Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1856-12-20
LOST In THE MOUNTAINS,
BY REV. j. b. FINLEY.


life, and which strikingly illustrates the
special providence of God Mrs Bearer,
.he humble narrator of the story was Ro-
man Catholic. Her parents were natives
Of Berkeley county, Virginia, and at tLe
time were residents of the country il The
vicinity of Sleepy Greek. Early on tie
morning ofthe It'll ofJanuary, 1900, she left
home on borrowed horse to cross the Ca
pin Mountains on a visit to her aged parents,
She took with her an infant child, her daugh-
ter, seven months Old Nhe snow upon The
mountains was three feet deep, and the
weather was exceedingly cold. For defence
and company's sake, she took with her a
house dog, very large spaniel. Having
gained the top of tic mountain range she
concluded to leave the great road, and, by a
short cut, arrive the same night at her faith
er's house.
She had however, not proceeded fall be-
consequence, becoming frightened. She dar-
ed not turn back, but wandered about thro'
the mountains until night had settled Us
gloom over the world. She then dislmount-
ed and having fastened her horse to sap
ling, she prepared place, as well as circum-
stances would admit, where to pass the night.
The snow, as before remarked, was three
feet deep; the darkness was profound, and
the wind from the northwest broke in hur-
ricane above her. With no company but
her child, and no protector but her dog, her
condition was lonely beyond the lima giuation
to conceive.
Fortunately, she had with her some extra
clothing, in the shape of cloak and shawl
Removing, as well as she could, tie snow
from beneath large tree, she took her APP
parel, and made the best disposition posi-
Bile with it and, with her child and her
dog, she composed herself for the night.
Mrs. Bearer stated to me, that for weeb
previous to undertaking this journey, she
was unusually exercised about her spiritual
welfare, and very frequently took al old
prayer book and read it, = -.
Now, far from her home, desolate and dis
tressed, she feat the need of close eomnun.
ion with God. The prayers which she had
read the week before came fresh to her mind
which she offered feryently to her Maker
The night was long and dreary, and she
spent it without sleep. Very shortly after
fastening her horse the animal became un-
easy, aud, breaking his bride started of al
full sneed This greatly added to her mis-,
fortunes, for she had hoped by him to have
reached some settlement the next day.
II length day dawned and though, BY
the help of her clothing and her dog, she
had kept herself and child from freezing,
yet she was so benumbed by the cold as al
most to be unable to walk and carry her in-
fant daughter. This was Saturday morn
ing She now left part of her clothing, and
made an effort to return to the point where
she left the great road. After travelling un-
till she was nearly exhausted, she concluded
that unless she reached the settlement. she
must perish with cold Indulging the hope
however, that she might keep herself from
freezing, or be found by some one, she tho
it best to return to the spot where she passed
the previous night. Accordingly she start
ed back, and GU her way, hung up her apron
on bush, and afterwards a handkerchief
as signs of distress, in hope, though indeed
but faint hope, that some passing hunter
might see one or the other, and come to hel
relief Late in the afternoon of Saturday
and with great difficulty she gained her loag
ing place.
But feeling the dread of passing another
night in so desolate place, and summon
ing that indomitable spirit of courage, pecu-
liar to her sex when in difficulty and danger
and seeing the sun fast declining, she deter
mined to change her course, and plake enc
desperate effort to gain some settlement -
Throwing off part of her apparel, in order
to be less encountered, she began again to
contend with the snow, rocks, and caverns
of the mountains, and at length came to q
deep, narrow gorge, down the sides of which
she could not descend with her child.
She looked up and down, but could see nc
place that offered an easier passage than the
one before her. She hestated moment
but having no other alternative, she threw
her child over, and then followed herself
BY taking hold Of the laurel bushes on the
opposite side of the ravine, she managed t.
crawl up to the place where her child light
ed, which, to her great joy, she found I'm.
| injured, save by a slight scratch or the face
caused by its falling on the crust of thC
snow. Resuming her journey, she camC
upon hog path which leu 10 eicil o.
shelving rocks where these animals were ac
customed to sleep.
She had now traveled-as was afterwarc
ascertained- mile and half Here sht
might have remained sheltered for the night
but fearing the return of hqlf-starved hogs
and that herself, her child, and her dog
might become sudden prey to thoir yora
ciousness, and her family never learn theii
fate, she Immediately resumed her march
and weary and faint, made her way ab0u
three hundred yards off to the side OF tn,
mountain Finding her stocking ut mp b
the crust Of the snow, and her limbs, ane
ankles and feet al bleeding, she yielded tn
struggle, and under some pine bushes, hare
by, she obtained place to sit downs bat
the snow sinking beneath her, rendered hel
situation more critical and desperate.
She took care to wrap her clothes around
her feet and body as web as she could, then
clasping her babe warm to her bosom. she
committed herself to God.
Her faithful dog had not left her, and this
night would lie down just where She bade
him; sometimes on her feet and limbs, and
sometimes at her back, changing alternate
ly, as if to keep her from freezing During
the night she fell asleep being quite ex-
b,,etad with Labor and with won't AZ foo1