Year: 1868




are almost literally related, as follows.


"My brother Heman liked the busisess
of carrying the mail better than did: and
so | went to work in a new clearing had
commenced about a mile and half from
home, and not quite so far from the houss
Of a brothcrin-law. used to stay as Of
ten at one place as at the other. It was a
bad arrangement, as in case of accident,
neither family would be alarmed, or 90 TO
look for me, if should not come home. |
felt the force Of this n the course Of the
winter, as you will see directly.


| There had fallen one of our old fashion
ed, northern New York SHOWS, crusted over
hard enough to bear man. l was getting
on tamously, with my clearing, getting
ready to build house in the spring. waa
ambitious, and worked early and late, go
ing without my dinner some days, when
the bread and meat had brought in my
pocket wassirozen SO hard that could nos
masticate 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 worked on as long as could see, and
after twilight ielled "a tree, which in its
descent lodged against another. l could
not bear the idea Of leaving the Job half
finished; mounted the almost prostrats
body 10 cut away limb to let it down.


The hole Of the tree forkcd, about forty
feet mp, into two equal parts, with large
projecting 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 l should have been; at any
rate, the first blows eased the lodgment,
so that the tree began to settle, and was
just going to jump of, when the fork split,
and as it did so, one foot dropped into tho
space SO that could aot extricate it for
the moment, but felt no alarm, for
knew that | could cut away the tree in s.
minute, or perhaps draw my f OF out of
the boot, rs 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 fattcned, and there l hung
suspended, just able to touch the tips of
my fingers in the snow, with nothing to
rest upon for 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 ore would
suppose me safe with the other.


My TX in its fall rested upon the snow
crust, about ten feet Off Ii could only
get that, might yet save myself. did
not think how [ Gas to cut myself loose
from the body of that great tree, suspend
cd as was, head down, and suffering with
the rushing current Of disordered blood;
but thought in that keen blade my only
hope Of life was fixed just forward of me
grew Il slim bush, which thought, if |
could obtain, could form into hook by
twisting the limbs together, and draw the
ax within my reach.


Although the bush was out of nv reach,
L at last succeeded in getting hold of it by
means OF loop by tying my suspenders
together. l drew it toward NE and cut it
oil with my pocket knife-one Of that sort
SO long known rs Barlow knives" having
a single blade about two and half inches
long and three-eighths of an inch wide,
with equal width all its length, set in
handle of peculiar form, half its length
iron, and half horn or bone. | succeeded
admirably in iashoning my hook, and al
most felt the handle of the Ak within my
grasp, so certain was of success. From
the tree that imprisoned me, the ground
descended rapidly for dozen rods or
more, to a little creek. My Ak lay upon
the brow Of the hill. The first mov emens
| made toward twisting the loop Of my
stick around the handle, SO as to draw it
within my reach, loosened it from its icy
rest, and away it W mt down the hill,
crushing through the little frost brittle
bushes, down upon the ice Of the creek,
down to little fall few rods below, and
over that into the unfrozcn pool, with
surging sound, as if it fell in the water,
that seemed to send it's icy chill through
every vein and artery in my whole body.


1 still had my knife. True, it was a
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 tha:
knife | unjonted NY ankle and fell to the
cround--Inyleft leg a footless. bleeding
stump! The intensity Of the cold saved
me from bleeding to death. l tore of q
part of my coat, and with my handker-
chief and suspenders managed to bind nv
leg with a handful of snow, and started to
crawl home. l succeeded in reaching
within sight Of the house, and then my
strength utterly failed me.


tiled my voice in vain. but could





more, and crawlcd toward the road that
knew Heman must come. Il was pain
tut task, Tor, besides my exhaustion, | was
peri hing with cold. just then l heard
the sound of my brother S stage-horn, and
the jinSle 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 mans faithful
iriend-who did hear. Old Hunter, the
noble old dog, had insisted on accompany
ing this trip, and brother said. '.Let him
60; who knows what good may come Of
it?' Good did come OF t, for his ear was
quicker thar ueman's, and he reused up
at the first cry, and as the second cry
reached his ear, he leaped ont, and ina
inmate was at the spot where lay upon
the snow. He smelt all around, and |
held up ny footless Lex. Just then the
sleigh haa got up the hill; Hunter sprang
back into the path, barked loudly, and AZ
the horsess came up, he jumped up, seized
the reins, and would not let 90 till Hcman
called half.


Hunter let go his hold on the horses,
jumped lack to the sleigh, caught hold of
iicman's hand, pulling off the mitten, and
away he ran back where | was, and com.
menced barking furiously; but heard
nothiRA. The effect upon mo when
knew that was discovered by that faith
ful old dog, and that he never would de-
selt me, nor cease his efforts until he OBJ
aimed 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
an after me.


In q little while was safe at home; the
was SEM i ana rSsnreped manna Pfpp bpt
vas, however, cripple for life.