The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1845-11-28
TIE LOST ONE.
Br MT Ron.

o. john ) nlVcr, Ill east FLORIDA,
left his cabin, situated on the banks
of that stream, and with his axe on
his shoulder, proceeded towards the
swamp in which he had several
times before piled his trade of telling
and squaring the giant trees that af-
ford the most valuable timber for
naval architecture and other purpo-
ses.
At the season which is the best
for this kind of labor, heavy fogs not
unfrequently cover the country, so
as to render it difficult for one to
see farther than thirty or forty yards
in any direction. The woods, too,
present so little variety, that every
tree seems the mere counterpart of
every other; and the grass, when it
has not been burnt, is so tall that
man of ordinary stature cannot see
over it, whence it is necessary for
him to proceed with great caution
lest he should unwillingly deviate
from the i'll defined trail which
he follows. To increase the diff
Guilty, several trails often meet,
in which case, unless the explorer
be perfectly well acquainted with
the neighborhood, it would be well
for him to lie down and wait until
the fog should dispense. Under
such circumstances the best wood
men are not unfrequently bewilder-
ed for while i; and well remem-
Der that such an occurrenc happen
ed to myself, at time when | had
imprudently ventured to pursue a
wounded quadruped, which led me
to some distance from the track.
The livc-oaker had been Jogging
onward for several hours, and be-
came aware that he must have ira
veled considerably more than the
distance between his cabin and the
hammock, which he desired to
reach. To his alarm, at the moment
when the fog dispersed, lie saw the
sun at its meridian height, and could
not recognize single object around
him. @
Young, healthy, and active, he
imagined that he walked with
more than usual speed and had
passed the place to which he was
bound. He accordingly turned his
back upon the sun, and pursued a
different route, guided by small
trail. Time passed, and headed his
course; he saw it gradually descend
in the west; but all around him con-
tinued as if enveloped with mystery.
The huge grey trees spread their
giant boughs over him, the rank
grass extended on all sides, not a
living being crossed his path, all
was silent and still, and the scene
was like dull and dreary dream OF
the land of oblivion. He wandered
like a forgotten ghost that passed
into the land of spirits, without yet
meeting one Of his kind with whom
to hold conycrse.
The condition of a man lost in the
woods is one of tie most pcrpleXing
that can be imagined BY a person
who has not himself been in a like
predicament Every object he sees,
he at first thinks he rec ognizes, and
while mind is bent on searching for
more that may gradually lead to his
eXtrlcatlon, he goes on committing
greater errors the further he pro-
ceedS. The sun was now setting
with a fiery aspect, and by degrees
it sunk in its full circular form, as if
giving warning of a sultry morrow.
Myrlads of insects, delighted at its
departure, now filed the air on buzz
zing wings. Each piping frog arose
from the muddy pool in whichit had
concealed itself; the squirrel reti-
red to its hole, the crow to its roost,
and, far above, the harsh croaking
voice of the heron announced that,
full of anxiety, it was vending its
way to the miry interior of some
distant swamp. Now the woods be-
gan to reSound to the shrill cries of
the owl; and the breeze as it swept
through the columnar streams of the
forest trees, came laden with heavy
and chilling dews. Alas! no moon
with her silvery light shone on the
dreary scene, and the lost one, wea-
ried and vexed, laid himself on
the damp ground. Prayer is al
ways consolatory to man in eve-
ry difficulty and danger, and the
woodsman fervently prayed to hi.
Maker, wishing his family happie,
night than it was his lot to expert.
ence and with feveris!l anxict,
waited the return of day. aul
You may imagine the length o
that cold, dull, moonless night. Witt
: the dawn of day came the usurl fog
of those ATTITUDES. The poor MAJ
, started on his feet, and with
: sorrowful heart pursued cours
L l. A 4. L