The Sierra citizen., 1854-06-24


lowed on her bosom-could she but have
seen his coffin, and with her own hands
have closed the snowy folds Of his shroud
over his pale sweet face, then, compare
lively speaking, she could have born the
separation. But the uncertainty about
his fate was truly appalling.
One evening in October, a gentleman, a
neighbor Of Mr.. Clark's called and exhib-
tied to Mrs. Clark piece Of checked shirt,
and a handful of flaxen-colored hair, which
he said had been that day found or drift
pile in the Ozan bottom. Mrs. Clark
thought she recognised the check as piece
of the shirt that her little one wore when
he disappeared. The hair, too, was the
very color Of the child's. Some said that
these things settled the question end now
there was no doubt but that Tommy was
drowned. Another search was made-the
bottom being dry, was thoroughly explored
but no skeleton was found-nothing to
cast any light whatever on the subject.
Some said that the check might have been
of the same kind of cloth, even from the
same bolt, but was not the same article
which Tommy had worm The hair, too,
when closely examined, was too coarse for
that of a child So matters rested precise
" where they did month after Tommy s
disappearance.
Winter passed as usual. Spring came.
About the middle Of May, Mrs. Clark re-
ceived letter through the post Office, da-
ted and post-marked Natchez, Mississippi,
purporting to have been written by man
calling himself James Tutty. It was adj
dressed to Mr. Josiah Clark, and proceed
ed to inform him that Tommy was alive
and well, and among people that took care
of him. and that if he Clark would en-
close to him ITutty) $50 in d letter to
Natchez, he would tell him where he could
be found, and al tic particulars concern
ing his captivity. Clark. after consulting
with some of his friends. SET out with two
young men as his travelling companions.
and went to Natchez. He acquainted the
postmaster. and one or two other citizens
of that place, with all the particulars of
the case, and secured heir cooperation in
arresting this man .Tutty. A letter was
written addressed to Tutty, agreeing to
his proposal, and inclosing the $50 de-
manded, Within very few days, the let
ter was called for by a man unknown to
any one in Natchez. He was arrested
and put into prison. He, however, obsti-
nately refused to tell Clark anything re!a-
tive to his son. He was offered his re-
lease, and considerable sum Of money If
he would but disclose the facts, or sufficient
thereof to enable Mr.. Clark to find his son.
On the other hand, he vas threatened with
"a visitation from the officers of Judge
Lynch's court if he refused. Neither pro-
misses nor threats could influence him.. He
would reveal nothing. Clark determined
to hold him in custody. and remove him to
Arkansas, indulging still the hope of elici-
ting something, even if it were but one
word, that might indicate where little
Tommy could be found: He started with
him to Arkansas, aud proceeded on his
way as far as Monroe, in Louisiana. where
rutty attempted to make his escape, but
was drowned in swimming the Washita
river. So Mr.. Clark gained no informa-
ton whatever from Tutty, and it was gen
orally believed that Tutty himself knew
not where Tommy was, or whether or not
he was living. 1t is probable that he had
learned, by some mears, that Clark ha
lost son, and hit upon this plan to make
500, not expe, ting to see Clark or meet
with any difficulty
Another year rolled away. aud yet ano-
Their, and the story of little Tommy Clark
had ceased to be told. 1t was now conce-
ded that he was dead. No one dreamed
that the child survived. Mrs. Clark, Tom
mys mother, sometimes cherished the hope
that he was not dead, and that he would
be restored. Hope is the balm Of life; it
is the hearts cordial. Wretched, indeed,
is that bosom in which hope sheds none OF
its benignant rays!
Four long years had passed away, and
no tifings had been received from the
lost one. There was about this time. in
South Arkansas, a lawyer named Robert
Oden. He resided at Washington, the
county seat Of Hampstead county, and he
was intimately acquainted in Mr.. Clark s
family. He vas called to transact some