The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1856-11-27
An Autumn Story.

shall have a catastrophe not uncommon to stories,
and by no means unknown to the drama
We remember old Deacon Smith. and we wish
you could all have pleasant a memory. He lived
on ME hill near our early hom. in stately stone
house, well BETTING his solid character. The
Deacon would not have been at home in wooden
dwelling-a structure 80 frail would not have ex.
pressed the substantial manner in which he did
every thing-for. a piece Of unfinished business
neverucame from his hands, il Was alt done, and
would last. stern countenance had Deacon
Smith and yet there wss world Of generous
and manly feeling and Christian charity in his
honest heart. The poor could testify Of his beLe-
cience and you must go many mile from
Woodside 10 find the man that would speak agsins
him. .01fiIdH ..I.rEttf ANA
woodside was comparatively a new settlement
then, the iron horse had not found bis track tbro
the valley. Deep woods were seen on every side,
aud the people had TO 60 many miles 10 market.
There was little village which could be reached
| at a great saving Of distance by going through
the woods; (; and 4 was n uncommon thingfor the
little folks to be sent there errands to the store
or post-ofice, over the well beaten track through
the forest.
Deacon Smith was fond Of young people, and we
all looked upon him with the greatest respect and
veneration. The Autumn never passed without .
number of invitations to all of US in the vicinity
to meet at his stately habitatlon. Gladly did We
answer his summons-and these occasions were
looked upon the climax Of our pleasant hopes
Sometimes the occasion was party -sometimes an
apple bee, and sometimes q husking. AT these
latter, the young men were expected 70 husk corn
an hour or more in the barn, and then adjourn to
the house, where bright eyes and and well served
tables aw aited them, and GENERALLY ou must ex-
cuse the pious Deacon's apparent Inconsistency,
Tor it cost him world Of trouble with his pa tor,
the old fiddler was in attendance with his rosined
bow and dry Jokes ...
In our neighborhood lived a widow with nice
daughter an only child. The rude dwelling and
the few acres Of rough land which her husband
left her at his DEATH with the toll Of her industr
she met her misfortunes in brave, true spirit,
aud bestowed infinite care upon her child, who
grew up with a refinement and beauty rare indeed
in the vicinity Of Woodsde.
One evening in those days we had been invited
to the good Deacon's to huskins, We had done
all the work supposed to be required in the barn,
and had adjourned to the joyful entertainment in
the house, Upon this occasion there was young
man named Stanley with US, who sometimes visit
ed the Deacon, and had now come TO participate in
our rude sports But we were many of us disap-
pointed in not seeing Ella, the widows daughter.
She was the light of circle, and we all felt that
we could i'll afford to spare her even for once. But
the merry proceedings soon made us forget her ab
sencc and we were in the height of our enjoy
ment, when the door was suddenly opened and the
widow entered. with a pale countenance, agitated
in every feature. We all paused instantly to learn
the cause. 1t was explained in few simple
words,
al sent Ella, to the post-ofice this morning, ard
she has not returned l have been through the
woods calling her but she did not answer. | fear
she is lost has been seized with sudden Illness
and is left alone to die, or that some terrible evil
has befallen her"
Warm and sympathizing hearts throbbed be-
meath the rude garments of that assembly and there
was chain of feeling linking us all to single
purpose and that was to commence the search
instantly, and continue it till the mystery soy
ed
"She has lost her way" said the good Deacon
to whom we all instinctively looked for counsel
There are many paths at the other side of the
woods she took wrong one and got bewildered
Let us all go at once and search till we find her
Give yourself no uneasiness Mrs. King but stay
here till we bring her TO you," said he, addressing
the excited mother But she would not listen to
him, and joined the party.
The Deacon directed us to separate and GO
through the woods within hailing distance. In
this way we could take in wide range at each
journey through the forest. We proceeded calling
Ella but we found ourselves upon the other
side with no response. The moonless night, the
deep woods, the anguish of the mother our own
sympathy and forebodings, made it an hour of in
tense interest. Having passed the woods without
finding her, we formed again and returned over a
new section with the same result We again form
ed and the waning moon now came up, throwing
dim light upon the scene, and makingour task
more easy. But we again passed the WOODS with
no response from the object of our search. "Form
again" said the Deacon but we needed not the
word of command-our sorrow gave strength and
we had no thought but to search till Ella was
found. The mother, now almost frantic with des-
pair urged us on. You must all know it was time
of intense feeling
AS we were this time returning through the
woods, we heard the stentorian voice of Stanley,
calling out "She is found p and the joyous cry
Cbn g, ,rb fba al Il,
each took it up and shouted the glad tidings to
his neighbor in the search. The Deacon had sur
missed the true cause of Elias absence. She took
the wrong path, and had wandered long way,
without knowing whittier she went Night over
took her, and bewildered and overcome with fear
her strength failed and sinking upon the eafy earth
she fell asleep. Stanleys strong voice aroused her.
and, he it was who brought her to her weeping
and grateful mother The Deacon insisted that
the entire party should go to his own house, and
1.-THE dim light of the dawn was awakening up on
the hil-tops, when we entered it. The old fder
thought lively tune and jig would be fit cele-
bration for the rescue but the honest Deacon had
graver thoughts "Put up your fiddle" said
he, "this is time for thanksgiving to Heavenly
Father, let us thank him that in His good provi-
dence the lost is found" and folding up his knees he
poured out prayer ofearnest and heartfelt thanks
giving.
But promised you dramatic finale to this re-
miniscence of Autumn and it came about in this
wise. The generous young Stanley was captivated
with Ella and though many of us wished ourselves
as fortunate as he, we all thought it right when
they were married few years after, and we have
looked with satisfaction upon the happy years that
blessed their after life.
EPIDEMIC Am DING FIsH.-A curious phenomenon
has just exhibited itself among the fnny tribe in
some Of the rivers of Michigan. 1t is announced
that during the past week, the shores of Grand
River have been strewed with dead and dying fish
of an unusal size. The same epidemic prevails
in the Shinaass. This is the second time during
the present that the waters of these streams
have been thus scourged. A few months ago eve
ry form of creeping thing known to that country
was cast dead upon the banks. in great numbers.