I had very little to do with, and was unable to endure much fatigue,
or bear the severe cold. I had, however, succeeded in securing the
services of an excellent hand to chop, and help me load, and had also
engaged a horse of one neighbor, and a horse and sled of another, and
was ready on Monday morning to commence my job. Monday morning the roads
were fair, the day promised well, and my man was off at daybreak to the
woods to, have a load ready for me. There had been quite a fall of snow
during the night; not enough to do any harm if it only lay still, but
should the wind rise, as it had after every snow-fall before, it would
make it dreadful for me. Soon as possible I harnessed my team, and
started. I had not gone a quarter of a mile before it became painfully
evident that a repetition of our previous "blows" was impending. The sky
was dark and stormy, the wind rose rapidly, and in every direction
clouds of the newly fallen snow were beginning to ride on the "wings of
the wind," pouring over the fences, and filling the road full! My heart
sank within me. What could I do? At this rate, by next morning the roads
would be impassable, and it was so cold! Besides, if I failed to go on
now, it would be very difficult to get my borrowed team together again,
and impossible to get my man again; and we could as well live without
bread as without wood in a Canadian Winter.

Every moment the wind increased. In deep distress, I looked upon the
threatening elements, exclaiming over and over, "What shall I do?" I
felt then that there was but one thing that I could do, and that was
just what poor sinking Peter did; and with feelings I imagine something
like his, I looked up to God, and cried out, "O, my God, this is more
than I am able to bear. Lord, help me! The elements are subject to thee;
thou boldest the winds in thy fist. If thou wilt speak the word, there
will be a great calm. O, for Jesus' sake, and for the sake of my little
helpless family, let this snow lie still and give me an opportunity of
accomplishing this necessary labor comfortably!" I do not think it was
above fifteen minutes after I began to call upon the Lord before there
was a visible change. The wind began to subside, the sky grew calm, and
in less than half an hour all was still, and a more pleasant time for
wood-hauling than I had that day, I never saw nor desire to see. Many
others beside me enjoyed the benefit of that "sudden change" of weather,
but to them it