Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1893-12-22

Tue IOOU1 1uIO ubbSk UdIh huSSS save Tor
a thin CLEAN of light that forced its
way through a crack in the door of the
stove. Prior to this misfortune Sally
had made the children spread their
outer wraps on the floor around the
fire, on which she bade them lie down,
then taking the youngest girl in her
arms she sat in her swivel chair and
in her sweet contralto voice soothed'
them with simple melodies until the
tired, hungry young ones forgot their
sorrows in sleep.
Brave little woman! A dozen lives
on her fortitude and good
sense, she had managed so far to pre-
serve her charges from harm, but she
dreaded the morning, when, awakened
from their slumbers, their rebelllous
stomachs would crave nouriehment.
Her only hope lay in the storm abat-
ing, when help would surely arrive,
for she realized how great must be the
anxiety of the parents for the safety
of their children.
Relieved of the necessity of enter
tanning her scholars, Sally's thoughts
reverted to Joe, and the girl wondered
if he were safe from the storm. After
settling this problem satisfactorily IN
her own mind she began a series of IN
ward self-questioning something after
this fashion:
Did she like him? Yes; she felt sure
of that. Better than anybody else?
Than Jim Carleton, for instance, or
Dick Staples? Yes, better than either
of those two. Did he like her? She
knew he did. Did he love her? She
closed her eyes, let her lips rest upon
the curly locks of the sleeping child in
her lap, while blushing smile stole
across her face. Did she love him?
Love! What was that? To leave
home, father, mother, and give her
self entirely and unreservedly to him.
All! she did not know; she could not
tell; the question was too hard to an
sWer.
At that moment Sally heard the.
whinny of q horse and the next instant
came a voice from the storm calling in
unmistakable accents, "Sally! Sally !
let me in, let me in!
Did she love him? Like fash the
problem was solved. She knew by the
glad leap of her pulses, the yearning
of heart, the outpouring of her whole
being to the man whose voice she heard
that she would willingly go with him
anywhere he beckOned-to the end of
the world if necessary.
Placing the sleeping child on the
floor she felt her way to the door, and
the next minute was folded in the arms
Of her lover.
go, Joe, dear Joe," she sobbed,
'I'm so glad you came. [ knew you
would"
my darling, my darling" was his
response as he drew her to his breast
and kissed her upturned lips, "then
you do love me?'
''Better than life" she whispered as
she led his snowy figure toward the
stove; ''but you must be nearly
frozen?'
81 was pretty cold, that's o fact"
returned Joe, Ebut not now. L have
Fortunately for the ochoolma am the
room was dark, or the children, some
Of whom had awakened, might have
told queer story about Miss Sally be-
n6 hugged by big man in buffalo
overcoat wearing green goggles. But
they saw nothing and Sally was too
overioyed to think of repressing her
lovers ardor.
The first transports over, Joe told
his story. The blizzard had caught
him just as he reached the nearest
farmhouse, two miles from the school.
Here he was compelled to remain all
that terrible afternoon and evening,
in an agony OF doubt and fear. within
miles two Of Sally, yet utterly unable
to render her any assistance. At the
suspicion of break in the gale he
placed basket of provisions i'll his
sleigh, furnished by the farmers
thoughtful wife, and disregacding all
warnings started across the prairie
to the schooihouse, which he reached
mainly owing to the sagacity of the
horse he drove.
The storm was still raging, but the
worst was over. By midnight the
stars were out, the air was stilled, the
temperature had risen and only the
deep, billOwy snow remained to tell Of
the battle Of the elements. But long
before that hour Sally had aroused all
the children and supplied each with a
generous portion of the good things
brought by her lover. There was
plenty for every ybotly, and by the light
Of Joe's lantern Sally and the young
sters had such feast that shortly
made all feel very happy.
With the abatement of the storm
the parents of the children began to
arrive and by l o'clock in the morning
the last load had driven away, fer.
vent ''God bless you, Miss Sally, and
q very merry Christmas, coming from
the depths of each heart as the CRATE
rul parents realized how much they
owed to the brave little schoolteacher.
And Sally? Was it not merry,
happy Christmas for her? AS Joe
lifted her into his sleigh and tucked
the big, white wolf-robe around her
she leaned forward and whispered:
80, Joe, dear, I am SO, so happy!"
And the New England dinner was a
success after all, despite the anxious
hours passed by old Corn Jackson and
his wife. AS for Joe, he was the life
Of the party. He let the youngsters
hug and kiss Aunt Sally all they pleased
without suffering one pang of jealousy.
Bat every little while he slipped out
in the hall when Sally was absent and
made even by sundry hugs and kisses
that brought the girl back into the
parlor with burning cheeks and frowzlv
hair.
Really, l believe there never was a
happier Christmas day than the one
succeeding the big blizzard in Dakota.
Chicago Herald.
Where to Put 1t.
Small Boy lteasinol-ssSar na,a