The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-03-05
CALLED HOME
- IN THE SNOW.
The Voice Heard BY Dan Wofrell,
Crazed by His Storm Wander
ings IN the Woods.

more than seven feet has actually fallen
since the third week in November. The
expense in shovelling miles of roads through
the bush falls heavily in such winters upon
the great lumber firms and also entails
much misery upon the workmen.
Dan Worrell, struggling settler OF
Ottawa county, hoped TO mike enough
money by teaming in the woods With his
colts to clear himself OF indebtedness.
But disaster came to him. IA TO many an
other, through the severity of the season.
When he reached the central depot, TO
which his entry load was consigned, he
WIS gned to conveying provisions to
the groups OF shanties dependent upon
that offloc. Owing to some confusion In
the directions given to him, and In part
to terrible, driving snowstorm, he got
on the wrong track
just at the edge OF Lao Desir he followed
what looked like track, which turned OF
almost at a right angle. After half mile
OF tedious progress he pulled up at the
stump Of big pine, where his road ended.
There his horses Houndered badly, and at
last sank down. Their master did all be
could to trample down the snow and to
release the poor brutes but soon realized
his helplessness in his nge-handedness.
In despair he wandered Of looking for
lumber shanty where he might obtain
assistance.
Late at night thirty hours afterward,
he staggered into large shanty, perfectly
dazed by misery and cold The seventy
or eighty good hearted fellows there
warmed and fed him and put him to bed
without bothering him with questions.
Next morning he arose in half demented
condition
He could give no account OF himself and
did not even know bis name. For day
or two he moped about the shanty. over
whelmed with trouble, puzzle to the
shanty men Then he offered to work.
and being good axeman, went to road
ma king with the gang that was cutting
a way into where the logs we're chopped.
He worked diligently and silently. as one
in a maze. until early in the present month.
Then he got up in the middle OF the night
dressed himself and disappeared again.
Meanwhile the shanty to which his first
load was sent became hard up for want OF
provisions. Thinking that some misun-
Outstanding had prevented the December
load from being despatched they sent
men down to the neare 1t shauty. twenty
eight miles away a shanty which repre-
sented the interests Of "A rival firm, and
borrowed bag Of beans and barrel of
pork As it CHANGED this was the very
shanty where Dan had found refuge, but
as the messengers could not delay until
evening, they did not see the unfortunate
one, whom they would have recognized
As supplies threatened TO run out again
a runner was sent down to the depot to
report the state of affairs. There had
already been surmisings there about Dan.
but it was commonly thought that the
heavy snow had prevented his return and
that the shanty boss had found something
for him to do.
However. search was made for the miss
ing team in all directions and at last a
special messenger WAS sent to his home.
The tidings. created intense trouble Mrs.
Worrel at once jumped to the conclusion
hat her husband had broken through
he ice with his horses. and would never
be beard from again. She was in delicate
state Of health. took to her bed and APP
peared quite unable TO rally. It was simply
case OF pining away. the doctor said
She had lost her grip and unless something
aroused her. there was no chance Of saving
her life
On the night OF Feb the woman sud
deny sat up in bed and called out. "Oh.
DAM Dan | knew If you were not dead
you would come back to me! Oh, Dan.
quick. quick Her attendants feared il
was her spirit calling 10 Dams disembodled
soul before it left her body. and were
amazed when the fainting which followed
he cry was succeeded by long tranquil
sleep the first untroubled rest she had
since the receipt Of the bad news
II was at the same hour that same night.
that Dan arose in the shanty seventy miles
away. dressed himself and started out.
He began to walk home. How he managed
The journey he never could tell. Probably
some friendly teamsters gave him an oc-
casional lift. Possibly some one shared A
meal with him. At any rate, forty ght
hours later, he lifted the latch Of his own
door again, hung up his coat and hat on
he usual peg, and as his invarable custom
had been in former days stopped to the
stove door to look after the fire.
Then he quietly embraced his sick wife
and sat silent and in a dazed manner on
the chair beside her he'd Now and then
he appeared to be about TO make 40 me
explanation. hut he had evidently lost all
power Of expression. After a long doze
by the bedside, his petted child, little
lad Of years. crept into his arms Then
ne had fearful fit Of weeping This waA
followed by a long sleep. from which he
a woke to a partial understanding Of tina
state Of Affairs to the intense Joy Of his
faithful wife, who speedily began to grow
stronger.
The man now became conscious Of some
sense Of lose Of remembrance With the
a sistance OF his friends, he could recall
all that happened up 10 the time Of hiA
leaving the depot with the load Of provisions.
after that was blank. EXCEPT
hat his wife had called him home in n great
hurry As it was important TO settle aboii,
what had become OF the horses, il was
Judged best for his brother -in-law TO drive
him back TO the depot, to make inquiries
here
The manager took a great interest in
what had occurred and with great pains
sndeavored 10 recall to Dams remembrance