Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1847-07-15
The Lost Children.

have story to tell Of little girl, perhaps
six or seven years of age, and of her brother not
so old, who in early summer, went bcrrying,
and slept in the woods, Onto which they had
strayed,) two or three nights, because they
could not find their way home. l assisted in
finding these children, and remember we'll some
Of the circumstances
The mother, in the dusk of the evening, as
the time had more than come for her little ones
to return, went into the door, and called their
names. But no answer was heard. She then
went out a little distance and called again; but
in vain. She at length went forth much farther
Still they were not to be found. The sad news
was circulated among the neighbors, and more
extended search was made, but without success
The next day, a large number went in pursuit
Of the lost ones, and through the night the search
was continued. Wells, sloughs, ponds, and all
places of danger were examined. But they
were not there. The Sabbath came But no
tdngs of the children yet. At length, the bells
Of several neighborlng towns also rung out the
alarm, and soon men were seen in all directions,
hastening towards the home of those children
Their parents had spent two sleepless nights,
and their hearts were rung with anxiety and an
guish. Where can they be! Dear little things,
if they are alive, how much they must have sut-
fered!
The hundreds of men who had collected
were marshaled in line reaching long dis
lance, all deeply interested, and none more Sc
than the parish pastor. Every thing being pro-
perIy arranged, at given signal, we all started
off together towards large forest, that was en-.
tered some half mile from the house We re-
ceved strict orders not to give false alarm, and
each to keep so near his right and left hand man
as to see every thing between, and to make thor
ough search On we went, and as silently as
possible. Listen! cry family heard on the left
1t swes louder and louder on the breeze. L
comes distinct: They are found, return to the
housed The woods rung at lenght, with sucl
shouts. What running, and inqulring, and re
jocng were then witnessed!
At the house two lines were formed, and al
} had the privilege ofgazing on the found. The.
looked sorrow-stricken, their clothes torn, anC
. bodies lacerated. But they were found-hat
, experienced no essential harm, and were restor
ed to fond embraces 1t produced much tearfu
joy to see those parents clasp their loved ones t.
their bosoms, with weeping eyes, and heart
5 beating strongly with emotions of gratitude.
1t appeared that they had inconsiderately wand
cred some distance from home, in search of Der
ries, and as it grew dark, they became bewilder
7 ed, went wrong, were acknowledgement, an
Q afraid to make noise, so that when they hear
voices calling for them, they dared not answer
:, and when they heard the footsteps of persons il
, search ofthem, as they sometimes did, they eau
It tiously avoided in some way, being discovered
:, The first thing found belonging to them, was,
4 believe, the berry basket Soon rustling I
L the leaves was heard and one of them was see
e running from their hiding place; then the oth(
g started off, To repeat the expression used 0
: the occasion, by one that discovered them,
v They run like wild patridges While lost the
= lived OH such berries and leaves as they found
d their wanderings, and slept in some clump
= bushes, or beside some log or rock. Poor chi
k dren! they could not have long lived so; if the
: had not been found they must have pershed-
n But kind providence watched over them.-
/ They were found and saved.