Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1905-05-16
It was black and icy vail Of night

twas black and icy wall Of night
and storm on every side of US. I never
saw time when the light Of Gods
heaven was SO utterly extingulshed;
the cold never went to my bone as on
that bitter night. My hands and feet
were numb with aching as the roar of
the trees grew fainter in the open. l
remember how Jagged and how the
Old man urged me on and how we toled
In the wind and darkness, straining
our eyes for some familiar thing. Of
sudden we stumbled upon wall that
we had passed an hour or so before.
"Oh! he groaned, and made that
funny. deprecating cluck with his
tongue that have heard SO much from
Yankee lips.
God O mercy" said he, we've gone
round in half circle! Now We'll take
the wall an mebbe it'll bring us home"
I thought couldn't keep my feet any
longer, for an irresistible drowsiness
had come over me. The voice of Uncle
Eb seemed far away, and when 1 sank
in the snow and shut my eyes to sleep
he shook me as terrier shakes rat
Wake up, my boy" said he; we
mustn't Sleep"
Then he boxed my ears until cried
and picked me up and ran with me
along the side of the wall was but
dimly conscious when he dropped me
under tree whose bare twigs dashed
the air and stung my cheeks. I heard
him tearing the branches savagely and
muttering, Thanks to God, it's the
blue beech" l shall never forget how
he turned and held to my hand and
put the whip on me as l lay in the
snow, and how the sting of it started
my blood. Up sprang in jiffy and
howled and danced. The stout rod bent
and circled on me like hoop of fire.
Then turned and tried to run, while
he chung to my coat tails, and every
step felt the singing grab of the
beech. There Is little seam across
my cheek today that marks a football
of one Of those whips. In moment I
was as wide awake as Uncle Eb and
needed no more stimulation.
The wall led us to the pasture lane,
and there it was easy enough to make
our way to the barnyard and up to the
door Of the house, which had candle
In every window, I remember. David
was up and dressed to come after us,
and recall how he took Uncle Eb in
his arms when he fell fainting on the
doorstep and carried him to the lounge.
I saw the blood on my face as passed
the mirror, and Elizabeth Brewer came
running and gave me one glance and
rushed out Of doors with the dipper. 1t
was full Of snow when she ran In and
tore the wrappings of my neck and be-
gan to rub my ears and cheeks with the
cold snow. calling loudly for Grandma
Bisnette. She came in a moment and
helped at the stripping Of our feet and
legs. remember that she slit my
trousers with the shears as lay on the
with the snow. Our hands and ears
were badly frosted, but in an hour the
whiteness had gone out OF them and the
returning blood burnt like fire.
"How queer he stares!' l heard then
say when Uncle Ed first came to. An(
in moment roar of laughter broke
| from him.
''1'n never fergit," said he presently
'if live thousan' years the licliin'
gin tibet boy. But it hurt me worse'l
1t hurt him.
Then he told the story of the blu
beech.
The next day was that "cold Friday
long remembered by those who felt it
deadly chill, day when water thrown
In the magic air came down in clinkin,
crystals and sheaths Of frost lay thicl
upon the windows. But that and th
one before 1t were among the few day
In that early period that lie like rocl
under my character.
ITO be continued.