The Holly chieftain., 1919-02-27

no time fer the slow process vf burn
Ing more holes, so notched the other
ends OF the boards and lashed them to
the rear brace with length of my
reins. Then retempered my bolt and
brought up the grist and chain and
fastened the latter between the boards
in the middle of the front brace,
hitched my team to the chain and set
out again, sitting on the bags.
1t was pitch dark and the horses
wading to their bellies and the snow
coming faster when we turned into
Rattleroad. Soon heard loud hal
loo and knew that it was the voice of
Uncle Peabody. He had started out
to meet me In the storm and Shep was
with him.
"Thank God I've found vel" he
shouted. "I'm blind and tired out and
/ couldn't keep lantern goin' to save
me. Are ye froze"
"rm all right, but these horses are
awful tired. Had to let 'em rest every
few minutes"
l told him about the wagon-and
how 1t relieved me to hear him say:
"As long as you're all right, boy, l
amt goin' to worry bout the OIL wag-
on-not a bit. Whered We cit yer
jumper?"
"Made 1t with the ak and some
nails" answered.
After we got to the barn door at last
he went to the house and lighted his
lantern and came back withit wrapped
In blanket and Aunt Deel came with
him.
How proud 1t made me to hear him
say:
"Deel, our boy is man ncw-made
this jumper all lone by himself an
has got through all right"
She came and held the lantern up
to my face and looked at my hands.
"Well, my stars, Bart!" she ex-
claimed In moment. II thought We
would freeze UP solid-ayes-poor
boy!"
We carried the grst in and Aunt
Deel made some pudding. How good
1t was to feel the warmth of the fire
and of the hearts of those who loved
me! How I enjoyed the pudding and
milk and bread and butter!
u guess you've gone through the
second peril that OIL Kate spoke Of"
said Aunt Deel as went upstairs.
Uncle Peabody went out to look at
the horses.
When awoke in the morning l OBJ
served that Uncle Peabody's bed had
not been slept in. hurried down and
heard that our off horse had died in
the night of collie. Aunt Deel was cry
ing. AS he saw me Uncle Peabody
began to dance Jig in the middle
Of the floor.
Balance yer partners !" he shouted.
"You an amt goin' to be discouraged
If all the hosses die-be we, Bart?"
"Never," l answered.
"Thats the talk! If Necessary we'll
hitch Purvis up with t'other hoss an
git our haulin' DONE"
He and Purvis roared with laughter
and the strength Of the current swept
me along with them.
Were the luckiest folks In the
world, anyway" Uncle Peabody went
on. "Bart's alive an there's three feet
o. snow on the level an more comm
an It's cOlder'n Greenland
1t was such bitter day that we
worked only three hours and came
back to the house and played Old
Sledge by the firesde.
Rodney Barnes came over that after
noon and said that he would lend US
horse for the hauling.
We had good sleighing after that
and got our bark and salts to market
and earned $9S. But while we got our
pay in paper "bank money" we had
to pay our debts in wheat, salts or
corn, so that our earnings really
amounted to only $62.5O, my uncle
said. We gave the balance and ten
bushels Of wheat to Mr.. Grimshaw for
a spawned horse, after which he
agreed to give us ut least yenr's ex.
tension on the prlnclnal.
We fslt easy then.