The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1909-03-11

creased to a gale, and whirling snow
filled the air. But indoors, where
mother was preparing supper, were
light and warmth and cheer. A loud
stamping of feet at the back door
announced the return of father and
the boys from finishing the chores.
A moment later, with q shout as of
the Joy Of battle, they were inside
shaking the loose snow from caps
and coats, and through the open door
has swept the keen northwest wind,
searching every nook and Granny of
the large, comfortable one-room
hewed log house.
ITS going to be cold night,
mother"
Yes, father, but we shan't suffer-"
answered mother, as she placed on
the table great pile of slices of
fragrant, toothsome rye and Injun"
bread.
NO." said Rier, the older of the
boys, neither will the stock. tell
you, we gave 'em a good feed and
lots of bedding, and they're as cozy
and comfortable as you please. That
log barn, where the horses are, is
most as warm as this house"
You bet!" shouted the noisy
Marsh. And didn't it seem good to
get into the cows nice she'd out of
the wind? l think it'd be fun to curl
up there under a pile of straw and
stay all night"
We'll, think" remarked sister
Emma, as she placed the steaming
bowls of hot milk beside the plates,
81 think, silly, that before o'clock
you'd be glad to come in and curl
up between warm blankets under a
pile of mammals comfortables!
Sister Emma was fourteen-and
wise. Come, now, if you've got
washed and combed, come to the
table or / shan't get the dishes done
tonight"
The family were settling down for
a long, pleasant evening. Mother
was rocking little Anna to sleep and
grooming lullaby that to her babies
was the sweetest music in all the
world, though she never could sing a
tune in her life. Father had taken
needle and thread and was sewing on
pair of pants for one of the boys,
for father had been a tailor in his
younger days. Emma, her dishes
done and put away, had sat down
with her knitting work-a woolen
stocking for herself Rier was
stuffing the stove with hickory wood.
heavier blast than any before beat
against the house so furlously that
the eyes of the small boy of the group
bulged out, as he asked:
viii it blow the house down,
papa?"
Just then there came knock at
the door. and an awkward, bashful
young fellow was admitted-a neigh
bor's son. He was welcomed to the
circle and given a chair near the fire.
turning his back to the stove, ne
sat down astride the chair seat, with
MS arms resting on its back. Father,
always intent on hospitality, tried to
engage him in conversation, but sue
ceeoed In getting only monosyllables,
I'LL suddenly the boy burst out:
It's mighty fine night! A fellow
could have mighty fine ride, If he
had mighty fine sleigh, and a
mighty hne beast" The boys snick-
cred, and Emma dropped stitch.
but their guest rushed on: "Our best
peast got cut. We reckoned ole
Mother Berry done it, but we hain't
named 1t to 'er yit."
"oh, don't believe Mother Berry
did it, said father soothingly. Fa-
tner always had good word for the
absent You haven't told us how
your mother is"
Marm's powerful doncey to-day. {"
ter?" ' De'-
NO, pap says he feels all-throupb-
other' Having thus delivered him.
seli' ne seemed to have nothing mora
10 say. and soon "reckoned better he
goin'"
Poor old Mother Berry," said
father, when he was gone. asbe has
temper OF her own, but don't be-
lieve she meddled with Boian's
horses"
How good home seems such n
night as this, with the fire roaring
inside and the wind roaring outside. !"
remarked the elder son, who already.
at eleven years of age. had gained in
home the sobriquet of "the parson. y
Marsh, let's have some nuts.
So the two boys cracked Jokes and
nuts for q while, and rehearsed for
future use the droll speeches of their
evening visitor. Then Rier picked
up book-he always had one al
hand--and Marsh climbed the ladder
10 snuggle down In the warm nest
mat awaited him in the roomy attic
Al O'Clock the book was laid aside
and Rier followed up the ladder
Emma was soon asleep beside little
Anna in one of the two beds which
occupied two corners OF the great
room. BY and by their mother
climbed the ladder and put an extra
comfort over the boys, and tucked
the edges carefully under the feathe,
bed, with a breathed thought OF
thankfulness that they were SO warn
ana snug, and safe at home.
Father went to the door and looked
out into the whileness of the night
white above. white below. and white
through all the air. The wind still
ragged, the cold had increased. the
great logs OF the house popped with Z
sharp report under the grip OF the