Annals of the Beaver River

I paused for a moment after I managed to herd the children inside the depot where my sister Florence was waiting. The conductor handed down our bags. My nephew Wesley came out and carried the bags inside. I stayed on the platform for a minute to stretch my legs after the train ride. It was already starting to get dark. It was pretty cold. A light snow was falling.   When I looked east up the railroad tracks, I saw three figures in dark heavy clothing slowly making their way toward the station. It was December 22, that much I’m sure of, but I’m not certain now whether it was 1912 or maybe 1911. As they got nearer the depot, I could see they were wearing snowshoes and they were dragging two nice balsam fir trees. Of course, they had their rabbit hunting rifles, but no rabbits hanging over their shoulders. I recognized them from my earlier trips to Beaver River Station. The taller one was Willy Kempton, the railroad section foreman, and the woman walking next in line was Etta, his wif...