Virginia statesman. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1828-1829, 1829-06-24
qTsCuLLAwEoUs.
THE DESERTED CHILDREN
AEFALINCIDENT

REAL INClDLNI
In the autumn of 1913, man was de-
cendrnG The Ohio river, with three small
children in a canoe. He had lost his
wife and in the emigrating sprlt OF our
people was transporting his all to a new
country, where he might again begin the
world Arriving towards evening at a
small island. he landed there with the Inten-
ton Of encamping for the night. Alter
remaining for short time, he determined
to visit the opposite shore, for the purpose
probably, of purchasing provisions; and
telling his children that he would soon
return to them, be padded Oft, leaving
them alone on the island. Unfortunately
he met on the shore with somc loose com
paov who invited him to drink. He be
came intoxicated, and in attempting to re-
turn TO the island and in the night was
drowned. The canoe hoated away and
no one knew of the catastrophe until the
following day.
The poor deserted children, in the mean
while. wandered about the UninhabIted IS
land. straining their little eyes to catch q
glimpse Of their father. Night came, and
they had no fire, no food--no bed to rest
upon and parent to watch over them.-The
weather was extremely cold, and the old
est child though but eight years OF age,
remembered to have heard that persons
who slept in the cold were sometimes
chilled TO death. She continued. there
fore. to wander about; and when the youg'
or children. wore out with fatigue and
drowsiness. were ready TO drop into SUM
I Der. she kept them awake with amusing Of
alarming stories. At last. nature could
hold out no longer, and the little ones chi
led and aching with cold, threw themselves
on the ground. then ther sister sat down
and spreading other garments as VIDE as
possible drew them on her lap. and eude-
yored to impart the warmth of her own bo-
som, as they slept sweetly on her arms.
Morning came. and the desolate sat on
the shore weeping bitterly. At lenlh. they
were filed with Joy by the sight Of a canoe
approaching the island. But they soon
discovered that it was filled with Indains:
their delight was changed into terror. and
fed into the woods Believing that the
savages had murdered their father and
now came to seek for them, they crouched
underth bushes hiding in breathless fear,
like brood Of young patridges.
The Indians having kindIed q Ere, and
sat down around II and began to cook their
morning neal; and the oldest child, as she
peeped out from her hiding place, began to
think that they had not killed their father.
She reflected too. that they must inevitably
starye, iflelt on this lone island, while on
the other hand there was a possibility Of
being kindly treated by the Indians
\ The cries, too Of her brother and sister.
who had been begging pT;iously for food,
had pierced her heart and awakened all
her energy. She told the hide ones, over
whose feeble minds her fine spirit had ac-
quired an absolute away. TO get up and 20
with her; then taking hard Of each, she
fearlesly led them to the Indian campfire.
Fortunately, the sayages understood our
language. and the little girl explaining to
them what bad occurred. they received Cle
! the deserted children kindly and conducted