Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-01-20


SO dlu the cod. Gene ana 1 bcstlrred
ourselves to prepare u warm supper. Ruol
was out of doors stopping the windmill,
which had pumped the tank full of water
AID was flooding the back yard. He look
ed blue with cold when at last he came in
"No oranges or grape fruit for me to-
night. Fry some bacon, girls, and let's
have some nice, hot, baked potatoes, said
he
While we were cooking he went out into
| the field to secure three or four fertilizer
barrels that the wind was rolling about.
1t grew dark by + o'clock-an inky kind
| of darkness. One could not see objects
| two yards distant from the veranda steps,
and the searching wind blew out tho two
hanging lanterns which we usually kept
burning near the door.
Forty six degrees Ruel announced
when he came in. Girls, I'm fri ghtened.
You don't suppose everything is going to
| freeze, DO you? Think what that'l II be to
US! Why, our all is in it. -
For the first time real anxiety was felt
by us, and the hot supper failed TO cheer
us, for frost would destroy nearly every
| thing we possessed. In Vermont we had
| sometimes lost few green plants in the
| spring or in the fall, but had never known
| any real anxiety from cold weather. Here
| we had g! acres of tender green vegetables
| which had just broken the ground undor
| a temperature of 50 degrees, and now the
/ mercury was sinking deep into the forteS
| and what felt like II wintry hurricane was
! raging.
Rue! pushed back his plate and went to
| the bluGEcuing window. This VIII be II
| tough night Tor cucumbers he muttered.
| "Who would have believed it,
| Few Florida houses are built to with
stand wild weather. Drafts wandered III
and played criSsuross about our sitting
ruoll Cola putls Of piercing air drove us
| close to the little fireplace, the heat from
which appeared wholly lost. The house
crcai>ed, The lamp flared and smoked at
each rush OF the storm. Ruel WAS obliged
| to fetch the thermometer close up outside
| tie window To read it, Once an hour he
dashed out to see how it stood. AT 5
O'clock ii indicated ii degrees, and at 9
! IS.
"rhirty eight, and still dropping" said
! hc We are in for ii. Florida will freeze
| out tonight sure
| can scarcely describe the sense of loss
and despair which fell on us when it be
| came certain that all our acres OF garden
crops would be destroyed We lowered
! over our lire and felt too respondent for
speech.
"Ihirty-s six dcgreesl' Ruel announced
20 liz grinly at 10 O'Clock, and at II "a
| degrees, and at midnight, when he came
III ana pushed the door TO, he said, "A
low ~ degrees. girls. The cucumbcrs arc
catching it nov You may rs we'll 80 to
bed. The mischief is probably done"
The wind drove the cold into the room.
There was an icy chill in the air such as
| We had never felt III the north.
The water pipes, Ruel' said Gene.
"Will they not all freeze up and burstf"
80 tltcy Wills he cried Il never
thought OF them. Open all the faucets.
We will let the tank run dry. The low
bends If The pipes that the water will not
rum oHt c! must he wrapped with towels. :"
From II 10 1o'clock we were busy look
inG 10 tie pipes. \ whole basketful of
Nral WAS got ready. At , o'clock the
mercury had ialIcn to IS degrees.
We were 100 greatly disturbed and OK
cited 10 fcci Sleepy, but to humor Ruel
who, boylikc, wished always to take com
mand, Gene and | consented to go to bed.
The windows Of our sleeping room rat
tied and shook, and the wind fairly blew
ones hair about GA the pillows We put
all our blankets on the bed and then threw
on our wraps and even our dresses
AT last we fell asleep, ana when | awoke
it was broad daylight The wind still rat
tied the windows, but the sun shone dim
ly. 1t lacked 20 minutes of {.
There WAS ice in the washbowl Gene
crept out ahiverlng and tried to break it
Ruel, like ii good fellow, came to the door
and set "a pitcher of hot water where we
could get it.
'Guess how cold it is, he called
Forty degrees below zero, cried Gene
Twenty five degrees, " said l.
Twenty" said Gene
Seventeen, replied Ruol
But the poor cucumbcrs and boans?"
cried
An frozen solid, said Ruel
II suppose we are ruined, Mat" Gene
said dolrlully as she poured hot water into
the bowl.
Il suppose SO, - said l.
As Ruel had sat up all night nursing
The water pipes he had good fire in the
| kitchen stove. Youth ) Companion