He 's got more chances than I , or this one ; he 's young and got a mother ; I 'll wait , ' said the good feller , touchin ' my arm , for he 'd heard me mutterin ' to myself about this dear old lady . We always want mother when we are down , you know . '' Saul 's eyes turned to the beloved face with a glance of tenderest affection , and Aunt Plumy answered with a dismal groan at the recollection of his need that night , and her absence . `` Well , to be short , the groaning chap was taken , and my man left . I was mad , but there was no time for talk , and the selfish one went off and left that poor feller to run his one chance . I had my rifle , and guessed I could hobble up to use it if need be ; so we settled back to wait without much hope of help , everything being in a muddle . And wait we did till morning , for that ambulance did not come back till next day , when most of us were past needing it . `` I 'll never forget that night . I dream it all over again as plain as if it was real . Snow , cold , darkness , hunger , thirst , pain , and all round us cries and cursing growing less and less , till at last only the wind went moaning over that meadow . It was awful ! so lonesome , helpless , and seemingly God-forsaken . Hour after hour we lay there side by side under one coat , waiting to be saved or die , for the wind grew strong and we grew weak . '' Saul drew a long breath , and held his hands to the fire as if he felt again the sharp suffering of that night . `` And the man ? '' asked Emily , softly , as if reluctant to break the silence . `` He was a man ! In times like that men talk like brothers and show what they are . Lying there , slowly freezing , Joe Cummings told me about his wife and babies , his old folks waiting for him , all depending on him , yet all ready to give him up when he was needed . A plain man , but honest and true , and loving as a woman ; I soon saw that as he went on talking , half to me and half to himself , for sometimes he wandered a little toward the end .
I 've read books , heard sermons , and seen good folks , but nothing ever came so close or did me so much good as seeing this XXXXX die .
ambulance day end face man meadow pain rifle wife wind