The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1904-03-24


seemed as thsuen We had escaped
from the fire only to be frozen"
And tear stood Or grandma's
withered cheek - the remembrance Of
that nights grief and suffering.
"But I couldn't bear to hear the
little things cry and see them freeze
by inches" she went on. after time;
so spurring up courage, wrapped the
coverlet about me as we'll as 1 could,
and went out on the hill away back of
of the barn, through the binding snow
to shout for help.
"Grandfather's brother, your Great
uncle Daniel, had then moved into the
neishborhood. and his house wasn't
more than mile off by the road and
much nearer across lots. But the wind
came from that quarter, and my voice
didn't reach three rods.
"Old Brindle their dog, however, set
to bowling NEST dolefully-at sight of
the fire, suppcse-and he kept it up
so long it woke Uncle Daniel at last,
and. after While, 7 saw lantern
coming through the fields. We had j
road across in the winter.
Then I knew that help was at hand,
and began making my way back to
the children.
There wasn't much Of the house
left standing now but The big chimney,
and expected to see that 90 down
with every gust.
after what ccemed to me hours,
Uncle Daniel hove in sight, and, as
soon as he was near enough, he
called:
"'Polly! Polly!
"That was me, you know; and
shouted back, to let him know where
We was.
"'Oh, Polly! this is terrible, amt
it?' he said. Are you all alive?
eyes, Daniel, we are, but we shan't
be much longer if there amt some
thing done, and that quick, too" re-
piled I, for the children was crying
pitiful to hear.
".What can be done, Polly? he
asked. hopelessly
"'You must go right back and get
your oxen and sled, and take us over
to your house. I told him.
"It can't be done, Polly, nohow!
Why. there's drifts ten foot deep, and
you'll all perish on the way:
ayes, it can be done" said I, reso-
lute-like, for he was a faint-hearted
kind of man-not a hit like your grand
father-'and it must be done. and be
spry about it, or I can't swear FOR
these babies!
"'Well, we'll try, Polly says he,
and set off again.
II gathered the children together
around me in pile-the babies hud-
died in my arms-anl covered them
with the blankets that had been
brought from the house, and then
waited.
II think it must have been hard upon
an hour before I heard Uncle Daniels
voice above the wind urging his team
through the snow. he brought a lot
of bedquilts and one buffalo, and
with these we wrapped the children.
1T was no wonder that Uncle Daniel
had felt faint-hearted at starting, for
such drifts, it seemed to me. / never
saw before-nor I've never seen such
wallowing almost out Of sight, while
the air was thick with driving snow.
sSometimes I felt afraid we never
should get through, and was sorry we
had left the hog-house:
But through the mercy of God, we
Teathered it. and I never felt SO
happy moment as when we were all
in Uncle Daniels kitchen before
roaring fire. the children a gooe deal
frost-bitten but all safe.
"AIy own feet and hands were SO
burned and fevered that they didn't
even chill. and it was good many
weeks before they were healed ell
tirely.
"Ah, my dears,' concluded the old
lady, as was her wont after giving
them "reminiscences of her life expert
erce, '.your grandmother has had
hard journey ard rough path IN lie
but I'm almost through the wseas::-
Golden Days.