Year: 1869




WE think the following story too good
to keep" and, as we promise not to betray
the hero's name and place Of residence, we
hope he win forgive Us for telling how he
got lost in snow storm.


1t was pleasant place-the home OF the
Doctor-jnst in the edge Of the woods.
The house was one of those neat little cot
tages where one always expects to find
comfort, peace and happiness.


1t was almost hidden among the trees,
with which the ground had been 50 law
ishly adorned. Some were so large that
you would think they must be centuries
old


The Doctor and his wife lived here
alone, with the exception of boy whom
and to be company for his wife when he
was attending his patients; for although,
as said, be was getting old, the people
of the little village near could not have
been persuaded to give up their faithful
physician.


One day it had been snowing-such a
see. The beautiful white fakes seemed to
reach its destination soonest, and the sky





"Well," said the Doctor to his wife, as
he returned from his round of calls, 81 am
glad there are not many sick Just now, for
l think home is the best place for an old
man like me;" and he shook the snow
from his great coat and handed it to Bruce
to hang up, saying that he should not
need it any more that night.


Just as he had seated himself at the tea
foh md bic ryifo v,o,1pir ont hia taa
a loud rap was heard at the door.


at is some belated traveller" decided
the Doctor as he arose to open the door.


AZ want you to go and see my wife,
Doctor" said the visitor as he seated him
self by the fire.


"Whatl 90 ten miles such . night as
this? It is impossible" retorted the Doc
tor.


"I fear she will die" said the man, "un-
less you do. have man here with me,
and we have shovels; we will see you
safe through, if you will CO."


The amount of it was, the Doctor went.


1t is not my purpose to dwell on hisride
there; for it was made comparatively easy
by the aid of strong arms and shOvels;
nor of the sick woman, but of his journey
home. The snow was still whirling thick
and fast as the Doctor tucked himself
snugly in his light cutter for the home
ward trip, and started off briskly; for
Nellie was anxious to get home to her
warm stable.


The Doctor was not very well acquailt-
ed with the roundabout way he came, and
with the darkness and binding snow he
soon became bewildered. So after while,
thinking he had ridden farther than the
distance to his home, he thought he would
trust his horse to get HIM out of the diff
Guilty, and gave Nellie full liberty to choose
her own road; 80, after he had gone on
for some time longer, Nellie stopped and
whinnied. The Doctor unmuffled little,
and peered around in the darkness and
snow.


"Why, Nellie, where are we?" he said.
"This looks very like Chestnut Ridge ;
yes, there's the opening in the trees, at the
turn of the road on the brow of the hill
this must be Chestnut Ridge-eight miles
from home. Well, Nellie, we may as well
camp for the night, for we can't get
home"


"How lucky that Bruce supplied us
well with blankets" soliloquized the Doc
tor as he unhitched Nellie from the cutter,
and fastened one of the blankets on her,
and turned her loose to look out for her
self Then spreading buffalo robe on
the snow and turning the cutter up, he
wrapped himself in his blankets, and
craWled into his novel bed and was soon
sound asleep.


His faithful dog was very uneasy all
night at his masters absence, and bounded
out at the first opportunity to look for
him. Finding the cutter in such novel
condition, he began to bark furiously
around it.


You can Judge of the Doctors astonish-
ment, when he came out of his bed room,
to find himself in his own door yard, and
Nellie standing at the stable door, won
dering, no doubt, why she was treated 80
Western Rural.