The cabin was deep in the forest. I went up there to hunt for elk like I do every winter. My Father bought the cabin years ago from an old fur trappe. My father died twenty years ago. I come to this cabin every year to honor my Father, this year was no exception, even though it is an exceptionally cold winter. I have lighted a fire in the old stone fireplace and shut the shutters to keep out the ferocious wind, It is snowing very hard outside but I am warm by the fire. I stock up on wood in the summer when my family comes with me on vacation here. My children enjoy swimming in the nearby lake. My wife and I enjoy taking walks in the forest to enjoy the splendors of nature.

I come in the winter alone; my soul purpose is to get some elk and take it home to bar-b-que for my family and friends. I took my rifle out of the bag, and open the door to go hunting but alas, I can’t get out, there is a wall of snow in front of me, I quickly shut the door to keep the snow from falling into the cabin. I put my rifle on the table and sit in front of the warm fire wondering what I should do. There would be no help coming, it is snowing to hard, and the cabin is to far out in the woods.

I have been sitting at least two hours in front of the fire. I have repeatedly added wood to the flame to keep it going. I am getting low on wood, I think I will have to burn the furniture in my Fathers cabin, I must stay alive for my family, they need me.

Two days and nights go by, I can tell by my watch. The fire is only burning because I put the furniture on it, but it is beginning to die out. The candles are less than an inch in height. The fire dies. It is so cold I think I am going to freeze to death. I open the door to see if the snow has subsided, and much to my surprise, there is only about four inches of snow on the ground, and an elk is looking at me.