Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1846-01-22
VOL. XII, NO. TO- WHOLE NO. 2O49.

glare, and to which every eye was turned, and eve
Try 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 corn-had filed his lit
tie bag with roasting ears, and had started for
home about two o'clock p. M. On returning at
night they ascertaned that the child had never
been seen. 1t was nearly dark, but the alarm was
given some fifteen or twenty neghbors took their
horns and commenced the search. The corn,
where he was last seen, was the first object, of
course; here they took single rows and secured
the field in vain. They then scattered through the
wood; the frantic father often calling out in
voice of thunder" Ho! John!- John-O !
john" Then fearing the boy might be alarmed
and afraid to answer, he would soften down into
the gentle winning tone of the Preside" Johnny,
Johnny my dear, fathers come"
1t was a cloudy evening and though, perhaps
he had never bowed the knee "before Jehovah's
awful throne" he prayed-O! how earnestly he
prayed the Lord it might not rain that night The
air was damp and chilly, so that if the child were
alive with his bare feet and light jacket, he must
be suffering cruelty from cold. But the wolves -
alb, this was the fear this the terror which all felt,
none dared to breathe. wolf had been proving
about the premises-indeed he had common path
across the prairie-and the point where several
besides himself had heard the cries of distress, was
a famous haunt for them even in the midst Of their
anxious search distant growl would now and
then burst upon the ear, pcturng forth the den,
the cubs, the
The dogs were very eager in the field, especial
ly the wolf dogs. Wnder, one Of the best, would
run on no other trail. OLeary knew this and
watched with intense anxiety his every move. He
scents-he scents-he runs" Oh my God, .he's
rot my BOY" He leaps from his horse,-h sees
the foot prints of his own dear Johnny IN the go
pher hill by his side-he tracks him to the wood,
and off from Winder's trail-ah, he breathes a
gain!
The search was continued until midnight, when
part thought best to relieve their horses and wai
for daylight to begin afresh. But the father with
three of his hunting friends, who had resolved not
to eat or sleep till they had found the boy, Still
kept on--someimes riding, sometimes walking
calling and shouting if for no other purpose thar
to keep the wolves at bay. At length they station
ed themselves within hearing distance OF eaci
other and sat down to protect the child, or to rusi
to his rescue, in case they should hear him attack
ed, TO watch until the morning.
At early dawn. about fifty new horsemen arrived
and the search commenced anew. The field wa
examined for the track, which was pursued witt
some doubt, os he had been there three successive
days. On tracing the path which led towards tn
woods, the imprints of Johnny's little feet wer
again discovered, as he appeared to be running
and the mark of his bag dragged along by hi
side. Here the fathers anguish gushed out anew
as the fears of the preceding night were justifie
and corroborated.
They now agreed to take a station of about I'll
, teen rods abreast go up one side of the branc
and down the other, till the whole surface of tn
extensive area farther than he possibly could hav
travelled, had been explored They had complete
one side, and we're returning, when the signal wa
given-Johnny was found The noisy shoutin!
and repeated peas OF the hunters winding horn
soon grouped the solemn conclave!
But O'Larry, though foremost in the hunt, fe
back at the first note of the summoning horn, NJ
, did he speak word or scarcely breathe, till /
, sna,ched his own true Johnny from the arms of h
= delighted bearer, and pressed him with fondness
his now bursting heart. The dear boy was four
r picking filberts with his bag of corn still on h
! arm. He looked bright and happy and when as
! ed where he going, said he going HON
J, but 1t was so far. He said ne hadn't al
/ body, but he had heard some one call him, and tn
r he was afraid; that he ran till he was tired al
then he LAID his head down on his bag and crit
that while he was crying, he saw big carral
1 90 up with candles in it, (tho thunder and ligt
ning,) and then it grew very dark and he asked G.
to take of little Johnny, and went to sleep.
He seemed amazed to see SO many around hil
D and all so glad to see him.