The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1857-02-25

tne. wrong patn, anu lOuuu HySel, ere
long opposite an unknown hill, between
which and myself lay a brook of some
width and depth, its whole bank on either
side of so wet and boggy a nature, that l
could not attempt to cross it. Along its
course, skirting towards the right hand,
I, however, soon found myself on stony
ground, but in the midst of a wild heath,
over which lay scattered huge blocks Of
moorstone, like aocks of sheep laying
asleep. Bogs lay all around me, mark
ed out by the peculiar flowers which al
ways occupy them, the red sundews, yel-
low spikes of asphodel, and above all, acres
of ground covered with the tassel-like
down of the cotton-grass.
l knew not which way to turn; So be-
ing thoroughly wearied, thought the
best thing could do was to creep into
the shelter offered me by overhanging mass
of stone, and there to lie down and wait
| till the rising moon, in case she vouch-
safed her presence, or, at the worst, till the
early dawn should afford me light enough
to extricate myself from my unpleasant
position.
| / had some biscuits and small flask
of wine in my pocket, SO that l was not
obliged to go quite supperless to bed, and
after having partaken of this food, crept
into snug dry corner. and soon fell
asleep.
l know not how long had slept when
l was disturbed by sonnd which, in the
puzzled state Of feeling one awakes in on
being suddenly aroused, l took for the
| cry of the milkman at my area-gate, cry
which had not unfrequently awaked me to
a days toll. So, after vainly feeling for
my bed-ourtains, and wondering, when l
put my leg, as thought, out of bed, that
it was still on the same level, | at last
rolled over, started up, and perceived what
was my true position The rain had
ceased, and the clear full moon was pour
ing floods of white light over the moor;
and so | left the shelter which had proved
so friendly to me, and stepped out into
the moonlight. Bat now the cry l had
before heard again sounded in my ear: il
was the voice of little child, and evident.
ly very near to me- for could plainly dis.
s'Mother, mother, do'ee come" Their
came low mournful vail, and then again
in louder and agonized tones, the sane
words: Mother, mother, do'ee Gomez
; shouted alond, and III encouraging tone:
[ and words bade the little one tell me wlier,
she was ''1Iere 'ticked in the mud, "wa
the reply; and guided by the sounds, be
came aware that the child must be yer,
5 near me; and presently, by the moonlight
/ sawa little creature, apparently not NOR
4 than an infant, squatted on the groun'
: within few yards of the spot on which
/ stood, but behind belt ofsuch deep bog
? water that knew it would be no cas-
. matter to reach it. Calling to the littl
wanderer not to move, and promising
!, speedy help, I skirted the piece of waite
S until came to place which afforded m
;. passage. With the aid ola stout walk
It ing stick, and stepping very carefully froI
one heap of rushes and heath-roots to AL
e other, | at last con:rived warily to az
e proach the spot where the poor child wa.
S and found that the voice had proceede
:, from little girl not more than four G
n five years old, who had got stuck in tn
# wet mud, and could not move. She ha
J, no doubt been tempted by the CLOWN
d tints of the asphodel and tassel heath, c
i the snowy tufts of the cotton-rush, an
had reached that point, and then being
e able to find her way out, had been bt
n nighted there. There, however, she wa
it sunk far above her knees in the mud, weeI
: ing and wailing with cold, hunger, an
+ fear, and as yet not Saved, for between he
Y and me, near as she was, lay pool S
; deep and deceitful-looking, that l Wa
e afraid to venture through it. The spc
: on which stood was so small, and S
/ surrounded by deep mud, that could NJ
Y take off my boots and stockings; but turn
n ing up my trousers, and firmly planting m
e foot on the most promising spot l coul
d see, l gauged the mud with my stick, an
d found that it was not much more than mic
e leg deep at that point, so withdrawn
n the gauge, l put my foot in its place, sinl
l. ing deep in the coolest of fluids, and fe
j; out place for. the second step in lii
n manner; and so by degrees succeeded,
g the expense ofnaking my clothes one mas
d of mud, in reaching the little child, tucl
d ing her up under my arm, leaving her sho'
le If she had any-in the mire, and at la
.e fairly getting her and myself to terra Fl
/, ma.
N My "treasure-troye" was pretty lit
d slight girl, tidily dressed, although
a course now well splashed from head
lie foot. She could give no account of be
self, but that her name was '.Titty," th;
d she saw "pitty fowers," and went to G
,ej them, and got "'ticked in the mud"
n A nice predieament was in! Her
in on wild hillside, near midnight, covert
g with mud, wet, and leading poor lit
in child by the hand, who was as wet, dirt
OF and tired as myself, and without motto
y which way to turn, or where to seek foe
ct and shelter for either of us.
if But amidst these troubled thoughts the
n. was one most pleasant one-I had sure