The Jasper news. [volume] (Jasper, Missouri) 1898-1924, 1919-02-27


Ing more holes, SO notched the other
ends Of the boards and lashed them to
the rear brace with a length of my
reins. Then I retempered my bolt and
brought up the grist and chain and
fastened the latter between the boards
in the middle of the front brace,
hltched 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 l heard loud hal
loo and knew that 1t 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
l couldn't keep lantern goin' to save
me. Are ye froze?"
"Tm all right, but these horses ure
awful tired. Had to let 'em rest every
few minutes"
told him about the wagon-and
how 1t relieved me to hear him say:
"As long as you're all right, boy, I
amt goin' to worry bout the OIL wag-
on-not bit. Where'd We git 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 with it wrapped
In blanket and Aunt Deel came with
him.
How proud 1t made me to hear him
say:
"Deel. our boy Is man now-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.
swell, my stars, Bart! I" she ex-
claimed In moment. II thought ye
would freeze up solid-ayes-poor
boyl"
We carried the grist 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 enjoyed the pudding and
milk and bread and butterI
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 a,
the horses.
When l awoke In the morning / 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
II all the hosses die-be we, Bartf"
"Never," answered.
"Thats the talk If necessary well
hitch Purvls 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.
"We're the luckiest folks in the
world, anyway" Uncle Peabody wen
on. "Bart's alive an there's three fee
o. snow on the level an more comm
an it's colder'n Greenland"
1t was such a bitter day that W,
worked only three hours and cam'
back to the house and played OLE
Sledge by the fireside.
Rodney Barnes came over that after
noon and said that he would lend III
horse for the hauling.
We had good sleighing after tha
and got our bark and salts to marke
and earned $9S. But while we got ou
I pay in paper "bank money" we ha,
, to pay our debts In wheat. salts o
corn. so that our earnings reall,
amounted to only $e2.50. my uncl
/ said. We gave the balance and tel
} bushels Of wheat to Mr.. Grimshaw TO
| spawned horse, after. which h
I agreed to give US at least a years ex
tension on the principal.
, We felt easy then.