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


4 fine snow had been sitting
Al down steadily all day, and,
Nb HslN as night came on, the
wlna, having risen to gale. sent it
whirling OF the caves, around the
yard, till all objects were obscured by
the great snow-clouds which went fy-
: ing past.
It whisked into every crevice about
the house, making miniature drifts on
. ;window-sill and door-sill, and bade
fair before morning to make the low,
sid-fashioned dwelling itself one enor-
nous SnOwdrift.
= Now its weathered clapboards rat
He'd, and its shutters creaked and
slammed as the furious blasts swept
sn, while more than once loosened
bricks were dislodged from the top OF
the huge chimney, fell down on the
reof, and went humping and rumbling
ever the long caves.
But there was one corner in the old
house which was always cozy, let the
wind blow high or low-the southwest
reem.
In bright weather the sun lay on its
walls and yellow-painted floor all day
ling. and in the evening its dark cor
aers were enlivened by ruddy flames
rom an enormous fireplace.
Tonight there was an unusually
large fire in its depths, darting and
1eapins high, while the wind roared in
is capacious,, soot-covered throat, and
ssmetimes whirled little scuds Of snow
Aissing down into the flames. Their
fiekering light danced fantastically
Syer the wrinkled face and white hair
sf Grandmother Williams, sitting on
high backed rocker, jogging back and
forth. cane in hand, and meditatively
t6pping the toe of her list shoe, while
every now and ther her whispered
thoughts showed that her mind was
rsving in the wildly remembered
scenes Of younger days.
"Now, my dears," said the old lady,
as several grandchildren came into the
room and huddled close about the "cor-
rers," "are the fires all safe for night?
;Ysu know your father and mother are
not here to look out for them, and it
would be sore night to be turned out
Of doors for young things like you, let
alone old lame bones like your grand
mas"
''There isn't mite Of danger. unless
the wind blows the house down." said
Hben, who felt the Importance of being
left as manager-in-chief during the alb
sence Of his parents, who had gone on
business into an adjoining county.
'And the ashes, too,' continued
grandma. If you've taken up any
lately, do be careful and have them
Put into something iron, with a cover
- it, so they can't get out and set
things afre. They are treacherous
things, children, ashes are. and will
null and null Tor days. if there's any
fire in them when they were taken up.
That's the way our first house got
burned down-nigh upon slxty-hre
years ago"
"Tell US about 1t, grandma said
little Kitty, swinging herself Oh grand
Mothers armchair.
"Yes, tell US" Eben put in. settling
himself comfortably in corner by the
Hsod-box, tongs in hand, ready to
spoke" the fire during the recital.
"You must know, my desrs," began
grandma. when fathef-I mean your
randfather-and I first came up here
to live, this whole town was nothing
hat a wilderness. We had only one
little log room to 60 into, with oiled
Haper pasted into square holes cut In
the logs for windows, and great
stone chimney, with a fireplace. over
which did all my work. But life
was young with US then. and we were
both strong, and worked hard, early
aad late, and were happy.
"However, there was one thing l
esuld not quite get over at first, and
tRat was the loss Of Sabbath day
meetings. But after a while, as other
naghbors moved into the neighbor'
hsod, we used to have preaching in
the barns in the summer time.
"Well, we lived in this log cabin
nine years. That last winter grand
father got chance to work in the
lasgingswamp up Or the Androscog'
gin River, at eleven dollars meath,
all found, and earned hard upon seven
E dollars. I stayed alone here and
did the chores and took care Of the
children; there were six Of them then
with the logging money. and what
we had saved before, grandfather bai!t
new hesse the next year; and q nice
house It was for those days-the cell
ings and nsors all Of broad. yellow pine
boards, TINT I used to keep secured
white and clean enough to eat Of
freBa.