Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1846-12-17
s elect Tales.
THE LOST CHILDREN.
FROM "MYRTIS AND OTHER ETCHINGS :"

| where are they who were mine? and where
A void but answers, All are gone."
MISS H. F. GOULD
There was sickness in the dwelling of the
emigrant. Stretched upon his humble bed, he
depended on that nursing care which wife,
scarcely less enleebled than himself was able to
bestow. A child, in its third SUMNER had been
recently laid to its last rest beneath a turf mound
under their window It's image was in the heart
of the mother, as she tendery mnistered to her
husband.
WHEEL am afraid | think too much about
lpoor little Thomas He was so well and rosy
when we left or old home, scarcely year since.
Sometimes feel, if we had but continued there
our darling would not have died.
The tear which had long trembled, and had
been repressed by the varieties Of conjugal So
licitude, burst forth at these words. 1t freely
oyerllowed the trimming eyes, and relieved the
snffocating emotions which had striyen for the
mastery
Do not reproach yourself dear husband
His time had come He is happier there than
here. Let us be thankful for those that are
spared
1t seems to me that the little girls are grow
ing pale. am afraid you conine them too
closely TO this narrow house, and to the sight Of
sickness. The weather is growing settled
You had better send them out to change the air
and run about at their will. Mary, lay the ba-
by on the bed by me, and ask mother to let lit
tie sister and YOU out for rambIe'
The mother assented, and the children, who
were four and six years old, departed, full of de-
light. clearing had been made in front of
their habitation, and, by ascending knoll III its
vicinity, another dwelling might be seen environ
ed with dark spruce and hemock. In the rear
of these houses was a wide expanse of ground,
Iinerspersed with thickcts, rocky activities and
patches of forest tress, while far away one or
two lakeIets peered up, with their blue eyes
ringed The spirits of the children, as they
entered this unnclosed region, were like those
of the birds that surrounded them. They play
fully pursued each other with merry laughter,
and such a joyous sense of liberty, as makes
the blood course lightsomeIy through the veins.
Little Jane, let US 60 farther than ever we
have before. We will see what lies beyond
those high hills, for it is but Just past noon, and
we can get back long before supper-time
Oh yes, let US follow that bright blue bird,
and see what he is flying after But don't 90 in
among those brars that tear the clothes so, for
mother has no time to mend them
Sister, sweet sister, here are some snow
drops in this green hollow, exactly like those in
my old, dear garden SO far away How pure
they aae, and cool, just like the baby's face
when the winds blow on it Father and moth
er will like us to bring them some
Filling their little aprons with the spoil, and
still searching for something new or beautiful,
they prolonged their rambIe, unconscious of the |
flight Of time, or the extent of space they were
traverslng AT length, admonished by the chill
mess, which often marks the declining hours of
the early days of spring, they turned their course
homcward. But the returning cIew was lost,
and they walked rapidly, only to plunge more
in the mazes of the wilderness.
Sister Mary, are these pretty snow-drops
good to eat! am SO hungry, and my feet ache
and will not 90
Let Inc lift you over this brook, little Jane
and hold tighter by my hand, and walk as brave
as you can, that we may get home, aud help
mother set the table
We won't go so far next time will we =
What IS the reason that cannot see any beuerp
Is not that the roof of our house dear Jane,
md the thin smoke curling up among the trees
Many times before have thought so, and found
t only rock or a mist
AS evening drew its veil, the hapIess wander
,rs, bewldered hurried to and fro, callino for r
heir parents. or shouting for help, until their
trcngh was exhausted. Torn by brambes, and
heir poor feet bleeding from the rocks which +
irewed their path, they sunk down, moaning !
utterly. The fears that overpower the heart of 4
tlmld child, who, for the first time finds night :
pproachng, without shelter or protection, wro't
N the youngest insupporlable anguish. The y
lder, filled with the sacred warmth of sistery U
Hection after the first paroxysms of grief SEEM G
d to forget himself, and sitting upon the damp f
round, and folding the little one in her arms,
ocked her with gentle movement soothing and n
ushng her like a nurseng
Don't cry oh don't cry so, dearest; say Il
our prayers, and fear will fly away fl
How can kneel down here in the dark s.
oods, or say my prayers, when mother is not 7
y to hear me! think | see large wolf, with =
larp ears, e. mouth wide open, and hear nois- fl
} as of many fierce lions growing"
Dear little Jane, do say, Our Father who h
It in Heaven Be good girl, and, when we +,
i've rested here a while perhaps He may be h
eaSed to send some one to find us, g. fetch us II
,me" +.
Narrowing was the anxiety in the lonely hut r
the emlgrant when day drew towards its close, r
I'd the children came not. A boy, their whole h,
sistant in the tolls of agriculture, at his return
ON labor, was sent in search of them, but in vain r.,
S evening drew on, the inmates Of the negbor- "
G house, and those of small hamlet at a con- ,b
1erable distance were alarmed and associated ar
the pursuit. The agony of the invalid pa. m
nts through that night was uncomfortable no
artlng at every footstep, shaping ont IF everv =.