Daily American telegraph., 1852-01-15
AMERICAN TELEGRAPH.
From the Christian Observer.
THE LOST AND THE FOUND.
BY MRS. L. IL. sIGoURNEY.

/
BY MRS. L. IL. SIGoURNEY.
have something to say to the young about
the advantages as well as the duty of obeying
their parents. My story will be of an inter
esting boy, by the name of Charles Morton
He had pleasant temper, and almost always
wore smile. He ardently loved his sister
Caroline who was several years younger than
himself and whenever he came from school,
would ask for her. and take her in his arms, or
guide her tottering footsteps.
But Charles, with all his kindness of heart
had sad fault. He would sometimes disobey
his parents when he was out of their sight
He did not remember that the eye of God al
ways saw him. both in darkness and in light
and would take note Of the sin that he COM
mitted, though his parents knew it not. At a
short distance from his house was beautiful
river, broad and deep. His parents had strictly
charged him never to venture in, and had ex-
planned to him the danger which boy of eight
years old would incur in a tide SO strong Not
withstanding this, he would sometimes seek a
spot where the banks, or the trees upon the
shore, concealed him, and take off his shoes
and step into the water He grew fond of
wading, and would occasionally stay in the
water a long time Then, he greatly desired
to SWIM He frequently saw larger boys
amusing themselves in this way, and longed to
join them but he feared lest they might men,
tion it to his father, and he determined to go
alone.
Here was the sin of the little boy, not only
in continuing to disobey, but in studying how
to deceive his kind parents. One fine after
noon in summer, school was dismissed at an
earlier hour than usual. Now, thought Charles,
can make trial at swimming and get home
haf, ofh HI
tired spot, where he had never seen his COM
panions go, and hastened to throw off his
clothes and plunge into the water. He did not
imagine that it was so deep there, and that the
current was SO exceedingly swift He strug-
gled with all his might but was borne farther
and farther from the shore. The sea was not
a great distance from the mouth of the river,
and the tide was driving on violently, and
what could he do? Nothing, but to exhaust
his feeble strength, and then give up, and be
carried onwards. He became weary Of beat
ing the water with his feet and hands to no
purpose, and his throat was dry with crying
and SO he foated along like poor, uprooted
weed 1t was fearful to him to be hurried
away SO, with the water roaring in his ears.
He gave up all hope of seeing his dear home
again, and dreaded the thought of being
drowned, and devoured by monstrous fishes
How he wished that he had not disobeyed his
good parents and he earnestly prayed God
to forgive him, and have mercy upon his soul
AT Charles Morton,s house. his mother had
prepared a bowl of bread and milk for him,
because he usually was hungry when he came
from school.
At length she began to look from the win.
dow, and to feel uneasy Little Caroline crept
to the door, and continually called "Tarle
Tarle;" but when the sun disappeared, and
Mr. Morton returned, and nothing had been
seen of the dear boy, they were greatly alarm
ed. They searched the places where he had
been accustomed to play, and questioned his
companions, but in vain. The neighbors col
lected, and attended the father in pursuit of
his lost son. What was their distress ut find
ing his clothes in q remote recess, near the
rivers brink They Immediately gave him up
as drowned, and commenced the search for his
body There was bitter mourning in his once
happy home that night Many weeks elapsed
ere little Caroline ceased calling for her "dear
Tarle," or the sad parents could be comforted !;
and it was remembered, amid their affiiction,
that the beloved child whom they had en-
deayored to teach the fear of God had forgot
ten that All-seeing Eye when he disobeyed his
parents.
But while they were lamenting their lost
son. he was not dead. While family struggling
on. the river, he had been discovered and taken
up by an Indian canoe. He had been borne
by the swift current far from the place where
he first went into the water 1t was very long
after he was rescued before he came to his
senses, 50 as to give any connected account of
himself Then he was greatly shocked at find
ing himself in boat with two huge Indians
He shrieked, and begged to be taken to his
fathers house; but they paid no attention to
his cries, and silently proceeded on their voyage
They wrapped blanket around him, because
he had no clothes, and offered him some
parched corn, but he had no heart to eat By
the rough tossing of the boat, he discovered
that they were upon the deep sea, and the broad
moon rose high and shone long ere they drew
near to land Stupefed with terror one of the
Indians carried him in his arms to rude hut,
and gave him to his wife.
"What have you brought?" said she, as she
loosened the blanket, and discovered the drip
ping locks and shivering form of the afrighted
child.
"A white pappoose" answered the hoarse
voice Of the husband Poor Charles looked up
with a cry of horror and despair The woman
regarded him earnestly for moment
He is like my son that buried" said she,
and she folded her dark arms around him, and
wept. She kindled fire to warm him, and
pressed food upon him; but he was sick at
heart. She laid him in the rude bed of her
dead child and he sobbed himself into deep,
long sleep 1t was late in the morning when
he opened his eyes. Who can describe his dis
tress! No kind parent to speak to him, no
little sister to twine her arms around his neck
Nothing but a dark hovel, and strange, Indian
faces. The woman. with her husband and
Co tbor xrara Tho colo ipbahitants of tho but
feeling of desolation came over him, and he
laid down his head and mourned bitterly. The