St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1897-03-27
DOCS" STORY.

-A.0ulse 6etts Edwards, In HarpeI'S MagA-
zine.
DOCS" STORY.
The lush" was in his best humol
when he Joined the evening group at the
Alfalfa European hotel. He had enough
Of morning penitence left in him tc
make him grave and even dignified. Al
the same time he had started in upon
IN evening accumulation, and had al.
ready become warmed into that friend
~ mood which helps one to realize that
all men are brothers.
Good evening, gentlemen" said the
Lush" and he said it N il it were the
preliminary to IN Grafton.
Good evening, sir; good evening" re
sponded "Doc" Horne, with q slight in
clination of the head.
''Sit down and make yourself miser-
able" said the lightning dentist, who
could be entertaining at times.
Come join the feast Of reason and
the dow Of soul" added the book agent,
who could be original, II not enter
tanning.
''Sure, that's right" added the BIZ
cycle salesman.
The ''lush" seated himself and asked:
well, gentlemen. what is the subject
under discussion?"
I'VE were just talking about the cold
weather, and saying that it must be
pretty tough on some people, " said the
lightning dentist.
There's nothing personal in this, is
theyeT asked the ''lush."
''Certainly not" said the lightning
dentist. laughing. DOC" Horne
chuckled, and the large book agent
smiled in a conservative manner, as II
be feared to compromise his profess
sional dignity.
The bicycle young man was puzzled.
He did not see why the laugh came in,
% he settled back in his chair and tried
20 think it out. The task was long and
difRcult, for he said but q few words
during the remainder Of the evening.
II don't think there Is 80 much suf-
fering. now that the weather has mod
Grated" said the ''lush."
81 hope not" said doc" Horne. ''It's
. terrible thing to be cold and hungry
tor days at time. can tell you that.
II any Of you gentlemen ever 60
through what I did you'll appreciate
that fact, too"
'.How's that, .Docr" asked the
slush."
II thought I had told you of my ex-
when was moose hunting with Gen.
Foster up in Canada. No? Well, we
had . party of gentlemen from New
York and Philadelphia with US. The
weather was bitterly cold, but we were
living in the generals hunting lodge
and we managed to keep comfortable.
One day was out with . party, and we
were up on the Sessikoochee river"
"Wat's the name, sDoc?' asked the
lightning dentist.
The eSessikoochee-Ind name, you
know. It means lofty pines had
two New York gentlemen with me, and
We were tracking . moose-had been
on the trail for several hours. Icrossel
the river on the ice to take up what
seemed to be new trail, and got sep
oxated from my two friends. suppose
I was intent on following this trail.
and that's why paid so little attention
70 the weather. The first thing knew
the snow began to fall, and tliscov-
cred that the sky was overcast, with
every indication of blizzard. Istarted
hack along the trail, but in ten min
utes the air was filled with binding
snow and the wind was blowing per-
feet hurricane among the trees. OF
course It was impossible to see very
far in any direction. but / kept on. and
thought was going toward the river.
I knew II struck the river could find
the house all right. Darkness came on
. had no idea it was so late-and the
wind came from the northwest and cut
me to the very bone. I walked and
walked and walked, but didn't come
70 the river. and then I realized that
probably I had been walking away from
e al the time. OF course my inclina-
tion was to sit down and rest, but I
knew I didn't dare TO do that or I'd
freeze to DEATH"
ssIt must have been awful" said the
bicycle young man.
swell, it wasn't any pleasure excur-
sion. Fortunately found hollow tree
where l could coil myself. got in
there and wrapped my fur coat around
me, and managed to keep fairly warm
until morning. BY that time the wind
bad gone down and the cold was some
thing intense. II I hadn't been 90 hardy
and athletic I suppose I never would
have lived through it. got out, took
my bearings from the sun and started
Dut on . run 70 hnd the river. I had to
run to keep hum freezing. OF course
still carried my rifle. and I also had
! hunting knife, but / didn't have any
to start fiSe with. About ten
o'clock that morning shot . rabbit.
but Of courss I couldn't cook ii. 20 had
10 contsaa myself with drinking little
q - blood"
The bicycle young man gasped and
ihiyoEed<which led snoc" to say: "You
uouN III neen glad to get it."
r s16&6 think Il would be hard
IvuGk = rpnia The saow. said the light
lhg d.::;:s
s1gotA1 1eu had snowshoes." said
IDoe Apf1a - amused ausils.
! dtant how ysa hed snov-
~. - ! srtsa.