Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-06-01
rHE LITTLE WANDERER.

THE LITTLE WANDERER.
In the marlborough lVermont) Messenger,
of the l4th uIt we find the following interesting
narrative of journey of about thirty miles,
performed in one day, without food, by hardy
" Green Mountain Boy" less than eight years
old
The curiosity of the public is greatly excited
respecting boy Of mine, aged seven years and
nine months, who wandered in the wilderness
from Stratton to Manchester, across the Green
Mountain.
On Wednesday morning, the sth instant l
went into the woods with my son, Samuel New
ell, in search of some sheep and lambs that had
lain out the night before. We took circuit
Gus route round the clearing at the foot ofwhat
is called S,ratton Mountain, on the South side;
he struck in above me, and kept within hearing
of me for some time, the last time heard him
answer, told him 10 come down to the OPEN
ing-a while after called, but received no an
swer called aloud several times; at last an
older boy, whom had left at the sugar place,
had got to the house, and answered; conclud-
ed il was Newell, and went down to breakfast.
Finding he had not been in, | returned to the
woods, called hunted, but could not find him.
Itheing bare ground OH the South side OF the
Mountain, could not track him went to the
East, where there was snow, but could dis
cover no track. then went to the West,
ill came TO snow, but found no signs OF
his having been there. then concluded he
had fallen on the South side of the Mountain,
which was bare, and disabled HIMSELF looked
that part off mountain ovcr,and then with my
Oldest son, took more extensive circle, but to
7 bpn Tnph p, , at nj h,r
was soon rallied; we went round the liz
tie, or South Mountain, and on the West side
Of it we discovered his track, bending his course
to DeerGeid River 1t was now as late as three
o'clock We hastily pursued till we came TO a
bare knoll, where we could not recognize his
footsteps; but spreading out OH to the snow, we
found he had gone 10 the river and crossed it,
al steering 10 the West, had assembled the
Green Mountain, then turned 10 the South TO-.
ward the road that leads to Arlington. A CLEAN
Of hope now crossed my breast, that he would
reach the road and so escape dreadful death.
But soon reverse took place; he turned gra-
dualy and scered to the north, then northwest,
which was his general course, though often va
rying. After following many miles and finding
the tracks nearly obliteraed by the meridian
sun, and unwelcome night approaching with ra-
pid strides, we greatly feared we could not find
him till too late. We now came between sun
down and dark, to dismal swamps, where the
boy began 10 step short, and lost his course,
wandering about and crossing his tracks. We
concluded he would not leave the place, but
wander till exhausted, and. then lie down and
perish: we therefore searched diligently until
IL became so dark that we could no longer fol-
low his track. 1t was now the bowels Of pa
rent yearned for his child. Good God ! must
he be given up, and lie on the snow, and chill
with the cold blasts Of night, without father,
mother, or any human being to soothe his ach-
ing heart!
The attention Of the company was now di.
rected towards themselves, who were without
vietuals or drink, or the means to procure fire,
and one without a coat. We were indeed, in
a doleful plight. Some went with their knives
and cut boughs, with which they formed a
camp; the rest of US were feeling under all the
bushes for the boy. Finding ali attempts USE
less, we camped down and kept one another as
warm as we could till the long looked-for morn.
ing came. We renewed our Search but could
not find where the boy struck off from this
place for more than an hour. While we were
busted here, a fresh party came up, who had
followed our track with lanterns, and brought
US victuals and drink. At length we found the
boys track, and followed it till it led down a
brook, where the snow left US; we however dis.
covered some signs, and pursued our course
down the brook till we came to inhabitants CD
poslte Manchester, about |! o'clock A. NJ
The boy arrived there Cat Mr.. Eiiot's) the
night before about SHUTDOWN, having travelled,
as we Judged from his wanderings, about thir-
y miles in one day. He started before he had
taken breakfast; and neither ate, nor drank, nor
sat down, till he gol through
ABEL CIRCUIT, Jr.
&ratton, AprH 8, 1926