Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1904-02-04
LOVE AND FROST

Ericsons chad not been ready for this. ;,
with endless supplies of timber land
close by-that is, within mile or so.
and generally fine winter weather to
maui IN what he might want. old Jan
never could see the policy of making
up much of wood pile.
Besides, huge provision for warmtr
such as his neighbors made, offended
JAMS keen sense of economy. They
would surely waste what they had so
much of.
when, however, the old man saw the
storm beginning the even unusually
bare condition of his pile Of chips
struck him with sudden dismay. and
he at once started for the forest with
a yoke of oxen.
1t was rash thing for man of his
age to do; but he had counted on his
thorough Scandinavian toughness to
carry him through. And so it did;
for at supper time he fought his way
to the house again through the heaping
drifts and the binding rush of the
storm; but he came alone, for his team
and showed under.
There was fuel enough on hand for
that night, with economy, and old Jan
cheered Norma with the promise of
what he would do on the morrow.
And Norma tried to be cheerful; but
the bowling, dismal tempest without
was only too we'll in keeping with the
dismal state of her own internal feel
ings and thoughts.
The night went by and the morning
came, and the storm still ragged; but old
Jan Ericsson did not go out to cut
wood.
He did not even leave his bed, for
exposure and cold and over-exertion
| had done their work on his rheumatic
old limbs and imprisoned him only too
effectually.
Poor Norna's heart sank within her,
| for she knew that such attacks were
apt to be tediously long. and even food
might fail her. as we'll as the means Of
cooking it.
She was brave girl, and she made
out to go to the barn and stables that
day. so that the stock did not suffer;
but the few fence rails and odd pieces
of timber she was able to bring in en-
abled her to make but poor defense
against the fast increasing cold.
Moreover, old Jan was chilly, and
fretted and complained Of the absence
Of the grand old fires he had been used
to in his youth among the distant hills
Of Norway
That was a terrible day for Norma.
and when another morning dawned she
looked out upon the white and more
than Arctic desolation around the
house with a feeling near akin to
despair.
Still with true courage. the Beauty
of Mataska faced her troubles. waded
through the drifts, fed carefully her
one feeble fire, attended to the queru
lous demands Of unreasonable old Jan
and wondered. now and then, if the
people at the village would ever dream
of sending out to look after them.
Then there followed another long
dark. miserable night. and Norma could
not get a wink Of sleep till toward
morning. for thinking Of what might
, come.
II She did not even rise at once wher
: / the tardy light began to come through
the thickly frosted panes Of her win
= dow. Why should she, when she hat
2 nothing to make fire with?
t | would it not be better to burn thu
:. furniture than to freeze? She coul(
a make cup of coffee, at least, with th'
+ kitchen chairs"
Just then she thought she heard :
|. slight sound in the adjoining room. ant
n wondered if her father could b.
r stirring.
1t was an effort even to rise ant
a dress in that stinging cold; but Norn'
f was brave, and In few minutes NOR
r she was ready to face the labors AM
l. perils of the day.
d Her heart was heavy enough whel
d she laid her hand on the kitchen door
but when she opened it she fairl
e started back in astonishment, for
It blast Of warm air, balmy with th
e breath Of blazing pine, smote her in th
q face
: Not the cheerless, chill, deathly desc
IdllOu SIIC udu cApGCLSu was tAC oAAPA
d kitchen, but the high-piled heart
blazed and cracked with {. most III
n wonted prodigality Of pine. oak an
t, hickory, while heaped on either side c
t. it were ample supplies for at least tha
days consumption, whatever might b
IS the condition Of he thermometer.
o. Norma did not believe in miracle
d but she thought Of her bedridde
1ather, about to be frozen to deaf
but for that pile of wood, and she jul
IN sat down by the window for goo
IN wholesome cry before she set herse
It to work at getting breakfast ready.
a The tea kettle had evidently file
re itself and started for boil on its oW
account. and Norna's curiosity toe
x her at once to the door, to see what
es luton Of the puzzle might be found on
ne side. Not sign Of human life WI
there, but somebody had been at VOL
T | with chovol for +h0ro rr0c uQ1