The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1921-01-28
(e Crows Nest
Landmark

Landmark
ome one must go for the doctor"
d Mrs. Bray.
I'll co." said Johnny.
What" exclaimed Mrs. Bray, half
Hing, three miles across the noun
Aside in all this deep snow?"
now?"
e often carried fathers dinner
IN when he was in the maple
camp" replied Johnny, "and
half mile farther than Doctor
on's. It's something of walk,
sure"
should think So" said Mrs. Bray
But think 1 could go quicker than
zone else" continued Johnny, as
Aleoked pitifully at the little babe
the cradle, whose dimpled face was
h flushed with fever II love Willie,
ou know, and"
And here a great lump seemed to
rise up in his throat and check his
words.
Johnny and Willie were motherless
Achildren. Their father earned his live
lihood by cutting pines in the forests,
hauling timber, and doing odd jobs
GENERALLY whenever he could get d
nance. Their mother had died a
ew months before and a kind neigh
or Lad offered home to the children
or the sake of the little errands and
hores that Johnny could do.
Mrs. Bray was very kind to them and
BOX the best possible care of the
baby, but there was many night
khen Johnny lay awake softly crying
8 himself, with his arms around Will
HES neck and thinking of the dear,
dear mother he had lost. And it was
his greatest ambition to secure a good
situation in the neighbcrhood, where
. he could earn little money and help
support Willie.
"ForI know that my father is very
poor" said Johnny, land if could
only assist him l know that mother
would be pleased up in Heaven!"
WELL" said Mrs. Bray, after lit
tie hesitation, think you had better
60"
So Johnny put on his cap and tied
his faded worsted comforter about his
neck. An overcoat was unknown lux
ury, but his coat was warm and snug
and he set off on brisk walk, that
was almost run, in the wintry sun
shine, over the mountainside, that was
white and glittering with snow.
For all the bright sunshine, ire
mendous gale of wind was blowing
such gale as might make mariners
tremble on the deck of great ships,
standing far out to sea-a gale that
shook the tops of the trees and made
them groan and creak as if giants in
main were hidden within their huge,
messy trunks.
And how Johnny found his way
through those trackless woods, where
there was no path except here and
there the paw-marks of stealing fox,
or wildcat. or the velvety tracks OF
rabbits, nobody could guess. do not
think that Johnny knew himself.
He kept his eyes steadily on the
sun, and now and then paused to look
for rude signs cut in the bark of the
birchtrees, which served as a sort OF
guidepost to him.
After long walk, crossing two OF
three frozen streams, and getting over
a huge rocky chasm by means of fal
len ree-trunk-which groaned dismal
ly as Johnny picked his way across it
as If it had half mind to snap itself
in two and let him down among the
snowy rocks below-he reached the
doctors house on the other side, and
left his message.
"The doctor isn't in" said Miss
Phoebe, the doctors sister, "but I'll
tell him the very minute he gets back
He can drive around by the road in
his cutter and perhaps he'll be there
before you are"
81 hope so" said Johnny, wistfully
because our baby is very sick"
YOU'D better stop and have bit OF
dinner" said Miss Phoebe. Its al
most ready"
"Oh, thank you!" said Johnny; but
| couldn't stay must get back tc
Willie. / can quiet him better than
anyone else when he is ailing and
fretful."
So Miss Phoebe gave him a drink
of milk and piece of hot gingerbread
and he started back home again.
1t was getting on towards sunset