Massachusetts spy and Worcester advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1823-1825, 1823-12-24
CHILD SAVED.

CHILD SAVED.
A shepherd, who inhabited one Of
those valleys or glens which intersect
the Grampian mountains, in one of his
excursions 10 look after his flock, hap
pened to carry along with him one of
his children, an infant of three years
old. This is uot an unusual practice a.
rnong The Highlanders, who accustom
their children from their earliest in
fancy to endure the rigors of the eli
mate. After traversing his pastures for
some time, attended by his dog, the
shepherd found himself under the ne
cessity of ascending a summit at some
distance to have more extensive view
of his range. As the ascent was too
fatiguing for the child, he left him on
small plain, at the bottom, with strict in
functions not to stir from it till his return.
Scarcely, however had he gained the
summit, when the horizon was darkened
by one Of those impenetrabie mists
which frequently descend so rapidly a.
midst these mountains, as in the space
OF few minutes, almost to turn day to
night. The anxious father instantly
fastened back to find his child &; bat ow-
ing to the unusual darkness. and his own
trePldation, he unfortunately missed his
way i'm. the descent. After fruitless
search of many hours, he discovered
that he had reached the bottom of the
valley, and was near his own cottage,
TO renew the search that night was
equally fruitless and dangerous: he was
therefore compelled to go home, al
though he had lost both his child and
his dog, who had attended him faithfully
for many years. Next morning, by
break OF day, the shepherd, accompanied
by band Of his neighbors, set out in
search ofhis child ; but after a day spent
IN fruiiless fatigue, he was at last COM
PEELED 10y the approach of night to de-
scend from the mountain. On returning
TO his cottage, he found that the dog
which he had lost the day before, had
been home, and on receiving piece of
cake, had Instantly gone off aga;n.-For
several successive days the shepherd re-
newed the search for bis child, and still,
on returning home disappointed in the
evening, he found that the dog had been
home, and on receiving his usual allow
ance of cake, had instantly disappeared.
Struck with this singular circumstance,
ne remained at home one day and when
the dog, as usual, departed with his
piece of cake, be resolved to follow
him, and find out the cause of this strange
procedure. The dog led the way to
cataract at some distance from the spot
where the shepherd left his child. The
banks of the cataract are almost Joined
and yet separated by an abyss of i'm
mense depth, presented that appearance
which so often astonishes and appals the
travellers that frequent the Grampian
mountains. Down one of those rugged,
and almost perpendicular descents, the
dog began, without hesitation, to make
ms way, and at last disappeared by en-
terlng into cave, the mouth of which
was almost level with the torrent. The
shepherd with difficulty followed but
80 NH'S'Au tue cave What were IllSf
emotions, when he beheld his infant eat
ing with much satisfaction the cake
which the dog had just brought him
while the faithful animal stood by, eye-
ing his young charge with the utmost
complacency! From the situation in
which the child was found, it had wan
dered to the brink ofthe precipice, and
then either fallen or scrambled down
till he reached the cave. The dog by
means of his scent had traced him to
the spot; andafterwards prevented him
from starving by giving up to him his
own daily allowance. He appears
neverto have quilted the child by night
or day. except when it was necessary
to go for food; and then was always
seen running at full speed to and from
the cottage.-Percey anecdotes.
\ FooItardy erploits.-St. Alkmund's
church, in Shrewsbury is is remarkable
for its handsome spire il is said to have
been founded by the heroine Elfrida,
the daughter of king ATfred--the body
of thebpilding is modern, but the tower
e. sPire appear of considerable antiqui-
ty. In tbe year 1921, about four yards
Of the spiNe was taken down, and rebuilt
~ a man by the name of Archer, who