The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1845-12-18
N [ S C L L L A N Y.
THE LOST CHILD.

4 correspondent Of tho st. Louis
Weekly Gazette gives the following &C,
count of hunt for lost child, in one of
the thinly peopled mel hborhoods Of the
West.
About ten o'clock in The morning, was
heard loud shout at the gate -" Ho,
Mr. w no ~ What's wanting? co.
Larry's boy is ost--littlo Johpny !"-I
This was enough to secure a fathers aid
and on he rode TO shout the same at ev-
cry door he passed. Little Johnny! said
J, and my heart burst forth at the very
sound He was fair and lovely child
little Johnny, and had gentle affection
ate mother, with an ardent and sacrifice
ing love which few mothers ever fe l.
His father was bold hunter his horses
and hounds and rife, had more Of has
heart than all the world besides; but lit
lie Johnny nestled there indeed he was
"a great pet with the neighbors, and won
more caresses aad more sympathy than
all the rest Of the children toge,her-
Such appeals are always sovereign; but
few, perhaps, have ever met with more
quick or general response every body
turned out the news flew like the wind;
and men and boys for ten miles around
came in to assist in the search, while
women and children were running to and
fro, and haiIpg every passer by, 10 learn
tho progress Of the work. Never be.
fore, may dare say, was there such a
neighborly union as now pervaded this
molly mass - the same gush OF sympathy,
abe same fearful apprehension, and the
xamc images Of death and wo, pervaded
every home and heart. 1t seemed as if
one vast cloud Of gloom enwrapped the
region round, from which shone out ia
iur,d glare. and to which every eye was
turned and every pulse beat true the
lost child
Little Johnny was about four years
old: he had been out in the field, with
his father and the black man, who were
harvesting co1n--had filed his little bag
with roasting ears, and started for homo
about two o'clock, p. NJ. On returning
at night, they ascestained that the child
had not been seen 1t was nearly dark,
but the alarm was given, and some ff
teen or twenty ueighbors took their horns
and commenced the search. The corn
where he was last seen, was the first OBJ
iect, of course : here they took single
rows, and secured the field ia vain.-
They then scattered through the adjoin,
ing wood; the father frantic. olien calling
oui in voice orthunder, "EIo ! John -
ho!-O, John !" Then fearing the boy
might be alarmed and afraid to answer,
he would sofeu down into the gentle,
winning tone Of the Gresidc--" Johnny,
Johnny my dear, fathers come" IL
vas a cloudy evening and though per-
haps no had never bowed the knee "bc-
fore Jeboyah's awful throne" he prayed
oh how earnestly he prayed the Lord
Il might mol rain that night The air
was damp and chilly, SO that, If the child
were alive, with his bare feet and light
Jacket, must be suffering cruelty from the
cold. But the wolves! -ah, this was the
fear, this the terror, which all felt, but
uone dared TO breathe. A wolf had been
seen proving around the premises in.
deed, they had common path across the
prairie, and the point where several be
side myself, had heard The cries Of dis
trcss, was famous haunt for them CIV
en- in the ,aidst Of their anxious search
distant srow'i gouId now and then burst
on The ear, picturfng forth the deu, The
cubs. the --------- -.
The dogs were very eager in the field
eaneciolly wolf dogs. " indcr, ohe OF
the best. " ouid run no other trail o.
Larry knew this, and watched With most