attempts
at building fire at last. i was lost
indeed!
Again / stopped to gather my little
remaining strength and then staggered
of once more through the wind-swept
woods. 1t was my last effort and l
could not know it, yet somehow | did
not seem to fear death rs ] had done.
/ was benumbed, sleepy, stupefed.
Though not frozen already knew l
would be soon, and even realized that
it was certain death to stop.
On! on! on! On through the blind
ing storm and the bitter cold! On! on!
on! staggering stumbling, falling!
Anywhere, anyhow; on, yet on!
Suddenly came out into clearing
how large | could not tell, and mo-
ment later a huge bulk doomed up be-
fore me. With thrill of renewed
courage | saw it was a haystack.
Yet was / nearer safety? Sometimes
the early settlers had started clearings
and then abandoned them before any
buildings were built, and the hay was
frequently stacked in such places.
Most of the farmers had scanty barn
room, and many of the Aroostook
roads were terribly rough until winter
smoothed over the deep ruts and half
buried stumps. With groan / real
lied that the nearest house might be
miles away from me even now. If
left the hay-stack knew never could
return to il. Even if / had strength
enough to push my way back through
the drifts il | failed in finding better
shelter, ! should search for it in vain
in the storm and darkness. What
should do?
/ shouted at the top of my voice
again and again, and the howl of the
blast was my only answer, and / knew
| could not have been heard half-a-
dozen rods away. My decision was
soon made; l would stay by the hay
stack. 1t was only the ghost of hope
that it afforded, but i could GO no
further.
In last, despairing effort for life
dropped upon my knees in the snow
within its shelter. and began to dig a
hole into its protecting side.
In this way | wormed myself on
ward through the densely packed pile
until my hand came in contact with
the pole about which it had been
heaped. Then | ceased my efforts.
So little air reached me that at first
it seemed as If | should smother, but
/ scooped out hole about my head,
and then enough air made its way into
the stack TO keep me alive. | was too
exhausted TO make my way out again,
even If that had not have been the
case.
Gradually my benumbed toes and
fingers began to grow warm in the
close confined space in which / was
lying. The thick coat, which l had
deemed such an incumbrance only n
few hours before, the fine hay, packed
closely all around me, and the snow
drifts heaping over everything kept
the bitter cold away from me. A sense
of comfort overcame me by degrees,
and soon / slept the sleep of utter ex-
haustion.
1t was hours before | awoke to con-
sciousness again, and when | did it
was some time before / could tell
where / was. At last, however, men,
DRY returned to me- and | set to work
to dig my way out OF my strange bed
room.
1t was slow business. but l accom-
plished it at last only TO find that
was still buried in feecy snowdrift.
I made short work of burrowing to
the top OF that, and few moments
later thrust my head out OF n hole in
its summit. It was broad daylight
and the sun was shining brightly on a
white and buried world.
And what do you think was the first
object that met my eyes? A little log
house almost entirely buried by the
drifted snow. and out Of whose one
still uncovered window looked the
white, terrified faces of my wife apd
little ones. had spent the night in
my own h&ystack and within three
hundred feet of my own doorstep.