The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1902-11-14
boy. wrapping them about with all the

boy. wrapping them about with all the
blankets and bedclOthing he could find;
then he got upon his own horse and set
of, leading the other by the bride.
He was not an experienced plains
man, and he found the struggle even
harder than he had feared At first he
tried to pick his way across the higher
spots. where the snow had been some.
what blown away; but as the wind
was still strong and pitilessly cold. he
was forced 10 keep in the lower. more
| sheltered places where the snow was
| deep. This course was painfully slow,
| ana II was also dangerous. for II made
their path zigzag. and might lead them
far 10 one side Of the place they wished
| 10 reach.
The horse Warren rode was soon so
fatigucd that II could not 20 on. A
horse IL not at all skllful in breaking n
way for itself through deep snow.
Warren was forced 10 do what plains.
men ana soldiers have often found nee.
cssary-to dismOunt. abandon his own
horse. ana 90 ahead on foot, breaking a
low.
For the second time he was In some
way guided Alright. When night came
he had reached a spot upon the river
that hc knew, and this told him that he
had come eleven miles upon his way,
and that he had but three miles farther
TO go. Then. while ne was trying 10
travel upon the ice in the river, where
the course was frccr. and where he
thought they could make greater speed.
the horse slipped and fell, breaking Its
knee.
As Mrs. Warren could not walk. her
husband had 10 lift her upon his back
and carry her, while the boy struggled
along In the rear. Soon. however, the
little fellows strength was quite gone.
II was impossible for Warren 10 carry
both; and 10 leave the boy where he
was. without protection, would have
meant speedy death.
Warren searched until he found n
nook upon the rivcr-bank Were the
snow lay deep. and In the snow he dug
n cave with his hands large enough 10
n blanket upon the bottom Of the cave,
he laid the boy on 1t and covered him
warmly; then he hung up his OvercOat
so as 10 keep the wine from entering
the chamber. Dividing what remained
Of their food. he placed half OF IL be-
side the boy, ana told him to stay with
in the shelter until help came; then
la, L.. a.. l. Ing
and resumed his weary march.
II w~s not until four o'clock In the
morning that ne staggered TO the door
Of his neighbor's house ana found
shelter and relief. His wife was be-
numbcd almost 10 inscnsibilty, nor
was his own plight much better. Al
most two hours passed before he could
speak. and he shook with palsy of
utter fatigue. But ms soon as he could
eat ana drink the warm nOurishmCnt
that was provided for him he rallied
braycly, and insisted upon leading the
way back 10 the place where his child
had been left. Before noon the party
returned, bringing the boy with them,
safe and sound. Then. the terrible cX-
pcricucc being over, Warren collapsed
completely, and was unable TO rise out
of bed for a month.
Was the pioneer discouraged? Not
Mt all. When the winter was past those
dauntlcss spirits returned To their home
upon the lonely prairie, where they
lived for many years aftcrward, until
the boy and other children who came
to the household were grown into
sturdy men and women, who have
lived such lives as east no discrcdit
upon the example of their father and
Youths Companion.