4 THE QUARTERLY BULLETIN  
and keep right side up? But for all Service horses, once the  
heavy midwifery bags are slung across the saddle, the trip to _
follow seems to hold a special significance. We made our way  
uneventfully, if cautiously,-—Paul trudging in front with the `  
bundle, Puck, the bags and I trailing behind. i
No one could have been more solicitous than Paul, who at  
every particularly icy spot waited till Puck and I were safely  
across. For three miles we traveled in this fashion. Then we ip
reached the mouth of the branch, and decided to hitch Puck  
to a fence. So we loosened Puck’s saddle girths and, with  
Paul shouldering the forty—pound saddlebags, we set out to walk ;
the last uphill mile. ~  
Now as we climbed and slithered our way along, there was `
time to look about, to wonder at the natural beauty, and to re- I
flect on the poverty and constant battling of the elements for  
mere existence, which are a matter of course to the Kentucky ,
mountaineer. r;
At last, after a steep scramble, we reached the house in the  
upland hollow. Outside it looked like a fairy tale house, win-  
dowless, with long icicles hanging from the uneven, snow-cov-
ered roof. Within blazed a huge log fire. On the hearth steamed y
a kettle of hot water. Before the fire a neighbor and her hus—  
band stood. There were no chairs. A box made the only table.  
There were two iron beds with corn husk mattresses, in one of R
which the four children were curled up asleep—like so many  
kittens. In the other lay Cordelia, under a heap of dilapidated ;
quilts, with hot rocks wrapped in feed sacks to serve as hot-  
water bottles. I?
With only the illumination of the log fire and a flashlight ill
held by Paul, I got busy. Soon we ushered into this world an  
eight-pound boy.  
One might think him unwelcome under the circumstances, .
but from one and all came exclamations: "That’s the peartest,
finest boy that ever came to this house. You name him, Nurse,— i
something right different and pretty." So he was named Noel, '
in honor of the night.
It was still bright moonlight as Paul and I set out on the  I
return journey down the branch. A patient Puck was standing t 
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