Jonas on a Farm in Winter

oner than he had expected, and he believed that they should have to leave the rafters where they were. But Jonas

ding the storm, said that he should be very glad to have him try.

Josey, "if I were you. It i

which made the appearance of it very different from what it had been when they had left it. The cows and oxen stood out still expo

d Josey, "I

that you wouldn't. You are

fficient boy?

gh to go on and accomplish his object, e

mean by being effi

n't some efficiency,

t one of the oxen yoked. He t

place, Jonas raised the end of t

will be a great satisfaction to him to have them all safe down here before it drifts. He doesn't require me to go; but if I go voluntarily and bring them do

sey. "I've a great

you please,"

you want

mpany very well; and, besid

id Josey,

ngue, while Josey backed the oxen, so that he could enter the end of the tongue into the r

s. The chains he fastened to the stakes, which were in the sides of the sled. Then he opened the great gate, and the oxen

r new snow, driven along by the wind, found places where it could lodge. At length, however, they came to the woods; and there they were sheltered from the wind, and the snow fe

the fine flakes descending through the air in a gentle shower. The whole surface of the ground, and every thing lying upon it, was covered with the snow; for the branches, and the s

Jonas, "that there could

ny thing?"

ce in the ground, and squirrels in the hollow logs, and mi

red up deeper before

didn't get them out. We could not have found half

ees, from which they had been formed, had fallen. They could be di

together, and placing them upon the sled. When they h

et half of them

hall you do?

again, and g

ll be dark befo

e no matter,

lost, and burie

after it shall have been snowing four and twenty hours; but not t

Then he told Josey to climb up to the top of the load and ride. He said that he would walk along by the side of the oxen. Josey found it more comfortable going back, than it was coming up, for the wind was now be

uncle has got his fra

t it, if he hasn't fi

stay out in the storm

p his mortises, and so trouble him a great deal more than it doe

after the other l

replied

ed. The farmer and Amos had left their work and gone in. They were in the sh

Jonas; "there

aid the farmer. "I'm very gl

I'd better go and get the rest. I know just where the

get down before it will

think I can get out of the woods before dark; and

er, "you may go. Don't you

it isn't n

d Josey, "I ca

ontinuing without much change. The snow gradually increased in depth, but the oxen walked along without difficulty through it. Sometimes they came to a drift whe

t was now nearly sundown, there was only a gloomy sort of twilight, under the trees. Jonas and Josey loaded the sled as fast as they could. They pu

around a little, just to see t

d Josey; "let us go. We'

said Jonas, "and make

s. He, however, soon satisfied himself that they were all upon the sled. He then secu

falling flakes, and the drifts had begun to be quite large, so that sometimes, in plunging through them, the snow would bank up quite h

wouldn't be a foot deep

ought it would," said Jonas. "

part of the road, the storm, which here swept down across the pond, beat upon them with unusual fury. The wind howled; the snow was driven through the air, and seemed to scud along the ground with great violence; and the drifts, running

o lull for an instant, Jonas thought he h

on't believe it is any

id, and wanted to get h

a moment he heard the cry again. It seemed to be a cr

off upon the p

out that way?

rily believe somebody is out

t us go home as fast as

Jonas, "tha

o come, and, putting his hands up to his mouth in the shape o

l-l

no answer. In a few minutes, the cry which he had

hear me,"

out Josey, as lou

a few seconds afterwards, the

nd blows this way, and they can't h

he must go, and that, as they had oxen with them, there would

served four or five rafters, which he left upon the sled. Then he turned the oxen in the

hey came to the shore of the pond. Here Jonas took off one of his raft

hat for?"

," said Jonas. "I place it so that i

by our tracks

racks will all be covere

d to jump off very frequently, to keep the oxen in a right direction. He stopped occasionally to put down a rafter, placing it so that its length should be in the line of his road, and taking care to sink on

calling from them, following it, and speaking in a different way, though Jonas could not understand what was said. He kept pressing forward steadily, and, before long, he found

to them, Jos

uppose it is?

robably some travelle

: as they came nearer and nearer,

" vocifer

answer. "Can-you-

id Jonas; "w

voice, which, being more shrill than t

m at all. They saw at last, however, some dark-looking object before them. On coming up to it, they found that it was a horse and sleigh. The horse was in a very deep

oxen, sir!" said the woman. "We c

e snow happens to b

d off there. I told Isaiah it would be drifted under this island; and

, and we'll soon get you to the land. Isai

traces and the hold-backs, in order t

out," said

ou sit still, and ke

n front of the sleigh. He first, however, drove the oxen out of the road with the sled, so as to leave that where it would not be in the way. Then he took two chains from the sled, and a

leave the sled h

can come and get it a

e, and then it became less so; but it was very dark, and it was difficult for Jonas to f

After he had passed this guide, the path was no more to be distinguished. He went on, however, as nearly as he could in the direction indicated by the rafter; and, after going the proper distance, he began to look

him afraid that he should not be able to follow the train very far. His fears proved

ar from the shore. I'll keep straight on, and we sha

solute must experience in such a situation, all conspired to make it difficult, in a case like this, to find the way. Jonas drove on in the direction which he thought would have led to the shore; but, after going amply far enough to reach it, no shore was to

ddenly changed into terror, at seeing a large black animal, like a bear, co

matter?" sa

!" said Jonas, "how

h the deep snow; and he seemed delighted to have found Jonas and his party at la

hile the dog wagged his tail, whisked about,

s that?" sa

anco Ney is his name. Now we shal

was going. He knew by instinct which way the shore lay

e the way, Fr

s, looking him full in the face, and then whisked about again, and went on farther than before,-and then stopped and

way," said Jonas

man; "the dog don't know any thing ab

ow Franco." And so saying, he began to turn

for he was leading them altogether out of their way. But Jonas considered that the responsibility properly bel

pted by hearing another loud cal

that?" s

calling,"

lost," said the w

uld distinguish his own name. He answered the call, and was himself answ

"It is your uncle and Amos, coming

exceedingly surprised when they saw Jonas with his oxen, drawing a sleigh, wit

ith astonishment,

the pond," said Jonas. "But how

him for some time; but he would go that way, and no other. When he came to the shore of the pond, we found your rafter laid there, and that made us thi

t you see our heap of rafters, b

aid his

a load

ty well covered up," said he,

ight. The next morning, when Jonas got up, he found that it was clearing away; and when, after breakfast, he looked out upon the pond, to see if he could see any thing of his sled, he