Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1903-01-28

I'LL UhUfOkeu cNlduSe OIL SHOW, ana as
he floundered about he found that
| around the house it lay more than
waist deep.
A weight of fear settled upon him.
The sun had set an hour before, but he
could see that the clouds were broken,
although they We're still drifting wildly
with the wind. His only hope lay in
the probability that there would be no
further fall Of snow. When he returned
| to the house he cooked a little of the
food for his wife; then he endeavored
to sleep that he might be strong for the
ordeal of the morrow.
He could not guess how long it would
take him to reach help, and his wife
was far too weak to be left alone. So
when the cold, clear morning came, he
prepared to take her and the boy with
him upon horseback through the snow.
They might all perish of cold upon the
prairies, but he thought that such a
death would be easier and quicker
than death by starvation.
His nearest neighbor's house was
fourteen miles away, and to 1t he
meant to go. Upon the back of one
of the horses he placed his wife and
boy, wrapping them about with all the
blankets and bedclothing he could find;
then he got upon his own horse and set
off, 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 to keep in the lower, more
sheltered places where the snow was
deep. This course was painfully slow,
and it was also dangerous, for it made
their path zigzag, and might lead them
far to one side Of the place they wished
to reach.
The horse Warren rode was soon so
fatigued that it could not go on. A
horse is not at all skilful in breaking a
way for itself through deep snow.
Warren was forced to do what plains
men and soldiers have often found nee
essary-to dismount, abandon his own
horse, and 90 ahead on foot, breaking a
trail in which the led horse could fol-
low.
For the second time he was in some
way guided Alright. When night came
he had reached spot upon the river
that he 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 he was trying to
travel upon the ice in the river, where
the course was freer. and where he
thought they could make greater speed,
the horse slipped and fell, breaking it's
knee.
AS Mrs. Warren could not walk, her
husband had to 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.
1t was impossible for Warren to carry
both; and to leave the boy where he
was, without protection, would have
meant speedy death.
Warren searched until he found a
nook upon the river-bank where the
snow lay deep, and in the snow he dug
hold the boy comfortably. Spreading
a blanket upon the bottom Of the cave,
he laid the boy on it and covered him
warmly; then he hung up his overcoat
so as to keep the wind from entering
the chamber Dividing what remained
OF their food, he placed half of 1t be-
side the boy, and told him to stay with
in the shelter until help came; then
again he took his wife upon his back
and resumed his weary march.
1t was not until four o'clock in the
morning that he staggered to the door
of his neighbor's house and found
shelter and relief. His wife was be-
was his own plight much better. AL
most two hours passed before he could
speak, and he shook with palsy of
utter fatigue. But as soon as he could
eat and drink the warm nourishment
that was provided for him he rallied
bravely, and insisted upon leading the
way back to the place where his child
had been left. Before noon the party
returned, bringing the boy with them,
safe and sound. Then. the terrible ex-
perience being over, Warren collapsed
completely, and was unable to rise out
of bed for month.
Was the pioneer discouraged? Not
at all. When the winter was past those
dauntless spirits returned to their home
upon the lonely prairie, where they
lived for many years afterward until
the boy and other children who came
to the household were grown into
sturdy men and women, who have
lived such lives as cast no discredit
upon the example of their father and
mother.-Youth's Companion.
Trln