Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1853-07-28
A. Wooden .Ladle.

The following story, related few days
since. by friend of ours well &C qualned
with the circumstances, is worth publlca-
ton.
Many years ago, there lived in the east.
ern part OF Massachusetts young man
whom we will call Raymond His was a
wild, rowing disposition, preferrlng hunting
and fishing and the habits of life of the
red man far better than the quiet unassum-
ing life of the agrculturist or mechanic
He became attached to young woman in
the neighborhood, and ere long they were
married lu due time son was born and
not long after, as the red men were gradu-
ally moving towards the setting sun, and
his wild propensties became somewha, i'm
perious, he concluded, with consent of his
wife to 90 with them. They pitched their
tent on the banks of the noble Connecticut
whose proud waters, then as now, moved
on majes,lcally to The ocean Here the for
esls were dense, the hunting grounds uueX-
epionabe, and a wide range afforded for
the sports in which he delighted. They lived
on the most friendly terms with THEN taw-
ny nelghhors, entertaining neither fears nor
misgivIngs The sturdy maple made up
the bulk of "lbose grand old woods" and
afforded to the Indians and early settlers
large quantities of maple sugar, which ev-
en- in those days was esteemed luxury
The woods where the sap was gathered
and distilled was at some distance from the
log tenement Of Raymond and OCCASION
ally his only son and child, now about five
years old, and almost ldnlized by his pa.
rents, accompanied him. In anticipation
OF the occupation above alluded to, the ia
ther spent many Of his long winter evenings
in iashiunlng and deliberately Carving a
large wooden ladle for the use Of his darl.
ing boy, when he shoulq accompany his ia
lher to the woods in the spring. The child
was delighted with bis gift, and was often
lett by the boiling cauldron at play. while
his father went deeper into the forest tor
game. Onu day he left him as usual; and
alter an absence of nearly an hour, return
only to find his boy missing. The father
called, but hearing no response, supposed
bis child had set ont for home. Raymond
reached home at late hour, but his iJoliz-
ed boy was not there. All search proved
lrui'ess, and their once happy home was
desoale. For many days the mother wan
dered through and through the woods, call
ing on her boy. The agony was greater
than she could bear, reason was de,hroned
and few weeks sufliced to complete the
work of DEATH Raymond was alone in
the world, and his murmurs against the
Providence that had made him go, were
deep. Years elapsed, and the lone old man
emigra,ed to the northern part of NJ lamp-
shire, aud settled III the county Of Coos -
Here he purchased small farm, and lived
until eighty OF our northern winters had
banched his hair To snowy whteness, and
care and sorrow and hardships hau deeply
| turrowcd his lace. Near the close Of the
old mans life, while lying on his death.bed =,
a nelghbor of his took IA Journey to some
part Of Canada, und stopped at an inn
While sitting in the public room observing
the strangers as they passed to and fro, his
attention became rivetted upon face aud
form that seemed familiar. lie approach
ed him, saying,
SIS your name Raymond 2"
Eyes"
Have You a wooden ladle p
81 have" answered The man in surprise
" Will you let me see it :"
The man stepped out, and in few mo,
meuts returned with the adIe. Said tie
stranger, " know an old man by the name
of Raymond, who often speaks of long
lost son and wooden adle; he is now ~
ing at the point Of death III C, New
Hampshire: will You go and see him"
81 will, )" said the stranger.
After .ew days they reached the dwell
ing of the dying old man. That he might
not be taken too much by surprise his
nelghbor took the ladle in his hand and en-
tered the room. lie held it up before him;
the dim eyes Of the old man frightened,
and he exclaimed with transport, "1he la.
die, the adIe Oh where is my son p
4" In the adjoining room," was the reply
81 will bring him ill.,"
One moment, and the son was in the
arms OF his father.
oh! my son tell me how YOU came to
eave US So long, long ago.?
The Indians, father, stole me away"
The old man, broken down with age and
sickness and sorrow, wept tears of graft.
tude at this unexpected mercy; and ere
two days had passed, he died in the arms
of his lost son, after "A separation of up
! wards oil fifty ,nars