Year: 1860

|
One Stories. 1t is founded upon an occur
renee which actually took place in Vermont
some forty years ago. The facts are almost
literally rcla,ed, as follows:


MY brother lleman liked the business
Of carrying the mail better than did and
so went to work in a new clearing had
commenced, about mile and half from
home, and not quite so far from the house
of brother-in-law. I used to stay as of.
ten at one place as at the other. 1t was a
| bad arrangement, as in case of accident,
neither family would be alarmed, or 70 to
look for me, if should not come home.
felt the force of this in the course of the
winter, as you will see directly.


There had fallen one of Oh: old fashioned,
Northern New York SHOWS, crusted over
hard enough to bear man. was getting
on famously with my clearing, getting ready
to build house in the spring. was am
bilious, and worked early and late, going
without my dinner some days, when the
bread and meat had brought in my pocket
was frozen so hard that could not masti
cate it, without taking up too much of MY
time. One day it was intensely cold, with
the prospect of storm that might hinder
my work the next day, and so I worked on
as long as could see, and after twilight I
felled u tree, which in its descent lodged
against another could not bear the idea
of leaving the job half finished; mounted
the almost prostrate body to cut away a
limb to let it down.


The hole Of the tree forkcd, about forty
feet up, into two equal parts, with large pro-
jecting limbs from both. 1t was one of
these had to cut away to bring it to the
ground. In my haste perhaps was not so
careful as should have been at any rate,
the first blows eased the lodgment, so that
the tree began to settle, and was Just GO
ing to jump of, when the fork split, and
as it did so, one foot dropped into the space
so that could not cxtricate it for the mo-
mcnt, but felt no alarm, for knew that
could cut away the tree in minute, or per-
haps draw my foot out of the boot, as the
pressure was not severe. At the first blow
Of the AK, the tree took another start rolled
over, and the split closed with all the force
Of its giant strength, crushing my foot
until the very bones were hattcned, and
there | hung suspended, just able to touch
the tips of my fingers in the snow, with
nothing to rest upon for a moment-the air
at zero, and growing colder-no prospect OF
any one coming that way that night the
nearest house a mile away-no friends to
feel alarmed at my absence for one would
suppose me safe with the other.


My ak in its fall rested upon the snow
crust, about ten feet off. If could only
get that, might yet save myself. did
not think how was to cut myself loose
from the body Of that great tree, suspended
as was, head down, and suffering with the
rushing current of disordcrcd blood; but
thought in that keen blade my only hope
of life was fixed. Just forward Of me grew
slim bush, which | thought, if | could
obtain, could form into hook by twist.
ing the limbs together, and draw the az
within my reach.


Although the bush was out of my reach
at last succeeded in getting hold of it by
means Of loop by tying my suspenders
together. drew it toward me and cut il
off with my pocket knife-one of that sor
so ltng known as Barlow knives" having
single blade about two and half inches
long and three-eighths of an inch wide, with
equal width all its length, set i'm a handle OF
peculiar form, half its length iron, and hal
horn or bone. | succeeded admirably in
fashioning my hook, and almost felt the
handle of the Ak within my grasp, so Ger.
tain was | Of success. From the tree that
imprisoned me, the ground descended rap
idly for dozen rods or more, to little
creek. My AK lay upon the brow of the
hill. The first movement made toward
twisting the loop Of my stick around the
handle, so as to draw it within INV reach,
loosened it from its icy rest, and away it
went down the hill, crushing through the
little frostbrittle bushes, down upon the
ice Of the creek, down to a little fall a few
rods below, and over that into the unfrozen
pool, with surging sound, as if it fell in
the water, that seemed to send its icy chill
through every vein and artery in my whole
| body.


still had my knife. True, it was q
rough surgical instrument, but hope and
the love of life gave me strength to climb
up by my fastened leg and cut away the
boot and stocking, and then with that knife
| unjonted my ankle and fell to the ground
my left leg footless, bleeding stump
The intensity Of the cold saved me from
bleeding to death. tore off part of my
coat, and with my handkerchief and sus.
penders managed to bind my leg with a
handful of snow, and started to crawl home.
| succeeded in reaching within sight Of the
house, and then my strength utterly failed
me.


tried my voice in vain, but could make
no one hear. exerted myself once more,
and crawled toward the road that knew
lieman must come. 1t was painful task,
for, besides my exhaustion, | was perish
ing with cold Just then heard the sound
of my brothers stage.horn, and the jingle
of the bells coming down the hill. |
strained my voice to the utmost pitch, but
he did not, could not, hear; but there was
another friend-man's faithful fricnd-who
did hear. Old Hunter, the noble old dog,
had insisted on accompanying this trip, and
brother raid, "Let him go; who knows
what good may come Of it?' Good did
come of it, for his ear was quicker than
Heman's, and he reused up at the first cry,
and as the second cry reached his ear, he
leaped out, and in minute was at the spot
where lay upon the snow. He smelt all
around, and Iheld up my footless leg Just
then the sleigh had got up the hill Hunter
sprang back into the path, barked loudly,
and as the horses came up, he jumped up,
seized the reins, and would not let go till
Heman called halt.


Hunter let go his hold on the horses,
jumped back to the sleigh, caught hold of
lieman's hand, pulling off the mitten, and
away he ran back where was, and COM
menced barking fnriously; but heard moth
ing. The effect upon me when knew that
| was discovered by that faithful old dog,
and that he never would desert me, nor
cease his efforts until he obtained help, had
caused me to faint. My brother knew that
Hunter was not at play-that something
curious was the matter-and he jumped
out of the sleigh and ran after me.


In little while | was safe at home; the
doctor was sent for, and my wound prop
erly dressed. eventually recovered, but
was however, q crinp1a fnr l;ca