The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1908-03-11

cold where the fog is thick and where for
hours the snowfall ceases and seals and other
animals are plentiful. Yes, they must endeavor to
reach this blissful region the old man pro-
poses after all the other plans have been dis
cussed and rejected. Hope is again kindled in
the breasts of these wretched beings, who have no
idea that the fate awaits them everywhere
the fate of perishing from cold and starvation
for the Eden of which they are dreaming has
grown inhospitabe and uninhabitable, too. The
entire globe is wrapped in snow and ice as In an
armor of steel; the deep shadows of the night
prevail, which change now and then into pale
gray twilight.
A better landau, it can be found only beyond
this world and not upon its snowfelds, which
We're fixing in death and could neither produce
new life nor sustain that which dragged out a
weary existence.
But as the drowning man clutches straw, these
unfortunate creatures grasped the hope OF finding
this land, with which tradition had made them
familiar. Before they could carry out this daring
plan, however, born of sheer desperation, the Win
ter storms broke in upon them earlier than usual
forbidding them to remain outside the hut for
even brief space of time, and making their pro
posed emigration thing of impossibility.
Horror and despair filled their hearts and fin
ally gave way to sullen resignation. Their pal
lid children moaned with hunger and the cry OF
their loved ones inspired them with renewed EN-
ergy All is not yet lost, unexpected succor may
come from above. They will fight the battle for
existence to the last yes, they will hold out for
the sake of their innocent children. 1t did not
occur to them that the life for which they We're
saving them one of utter privation, else their
heroism and courage would have failed.
But they feel the hunger and its pangs more
and more, and with heavy heart they resolve
at last to kill one of the four faithful dogs al
though he can but lilly be spared. In a few days
the second follows, then the third and finally the
last The aged father partakes scarcely of any
nourishment refusing to deprive his loved ones
,f no fay, uhicb mi OH
at last he can arise with difficulty only from his
pallet in of the hut His eyes have sunk
way back in his head and in them shines super
natural light He realizes that he will soon be
transported to yonder fields, where there will be
no tears and suffering. He tries to support
the hope of the despairing young couple, whom
terrible anxiety is almost driving mad, and to
interrupt their dismal, gloomy brooding, he mar
rates to them with faint voice stories OF ages long
since past when ice and did not cover the
earth everywhere when people lived all over this
globe and second shone through the stiffness
Of the night. Esther mods her head thoughtfully,
while he speaks. Aye, her father is describing the
paradise where the gentle, balmy breezes blew and
some day they will reach it. How wondrously
fair the journey would be it not for the
dreadful bridge which leads to it's destination
death!
At last the pallid lips of the aged father are
set in DEATH and his eyes have closed in that
long sumber from which there is no awakening.
Hope slowly dies away from day to day that
the storms will cease at last and EstherS husband,
Ahasver may go out and seek help in one of the
neighboring huts, long ways in the distance 1t
would have brought them no succor but Increased
their misery and desolation for the few scattered
human habtations had not sheltered living be-
Ing for many weeks
The storm has piled the snow high before