Tribune and telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1855-1856, 1856-08-07
THE LOST DARLING.


Three years ago last haying time. Amy was six
years old. Haylng was pretty much done at home ;
but since Samuels death the colonel had also to man
age the Morgan farm" All the force OF the farm
with an extra hand or two, were now employed in
getting the hay down there. They went early and
generally returned at sunset, taking 4 load with
them. The road down to the Morgan farm was re
tTed-hut public road only cross road bat very
pleasant. Tall pines grew occasionally along the
way. In some places grove of young trees offered
q cool resting place-a smooth, soft surface and a
grateful, fragrant shade. Here and there also, q
spreading beech gave dense shadow, where when
the frost and opens the burrs the clean sweet
beechnuts strew the ground and attract eager chill
dren. Now that the sweeer blueberries bordered
the road on both sides Amy came every day and fill.
ed her little basket. Nobody picked such sweet
berries as Amy.
1t was but half mile TO the Morgan place Amy
often went there in company with her sister but not
alone. She only went a little way perhaps third
of the distance to fill her basket but as they were
hayng down there she ventured a little further-so
far that she could see them away down in the field
there, moving and tossing about the hay, and old
Turk and Brown yOked and lying down by the cart
ready to draw it home at night Next day she
tnred further Isaac was loading the cart and the
colonel was IN II slowing the load George and
james We're raking They saw Amy in the distance
and called her. She was glad to go and see them
rake the hay, and show them the berries.
When the load WIS finished Isaac lifted her up to
ride home with her fmher. Old Turk and Brown
did not mind the additional load, but logged lazily
Delightful ride was that upon the hay to Amy. No
splendid coach in Broadway ever bore happier
freight.
The next day she went again. She filed the bas
ket sooner than before and was in the field before
the time of loading up for home After talking and
and playing few moments with George and James
who were too busy to be detained long, she return
ell TO heap her basket little higher, and pick some
wild flowers TO put into her little vase.
She did not return to the fcG but that caused no
alarm They supposed that she hadreturHed home
he road was plain and almost the whole way was
III sight either OF the field where they a work
or OF her home, In one place ii dIverged i.e way
into the woods along the border of which ran, out
soon returned. There getting out OF it, for
no other road led from il, and besides beng 80 re-
Gently Travelled with heavy loads OF hay II as
plain as the turnpike.
But Amy did not return home AS they were not
expecting her till the rest should return WIKI the load
they could not be alarmed and the hours passed on
But where Amy
When she returned by the road she heaped up her
little basket as long the berries would lie, and
then sat down her basket by little tree and looked
for flowers for her bouquet The summer had
dried up most OF the pretty fl 'wers, but here and
there might be found tall yellow lily, bunch
OF columbines, an 0X-eye daisy-gaudv. but scent
less flowers. But she gathered the tarest she could
find, and in her hands they looked fair enough and
still she wanderedou, looking 10" prettier. She
was pursuing the direction opposite from home, as
she knew well enough, bur meant TO rGturn to her
basket IN few minutes; and SO she went on little
further, and little further still.
In the edge of the woods very little way, she saw
a bunch OF beautiful flowers, crimson aud gold.
Country people call the plant ceandlne and children
call the flowers ladys ear-drops. Amy ran in and
gathered them. There good many. They
grew around and among stones which partly
covered with white moss She filed both hands,
then fastened back where she had placed her bas-
ket. She returned to the road and ran along 1t not
doubling that she was returning. Her little brain
was contused-'tarued round as they say--she was
\ n rip Ia-
little cape bonnet covered her face, she along
with her eyes upon t3 -totnd, but once III while
looked up t. see the tree where she had deposited
uer basket Size ran q good WAY Till she could not
see the treenot that tree, they grew more and more
plenty. They grew on both sides of the road she
had not marked that before, she wondered that she
had come SO far without knowing it she ran good
way the trees grew thicker; the road became more
obscure.
In one or two places other paths diverged to the
right or left She was tired OF running and SO she
walked again; but she walked fast. The road be-
came less distinct. Little bushes grew up in the
middle Oft then it turned out Of its direction 10
pass round some great trees; on the other side Of
the great trees she could see hardly any road at all
and she began to fear that she l0stn the woods
like the little babes. The terror of the thought thrill
led her little frame and her with new strength
She along in the direction that looked most ike
the road. She ran hard and ran good way and
the terror pursued her she still the harder
II TO escape from it. She painted for breath; she
stumbled and fell II did not hurt her much; ii it
had hurt more she would not have minded it now.
She reSa;red her feet and would have run again but
she could sec road. There none. Then she
knew she was lost. She thought she would return
and find the road where it round the great clump
OF trees and thought she them but they appear
ed 10 be IN the wrong direction. There was cluInp
of trees 10 the other direction but they looked differ
emily In other directions were other great clunps
OF trees, and she knew not which TO go 10. She
then thought she would go to them all, TIL she found
the road; and then she knew that she was lost
lost like the babes in the woods
She thought she would pray to God and then she
doubted whether God could hear her there in the
dark where the tall trees shut out the heavens where
he lives She knew he could hear her in her little
bedroom a; home for there her mother had taught
her 10 pray and there her mother and sisters prayed
and God knew tie place but did ne know mat sbe
lost in these .ole woods had &c seer her coce