The Alexandria herald. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1811-1826, 1822-10-04
RARE CASE OF A LOST CHILD.

daughter of Daniel Ames of Sangcrville,
So miles from Bangor in this county,
(PanobscoD on the 4th Of Juno last, left
home about 10 o'clock, m. in compa
ny with her mother, to go TO the house
of David Doughty, a neighbor near half a
mile distant. 1t was a town road, and
bordered part OF the way by woods
The mother returned aud left the child,
after seeing her half the way 20 Dough-
tvs.
AS the child did not return az expect.
ed, the mother went to Doughty's to in
quire after her when she was informed
little Ruth had not been there. Tho ia
ther Immediately came, and ls or Is
persons commenced a thorough search,
in various directions. Doughty IS son, 90
years old, recoilected he saw child in
the field so or 20 rods from his fathers
house about 1 a. m. thought it was his
brother, and called to it, and told it to
SO back to the house. The one he saw
must have been the lost child, as Dough-
TVS children had not been there after
early in the morning.
In vail was search made chat day,
( Thursday by increasing numbers !: Fri
day at day light so or 20 commenced the
hunt, and the number increased to nearly
600 persons, and the search was unrc-
mittingly continued till Monday-but
not the least intelligence of the child
could be gained. On tuesday the search
was recommended by great number,
from seven or eight towns, land lasted two
days; after which they reurcd in despair.
In the fore part of August, about two
months after the child was lost, MIR
Haywood, Of Hallowell, 80 miles from
Sangerville, having heard the child de-
scribed, wrote 10 its father, and inform
ed him Of female child there, apparent
ly between 5 and years old with Ruth's
features and complexion. This child was
found In the possession of a vagrant or
straggler, who called his name Stephen
ApPleford, between 40 and so years OF
age, poorly clad and moncyless--said he
belonged 10 Eng land--appeared at times
strange or deranged, though many think
all appearances of arrangement arc the
effects OF intenperance. He says the
child is his own-''in flesh, in blood, and
bones"-and that ne had brought her in
his arms and on his back from Lake On.
tario he called her Sally.
MIR. Ames, the father, FASTENED TO see
tho child, but she discovered no partic u
lar knowledge or regard for him. He
examined the nails on the thumb and
little finger O! one hand, as those of his
own child had been hurt, and had pecu-
liar appearances. Nothing remarkable
was now discoverabie on this little girls
| nails he went away, believing it not his
lost daughter. Indeed he thought the
whole appearance of this child different
from that of his own.
On his return home, the subject being
the perpetual & most interesting topic i'll
that quarter, the selectmenoi Sangcrville
about tho FIRST of this month (Sept.) sent
and brought the child to town at house
about mile from Mr.. Ames's where he
and his wife and crowd of others met,
to see and examine her. The mother
found scars on the hands and side occa-
stoned by burns rnuch like those Of her
lost daughter, and her prevailing opinion
was, she was her own but many others
doubted much, ard scrupies were con-
sequen,ly excited in the minds of both
ner husband and herself.
The child lost was as sprightly, as for
ward 10 talk, and as large, as children
generally are of the same age. UDe
present asked Der, 'is tina, your mann ?"
and the child said 'tEhat'S maaRs,' and
appeared TO be attached to her a good
cal. A circle was formed. its mother
on one side, and Mr.. Ames with the
child in his arms on the other, and Ap-
pleford (who had followed, and still was
claiming the chiid) was in the midst
the child Immediately reached out its
arms lowardsMrs. Ames called tmaam,"
and seemed inclined 10 goto her.
The child was then, by Mr.. Ames,
carried TO his own house, where his own
mother was; the maid asked the little
girl, who is that "v-" Grand mann"
was the cbiltPs reply. She answers a
bout equally quick, whetber called Ruth,
Sally, nary or Sarah. No one ever he
fore saw Arp!eiord in that quarter, ex
cept that little girl of 10 or l2 years
old, tells him she saw him not far from
the day the child was lost. Such is the
state of the case :--some are sure the
child IS the lost one, others continue ~
doubt, and Appleford insists on having i,
restored 10 him, as being his own.
The foregoing statement of facts is
taken, Sept. z. 1922, from the mouth of
Mr.. Ames, the father Of the lost child :