The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1894-01-06

<~% s.' guests were all
~ the huge open
fireplace IN the living room, drinking
their coffee after a late dinner. The
lights were not lit and the family sat in
the Pickering light Of a big fire Of
cracking pine logs, which threw out
quaint shadows in every direction. This
party was the usual one that yearly
gathered at Jack Ralston's to spend the
Christmas holidays with him and his
family. As they sat in the cheerful
warmth and glow of the fire they list
ened to the fearful storm that roared
outside. A blizzard had been raging for
the past three days, the wind howled
and shrieked through the mountain
peaks, driving the f%ast-falling snow be-
fore it and piling it up in immense
drifts against every obstruction. 1t
was a bitter, biting, cold wind, too, as it
tore through the valley like a demon
seeking whom it might destroy, doing
its utmost to completely bury the house
from view in the snow; but, sheltered
as it was by two giant rocks, one on
each side, with the mountain side at it's
back, the house was safe in it's snug lit
tie spot, even from the storms greatest
fury. The inclement weather had kept
the men indoors, and they We're grum-
bling over their enforced idleness, and
Dragged about the amount Of game
they would have bagged had they only
been able to get out.
Say, Jack, It's some time yet before
midnight. Can't you spin us a yarn:'
finally said Bobby Caruthers. after a
long pause in the conversation.
well, / was just thinking" said
Jack, "of just such a night as this.
fifteen years ago. when, il it had not
been for the pluck of that little woman
yonder, I would not be here tonight to
see the New Year come in" and he
gazed fondly at his wife, who still
looked like a young woman as she sat
IN h pickering light, although on one
side sat her son, a fair young giant, and
on the other her daughter, a beautiful
girl just ~biossoming into Womanhood.
Lets lave it, came in a chorus from
the party.
well, fill your pipes, and III tell
you my story. You see, fifteen wears
ego I wasn't as prosperous as I am
now. l was just starting out ranching.
had only been here some three a
then, and where this house now stands
we only had a small log cabin. Young
Jack over there was only six years old
at the time and Miss Edith was trottjng
round, a young three-year-old. The
winter had opened badly; snow had
come very early, and with it bitter cold
weather. We had plenty of fuel, so we
managed to keep warm enough. The
cabin was in the same spot rs this
house now Is, 8 10 the two big rocks
helped to keep off the fierceness of the
wind; but we were completely buried
under h snow so that we had to dig a
tunnel from the front door out into the
open air. Myself and all the boys were
kept mighty busy taking forage out to
spots where the cattle could get at It,
and so not starve to death. Well, one
morning, about two weeks before
Christmas, after a heavy snowfall,
started out with all hands OH one OF
these tips, intending to gather all the
cattle together as much as possible, and
to build some large hay-stacks, so thai
they would have plenty Of food fol-
some time; also, as u grub was get
ting very low, we were going to pusl
through to Dolores to provision up FOL
the rest Of the winter in case w
couldn't, get through again for som
time. I also wanted to get the Christ
mas presents for the kids; so / told thu
little wife not to be anxious IL I didn'
show up for several days.
"WeH, we all started. only leavin.
one Of the boys behind, who had beef
sick and wasn't quite Well yet. w.
had the deuce's own job fixing lid til,
cattle and getting through the Dolores
1t took us over a week, and several O.
the boys were badly frust-bitten. w,
were ready In a few lays to push bacl
again, but another heavy snowfall
came, and another, and another, unit
really 1t seemed to be showing all tn,
time. The days slipped by, one by one
until Christmas came, and tt ere + wa!
spQW-bound In Dolores, getting NOR
and more anxious about the folks a
home. T knew their grub must b!
getting low; and, besides, here wa
Christmas day, and nothing for the kids
I was nearly wild, I can tell Sou. We'll
two dayJ before New Years there wa
q letrup, and ] made up my mind t,
push through at any cost I~coult
only induce one at my men to com,
with me: the others aatly refuses. Tile,
said II would be sure DEATH that .aH
other storm Mas coming M HIS tim,
q regular bitxxaTd. at my FAt6, Va
starred On our fftyy-mile ride. III
tfails were simply ono succeaadcn